KIA Memorial to be dedicated Monday

A ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony for the Siloam Springs Killed in Action Memorial will be held at 9:30 a.m. Monday in celebration of Memorial Day.

Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin will serve as the keynote speaker for the event. State Senators Jim Hendren and John Woods, and State Representative Robin Lundstrum will also participate in the ribbon cutting.

The KIA Memorial will honor 32 Siloam Springs residents who were killed in action during World War I, World War II, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam War, the bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut and Operation Enduring Freedom, according to the memorial committee, comprised of members of American Legion Post 29 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1674.

It is located at 307 S. Mt.Olive Street, between the Siloam Springs Public Library and the historic Moss House, overlooking Twin Springs Park. The 24-foot by 24-foot memorial will include two granite walls with the names of Siloam Springs residents killed in action, a panel with the emblems of Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy, a battlefield cross and three lighted flag poles. It will also include reflecting benches and brick-paved walkways.

The idea for the memorial originated from a challenge issued by Lt. Colonel John Easley of the Arkansas Air National Guard during his speech at the 2013 Memorial Day service, according to J.W. Smith, who was serving as American Legion Commander at the time.

American Legion and VFW members formed a committee to meet Easley's challenge and approached the city Board of Directors to request a place to put the memorial. By the fall of 2013, the committee presented a proposal to the American Legion and VFW of what the memorial should look like, he said.

The committee put out a call for community members to submit names of those killed in action. The Boy Scouts helped the memorial committee research and verify names of those killed in action, according to committee member Stuart Reeves. The names included were limited to people who were killed during combat and born in Siloam Springs, attended Siloam Springs Schools or had a Siloam Springs address when they enlisted.

The committee worked to raise $90,000 for the construction of the memorial. Money came in through a brick selling program, selling poppies, fundraising events, and donations from local businesses and individuals. The amount raised includes approximately $30,000 of in-kind donations from local merchants, according to David Humphrey, current chairman of the memorial committee.

The memorial includes room for the names of people killed in future wars and conflicts. Brick sales will continue and bricks purchased in the future will be installed twice a year, on Veterans Day and Memorial Day.

The ceremony will be held rain or shine, and tents will be used in case of inclement weather. Parking will be available in the library lot on the south side of Jefferson Street.

The following names will be engraved on the memorial:

World War I

• Victor H. Conley

• Vern J. Daniels

• Levi A. Douthit

• Robert S. Jordan

• Leon Stout

World War II

• Richard D. Barnes

• Bruce G. Biddle

• Donald E. Brown

• Charles R. Bruce

• Billie D. Butler

• Kay L. Cayce

• William N. Cayce

• Roy V. Clark

• James W. Davis

• Louis J. Garr

• Kenneth E. A. Gooch

• William E. Hess

• Raymond H. Holland

• James R. Norrid

• Edward W. Rapp, Jr.

• Willard D. Spires

• Victor T. Spivey, Jr.

• Gibson E. Thomason

• Clarence L. Williams

• James A. Williams

Korean Conflict

• Don O. Lyn

Vietnam War

• Rex W. Blisard

• Jerry D. Lanier

• Archie L. Whaler

U.S. Embassy Beirut

• David M. Randolph

Operation Enduring Freedom

• John W. Brown

• Blue C. Rowe