Anchors Aweigh: First Artifact For Proposed Veterans Park Arrives In Grand Forks (GRAND FORKS (ND) HERALD 12 AUG 13) ... Brandi Jewett After completing a nearly 1,300-mile journey, the first piece of a proposed veterans memorial park arrived safely at a storage facility Monday in Grand Forks. The piece is a 24,000-pound anchor from a Navy ammunition ship, the USS Kiska, which traveled by semi to Grand Forks from Texas. It was unloaded by crane at a Park District storage facility where it will sit until moved to its final home at Richard’s West Park some time next year. A volunteer crew from Minnkota Power Cooperative guided the anchor to the ground without incident – though its weight did test the equipment’s strength. “It was right at max. Another 500 pounds and they would have had to reconfigure the crane,” said John Hanson with the Grand Forks VFW Post 1874. “We lucked out.” Once placed in the park, Hanson said the anchor will eventually be joined by a tank, jet and other military equipment. A large granite wall also is planned for the park. The wall would depict a variety of images of soldiers and their families from the Spanish-American War to current conflicts. Anchor On Loan Local veteran Mike Dobmeier arranged and paid for the anchor’s transport, according to Hanson. Dobmeier was out of town and could not be reached for this story, but Hanson said he played a key role in getting the anchor for the memorial park. “He asked me what I wanted and I said ‘I want a big anchor,’” Hanson said. “He called me one day and joked ‘Don’t ask for what you don’t want.’” But Hanson said Dobmeier, a former submariner, did have a special request: That park organizers try to get a periscope. Bringing the anchor to Grand Forks required more than just a semi. Six months of paperwork preceded the journey, according to Grand Forks Parks and Recreation Foundation fundraiser Gary Harris. The anchor is on loan from the U.S. Maritime Administration. While the administration doesn’t charge Grand Forks for the anchor, it requires caretakers to keep the anchor in good condition and free of any vandalism. Fundraising The VFW, the parks foundation and others are organizing fundraising efforts to create the memorial park. Donations would fund the construction of walkways and displays in the park, including pedestals and concrete pads for the equipment. One campaign that organizers are hoping to start would allow people to purchase bricks engraved with the name of a friend or family member that served or is serving in the military. Each brick would cost $50. Other donations could be made through the Parks and Recreation Foundation at P.O. Box 12429 Grand Forks, ND 58208.
Posted on: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 14:03:18 +0000
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