By NATE KING
Salina Post
Despite rainy conditions Saturday morning, community members, city officials, students, and veterans gathered to celebrate and appreciate veterans at Sunset Park at the Salina-Saline County War Memorial.
The Salina VFW hosted the event with Vice-Mayor Bill Longbine as the guest speaker. VFW Auxiliary Post 1432 members served coffee, donut holes and hot chocolate to ceremony attendees.
Longbine, a lifelong member of the VFW Auxillary, said his primary affiliation with the military was through his father.
"My primary affiliation with the military is the fact that I was raised by a United States Marine," Longbine said. "I was very fortunate to have the values of discipline, honor, and respect, which are instilled into Marines passed on to me through my father, Dee Longbine."
Longbine continued, telling a crowd of more than 100 about his father's role in creating the war memorial at Sunset Park.
"My dad served in the Korean War while in the Marine Corps. While he was honored to serve his country, I believe his service and work as a member of the Salina-Saline County War Memorial committee was one of his proudest accomplishments during his lifetime," Longbine said.
The war memorial in Salina's Sunset Park was dedicated to the City of Salina in 1994. The founding committee of the memorial filed dissolution papers with the state of Kansas in 1995. More than two decades later, a new committee was formed to discuss an expansion of the original memorial to include additional veterans.
"I stand before you in front of this beautiful memorial which offers a lasting tribute and remembrance to fallen members of the Armed Forces from Saline County. We can all be thankful for the efforts and vision of that committee 31 years ago in 1992. While only a few remain with us, their names are remembered in the panel on the West side of the memorial."
Longbine continued, saying the work to honor veterans is not over.
"Today thanks to the work and vision of a new generation of veterans, we can look forward to expanding and enhancing this beautiful feature of Sunset Park which honors our veterans and ensures they are never forgotten," Longbine said.
The previous committee documented Saline County military service members' deaths from the Civil War in 1861 to the Persian Gulf War, which ended in 1992.
The new design features a symmetrical addition to the East and West of the original monument. Eight-sided concrete benches with joining walkways will provide plenty of seating. Black granite panels above the seats complete the octagon structures which resemble the original monument.
For more information regarding the memorial improvements click here.
"The current news of today indicates very fragile and volatile situations around the world," Longbine said. "As wars and conflict continue, so has the courage and sacrifice of American men and women who defend our nation and its interests. Many paid the ultimate sacrifice. At the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month we recognize and remember all who have taken the oath to serve our nation and protect our liberty and freedoms."
The Kansas Wesleyan Wind Ensemble under the direction of Wendy Stein provided patriotic tunes for the event. Songs included "Stars Spangled Banner," "Sempra Supre," "And the Caissons Go Rolling Along," "Anchors Away," "From the Halls of Montezuma," and "Off We Go Into the Wild Blue Yonder."
Longbine added that a MIA / Missing Man table will soon be located at the entryway to the Salina City / County Building to serve as a reminder for those missing in action.
"The missing man table is meant to remind us of our everlasting concern for those fallen, missing, or imprisoned members of military service. Each item and aspect of the table symbolizes a point of remembrance," Longbine said. "For example, the pinch of salt symbolizes the tears shed from years or decades of uncertainty."
Longbine said the table will soon be placed near the entrance of the building. He said the hope is that as citizens of Saline County enter to pay their car tags, taxes, or whatever business they are there for, they take a moment to view the table and pause to remember.
