This virtual takes you to Veterans Memorial Park in downtown Long Prairie. Army Reservist Kimberly Lawler skillfully depicted several scenes that tower to a height of five stories. At the top of which is a one and a half story steel depiction of the first flag raising at Mt. Suribachi. The mural details the battle of Iwo Jima, the battlefield cemetery at Omaha Beach in Normandy, France and also includes a tribute to women in the military. In the shadows of the towering mural, stationed straight and proud, are Himalayan Black granite walls with the names of those deceased and living in Todd County and elsewhere from around the nation who have given and dedicated their lives to the assurance of freedom around the world and here at home. The mural scenes were selected to personify the savagery and tremendous sacrifice that all war brings. 28,000 American lives were lost during the Battle of Iwo Jima alone.
But there is so much more, a Sherman tank, Huey Helicopter, Vietnam tribute, Korean War tribute and wall sized map of the conflict, unknown soldier memorial, Women and War memorial, Statue of Liberty and more. Plenty of benches to sit and ponder and take in the larger than life significance of all that was given in the name of freedom.
The memorial was dedicated August 10, 2002 during a ceremony where the last surviving member of the group to first raise the flag on Iwo Jima, Charles Lindbergh, raised a 48 star flag for the first time all over again, this time with the names of the surviving soldiers who took part in the battle signed on it.
To get credit for this virtual cache, include a photo of yourself or a personal item inside the memorial park as part of your log.
Virtual Rewards 3.0 - 2022-2023
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 3.0 on the Geocaching Blog.