Less than a mile south of 108th and Highway 370, a powerful tribute to Nebraska’s Vietnam veterans is a testament to memory and a signpost to learning.
“The vision is to remember and to educate,” says Ron Elwell, Executive Director of the Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation.
Opening this past June, The Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial, dedicated to the nearly 400 Nebraskans lost during the war, offers not only a place of reflection but also a space for future generations to learn about the lasting impacts of the Vietnam War.
The memorial features 11 obelisks representing each year of the Vietnam War. Each side of the obelisks contrasts soldiers' experiences in Vietnam with events on the homefront. QR codes offer deeper insights, enabling visitors to explore history further.
A restored helicopter serves as the most striking memorial, however. Donated by a Vermont VFW and brought back to life with the help of Iowa Community College’s aviation maintenance program, the helicopter, which served in Vietnam, retains its original 1968 paint scheme thanks to Craig Fouts, its original pilot.
Elwell explains that the initial plans for the helicopter’s restoration involved painting it as a Medevac helicopter. However, Fouts reached out, offering both journal entries and photographs of the then-new helicopter.
"So, I had pictures from the 60s of this helicopter!" Elwell says, providing the most accurate means of restoring the vehicle. Noting that choppers were often a welcome sign during the war, this feature has been a centerpiece for all visitors. “It’s had a huge impact on most Vietnam veterans that go up there.”
Though it has only been open for months, Elwell says hundreds of people from across the nation, including many veterans, have visited the site.
“It’s one of the biggest state memorials out there. Everyone says it’s the most beautiful place,” he says, adding many veterans have found it a place of healing and reflection, some even sharing their stories for the first time, many through the foundation’s Project Share Your Story to record their experiences for the Library of Congress.
"The community has embraced this memorial,” says Elwell. "It’s become a place where Vietnam veterans can feel appreciated, welcomed home, and finally share their stories."
One such story includes Larry Reid. As Elwell explained, Reid was saved by a fellow soldier named James Fous (Nebraska Medal of Honor Recipient posthumously) who jumped on a hand grenade, sacrificing himself in the process. Through the memorial, Reid connected with the hero's family.
"That was the first time in 50-plus years that Larry Reid had ever discussed that story," Elwell says. Becoming friends with Reid and other Vietnam veterans, Elwell was able to hear such stories and their responses to the memorial.
"Larry said a profound thing during the construction. 'You know, Ron, I went to Vietnam alone, I came home alone, and now I don't have to do it alone," says Elwell. "This is why we’re doing this, right here. They went there alone, they came home alone, and they did it alone. Now they’re finding they have a chance to talk about it.”
For more information on the memorial and the foundation, visit www.nvvmf.org or see the memorial in person to experience the history for yourself.