Wichita Veterans Memorial Park

Desert Shield/Desert Storm Recognition Event
2021-08-02 18:00 - 19:30 UTC
This ceremony will be held at the Operation Freedom Memorial and honors and remembers all those Americans who served in Desert Storm. Desert Shield and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
This ceremony will occur at the Operation Freedom Memorial near the Arkansas River and include:

Flag-lined sidewalk
Color Guard
“Taps” by bugler
Rifle salute

Korean War Armistice Day
2021-07-27 08:30 - 09:30 UTC
The Korean Armistice Agreement brought to an end over three years of tremendous fighting against communist expansionism and tyranny on the Korean Peninsula. WVMP will honor the the 23,600 Americans who were killed in action and the more than 103,000 who were wounded in the Korean War. (SOURCE: https://www.census.gov/newsroom/stories/korean-war-armistice-day.html)
The commemoration ceremony will be held at the Park’s Korean War Memorial and include:

Flag-lined entry sidewalk to the Park’s Flag Pavilion
Introduction and opening remarks

Independence Day Commemoration
2021-07-04 13:00 - 14:00 UTC
On July 2nd, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later (July 4) delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, This ceremony commemorates America’s birthday will occur at the Park’s American Revolutionary War Memorial across from the Flag Pavilion and will include:

Flag-lined sidewalk
Color Guard
“Taps,” etc by bugler
Rifle salute
Speaker (TBD)

D-Day Invasion Commemoration
2021-06-06 13:00 - 13:30 UTC
“Codenamed Operation Overlord, the battle began on June 6, 1944, also known as D-Day, when some 156,000 American, British and Canadian forces landed on five beaches along a 50-mile stretch of the heavily fortified coast of France’s Normandy region. The invasion was one of the largest amphibious military assaults in history…. The amphibious invasions began at 6:30 a.m.
“U.S. forces faced heavy resistance at Omaha Beach, where there were over 2,000 American casualties. However, by day’s end, approximately 156,000 Allied troops had successfully stormed Normandy’s beaches. According to some estimates, more than 4,000 Allied troops lost their lives in the D-Day invasion, with thousands more wounded or missing.” (SOURCE: History.com, D-Day)
In remembrance of those who fought and died or were wounded in the D-Day invasion, WVMP will hold a brief ceremony at the Park’s World War Two Memorial involving:

Wreath laying at the World War Two Monument by the Flag Pavilion
Chaplain
Playing “Taps” on the trumpet

Memorial Day Commemoration
2021-05-31 11:00 - 12:00 UTC
(Unfortunately, this event was canceled due to inclement weather.)
Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May. On this day, the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military are honored. Memorial Day originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971.
In recognition of Memorial Day, a brief ceremony will be held at WVMP;s Flag Pavilion involving:

Flag-lined entry sidewalk to the Park’s Flag Pavilion
Introduction and opening remarks
Chaplain invocation
Speaker (TBD)
Color guard presentation of The Colors
21-gun salute
“Taps” played on the trumpet

Victory in Europe (VE) Day Commemoration
2021-05-08 10:00 - 11:00 UTC
“Victory in Europe Day is the day celebrating the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Germany’s unconditional surrender of its armed forces on Tuesday, 8 May 1945, marking the end of World War II in Europe. (SOURCE: Wikipedia, Victory in Europe Day.)
In commemoration of the war against “Hitler’s Germany” ending on this day, a ceremony will be held at the Park’s World War Two Memorial. The ceremony will involve:

Wreath laying
Chaplain
Playing “Taps” on the trumpet

Civil War Reconciliation Event
2021-04-09 15:45 UTC
In recognition of the Civil War ending at 3:45. (When the surrender was signed according to historians.)

Wreath laying at the Reconciliation Monument by the Flag Pavilion
Chaplain
Playing “Taps” on the trumpet

Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day
2021-03-29 12:00 - 12:45 UTC
In 2017 President Trump designated March 29th as National Vietnam Veterans Day. This was the last day troops were withdrawn from Vietnam.
In recognition of Vietnam Veterans, a brief ceremony will be held at WVMP;s Flag Pavilion involving:

Flag-lined entry sidewalk to the Park’s Flag Pavilion
Introduction and opening remarks
Chaplain invocation
3 Vietnam Veterans speaking on “What Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day” means to them.
Color guard presentation of The Colors
21-gun salute
“Taps” played on the trumpet

US Army Recruit Swearing-In Ceremony
2021-03-13 11:00 UTC
New recruits joining the US Army will be sworn in at WVMP.

Wreaths Across America
2020-12-19 11:00 - 12:00 UTC
Approximately a one hour ceremony occurring simultaneously with other WAA ceremonies around the country. This local ceremony will include:

Full military honors (USAF color guard, “Taps” played live, etc)
7 wreaths mounted (1 for each branch of US military and for POWs-MIAs)

Pearl Harbor Day Commemoration
2020-12-07 08:00 - 08:30 UTC | Wichita Veterans Memorial Park, 339 Veterans Parkway, Wichita, KS, 67203, United States
“Taps” will be played on the bugle and a memorial wreath will be laid at the Pearl Harbor Memorial.

2020 Veterans Day Ceremony with playing of "Taps"
2020-11-11 10:55 - 11:30 UTC | Wichita Veterans Memorial Park, 339 Veterans Parkway, Wichita, KS, 67203, United States
This year’s program will be in conjunction with the National Salute to Veterans which is timed to match the program at Arlington Cemetery’s Tomb of the Unknowns. This year’s ceremony will start precisely at 1055 to allow for the intro to end before Taps is played at 1100 sharp, “the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.” Taps will be played throughout the entire country at this time and will continue a tradition reinstituted in 2015 and is expected to continue.

1055: Opening with welcome and recognition of guests
1100: Taps (to coincide with the National Salute)
1101: Continue with opening (this years program was planned for 2018 and was “weathered out” two years in a row.
(Of course, it is hoped this year will be different.)
1st Speaker will speak on the end of WW-I
2nd Speaker will speak on Vietnam’s Tet Offensive of 1968
1120: Ceremony will close with benediction.

Note: Times are approximate except for the opening which will be on time rain or shine.

Tolling of the Boats
2020-10-04 13:00 - 14:00 UTC
Conducted at the SS Dorado Memorial in Wichita Veterans Memorial Park.
Officiated by the United States Submarine Veterans, Inc.
The name of each USN Submarine lost will be read with:

Where it was lost,
When it was lost,
How many hands were aboard when it was lost, and
If any Kansans were aboard, their individual names will be read.

In memorium, a carnation will be thrown into the river after each submarine’s details are read.

Berlin Veterans Airlift Association Reunion (Canceled)
2020-09-23 - 2020-09-26
Canceled due to changing travel restrictions, etc associated with the COVID-19 coronavirus situation.

75th Anniversary of VJ Day (the end of World War 2)
2020-09-02 09:00 - 21:30 UTC

Remembrance of the Korean War
2020-07-27 08:30 - 09:00 UTC
Gather at the Korean War Memorial.

Independence Day Commemoration
2020-07-04 10:00 - 11:30 UTC | Wichita Veterans Memorial Park, 339 Veterans Parkway, Wichita, KS, 67203, United States
There will be American flags, a gun salute, the playing of “Taps” and other appropriate songs on the trumpet.

Commemoration of the 76th anniversary of D-Day
2020-06-06 10:00 - 10:30 UTC
A wreath will be laid at the World War Two Memorial in honor of those Allied soldiers, sailors and airmen who participated in the Allied Invasion of Europe, also known as the D-Day invasion of Normandy of June 6, 1944.
Special prayers will be said followed by the playing of “Taps” on a bugle.

(Canceled) Vietnam Veterans Day
2020-03-29 14:00 - 15:30 UTC
Due to the restrictions imposed related to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) this event has been canceled.

Wreaths Across America
2019-12-14 11:00 - 11:30 UTC | Wichita Veterans Memorial Park, 339 Veterans Parkway, Wichita, KS, 67203, United States
Ceremony with full military honors:
11AM
December 14, 2019
Wichita Veterans Memorial Park
Full military honors including:

Color Guard
Gun Salute
“Taps” bugler

Wreath layings immediately following at the following Wichita cemeteries:

Ascension
Calvary
Highland
Maple Grove
Resurrection Cemeteries

Pearl Harbor Commemoration
2019-12-07 11:00 - 12:00 UTC | Wichita Veterans Memorial Park, 339 Veterans Parkway, Wichita, KS, 67203, United States
Representatives of the US Navy will lay a wreath at the Pearl Harbor Memorial.

Veterans Day Ceremony
2019-11-11 11:00 - 12:00 (America/North_Dakota/Center) | Wichita Veterans Memorial Park, 339 Veterans Parkway, Wichita, KS, 67203, United States
Time: 11 AM
Place: Wichita Veterans Memorial Park
A presentation will be made about the 51st anniv of vietnam’s Tet 1968 attacks.

Independence Day
2019-07-04
In recognition of the Freedom that we now all enjoy.

Memorial Day
2019-05-27
To remember all those veterans who have gone before

Veterans Day
2018-11-11
To remember those who have served in the past and presently serve.
