fbpx
Crawford County, Kansas CVB | Crawford County Events | Travel Industry
Fishing License | Hunting License | State Park Fees

Explore Crawford County

Category: Military Landmarks & Memorials

Spiderleg Bridge Trail

by

1 W Lake Rd
Farlington, KS 66734
(620) 362-3671
ksoutdoors.com/State-Parks/Locations/Crawford

0.5 mile walking trail. ADA accessible. Closed-spandrel arch bridge over Branch of West Fork Dry Wood Creek on Saint Louis-San Francisco Railroad. Built in 1914 to replace a wooden bridge. Includes remains of a 19th century U.S. military outpost.

State park permit is required for access.

PSU Veterans Memorial Amphitheater

by

1909 S Rouse Ave
Pittsburg, KS 66762
(620) 235-4762
psuvetmemorial.org

Plaza includes 3,400 engraved pavers, reflecting pool, and a retired Moving Wall – a replica of Vietnam War Memorial Wall that traveled the country.

The permanent location of one of three Moving Wall structures, the Pittsburg State University Veterans Memorial Amphitheater is located on the east end of the university’s campus. Since it was dedicated on Memorial Day in 2004, more than 100,000 visitors have walked through this tribute to all veterans.

The memorial was designed as a park setting to accommodate individual contemplation and provide a setting for educational programs, memorials, and other special events.

The Moving Wall is a half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Three structures were created. Due to wear, one was retired and put on permanent display at the PSU Veterans Memorial Amphitheater.

The memorial also includes a reflecting pool with an eternal flame, patriotic bronze sculptures, and more than 1,000 engraved granite pavers paying tribute to veterans and veterans’ organizations.

Crawford County Historical Museum

by

651 U.S. 69
Pittsburg, KS 66762
(620) 231-1440
crawfordcountymuseum.com

The largest museum in the area. Thousands of pioneer, mining and bootlegging artifacts. Visit our authentic one-room school and grocery store.

Explore the colorful history of Crawford County and it’s residents through the interesting exhibits. Indoor displays feature vintage clothing, photos, coal mining and farming artifacts, printing exhibits and horse-drawn vehicles. Outdoor exhibits include a one-room school house, an authentic neighborhood grocery store, and coal mining steam shovel.

Civil War Memorial

by

Cherokee Cemetery
Cherokee, KS 66724
(620) 457-8413

Civil War Union Soldiers memorial at Cherokee Cemetery. Erected in 1912 Grand Army of the Republic Shiloh Post 56 in memory of soldiers of War of 1881-65.

The grave of Shiloh Post 56 member Allen Reese is located within the Cherokee Cemetery. Born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1844, Reese died March 25, 1918. A former slave, Reese enlisted in Co. D., 16th U.S. Vol. Inf. Following the Civil War he moved to Hopkinsville, Kentucky, before settling in Cherokee. A member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church for 45 years, Reese had served in nearly office in his local church, and was a local preacher and a class leader at the time of his death.

Arma Veterans Memorial

by

N 5th St and E Washington St
Arma, KS 66712
(620) 347-4125
armakansas.org

Built shortly after World War II, the Arma Veterans Memorial honors local veterans through the joint support of the City of Arma and the Arma American Legion. The American flag and four flags of the armed forces – Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines – stand in front of the building. The memorial also includes a plaque representing the names of local veterans who have served the United States in war.

Arma also holds an annual V-J Homecoming celebration in recognition of veterans, with concurrently held alumni reunions and outdoor activities for families to enjoy.

The idea for the Veterans Memorial came after W.W.II. The American Legion wanted something to honor local veterans. The City of Arma did the construction. The structure was built shortly after the war. The City takes care of all the maintenance as well as adding any new names. Recently the City installed four new flags along with the American Flag. The 4 flags represent the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. The Legion paid for the materials and the City will take care of the flag replacements. The names on the plaque represent local veterans who have served our country in any war. Arma’s V-J Homecoming which began in 1946 celebration started as a way to honor veterans returning from World War II it has evolved over the last five decades into a family festival. VJ Day was August 15, 1945, the day the victory over Japan was celebrated by the Allied nations. In early August, the United States unleashed the secret weapon – the atom bomb- and devastated the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Rumors of peace began to circulate but many Americans feared that a final battle with Japan was inevitable. However, on the evening of August 14, the rumors were confirmed: Japan’s army agreed to lay down its arms and throughout the Pacific guns fell silent. There was a sense of collective relief when the impending invasion of Japan was unexpectedly cancelled by the advent of the atomic age. On September 2, 1945, on the deck of the battleship USS Missouri, the Japanese finally signed the official surrender document. Americans commemorated the official end of World War II with the first observance of V-J Day – “Victory Over Japan”. That Labor Day weekend marked the end of almost four years of devastation, loss and sacrifice for the nation. More than 300,000 Americans in the armed serviced died in Europe and the Pacific arenas. The very next year Arma celebrated it’s VJ Day in connection with homecoming activities and the VJ Homecoming Celebration was born. It has been said it is the oldest running VJ Day or WWII celebration in the country. This tradition has gone on since 1946. It celebrates the return from the war for local veterans. Each year the celebration is held the second week-end in August.