Mannford, Oklahoma - Veterans Memorial & Blue Star Memorial By-Way

The memorial consists of a flagpole set in a grassed area, in the center of a circular concrete walk, inlaid with personalized etched bricks. The walk is bordered on the west by a curved, raised and capped, stone wall with 4 capped stone pillars. The wall is set into a hillside and is bounded on the sides by 2 end pillars that rise somewhat above the level of the primary wall. In the middle part of the wall’s arc are two larger and taller stone pillars, a lowered section of the primary wall, and a stone cap that frame a central inscribed gray granite tablet. Both of the taller interior pillars mount a bronze plaque. The central tablet is inscribed: IN HONOR AND MEMORY TO ALL OUR VETERANS THE FOLLOWING MEN GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY WORLD WAR I (There follows the names of 3 veterans) WORLD WAR II (26 veterans are named) KOREA (3 veterans are named) VIETNAM (4 veterans are named) GULF WAR (1 veteran is named) On the left (south) interior pillar is a bronze plaque inscribed: PRISONERS OF WAR (Duration of captivity is also noted) WORLD WAR II (5 veterans named) KOREA (3 Veterans named) GULF WAR (1 veteran named) On the right (north) interior pillar is a bronze plaque with a bright blue 5-pointed star inscribed: BLUE STAR MEMORIAL BY-WAY A TRIBUTE TO THE ARMED FORCES OF AMERICA MANNFORD GARDEN CLUB 1969 – 2012 NATIONAL GUARDEN CLUBS, INC. Along the concrete walkway are inlaid bricks with the etched names, branch of service, rank, unit of assignment, special status (e.g. Killed in Action, Missing in Action, Prisoner of War, and Medal of Honor & Purple Heart – Wounded in Action recipients). Conflict periods include the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Post-WWII Occupation, Korean War, Vietnam War, and Gulf War. The Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard Branches of Service are represented, as well as service with the National Guard, and Civil Defense organizations. (Note: The Memorial contains the names of veterans representing Mannford, as well as 12 other towns in the surrounding area. A total of 4 counties are likewise represented.) (Note: Mannford is a city in Creek County, Oklahoma, in the northeast part of the state, some 21 miles west of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The population in 2016 was 3,139.) (Note: Blue Star Memorial By-Way markers (plaques) are placed in approved sites across the country to honor service in the U.S. Armed Forces. They are used in locations such as in local parks, gardens, or at veterans memorial sites. The program is an initiative of the National Garden Clubs, Inc., and began in 1994. The plaques are a cast-aluminum, copper & olive drab green-colored plate with gold-leaf raised lettering. The markers are some 12” high and 20” wide, and designed to be mounted on stone, masonry or wood. These plaques have dedicatory wording: “A TRIBUTE TO THE ARMED FORCES OF AMERICA.” The focal point is the large blue star, which rises from the plate to a point above the top center edge of the plaque. The sponsoring garden club is recognized, as may be the cooperation of the entity authorizing or assisting in its placement (e.g. municipality, civic or veterans service organizations.) (Note: The Blue Star symbol is borrowed from a World War I tradition to recognize serving members of the Armed Services. That tradition continues with a blue star centered on special banners (flags) with a white field and red border. The banner is typically displayed in homes, to denote a family member actively serving in a war or during a period of armed conflict.)