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Veterans Memorial Garden

Lincoln Parks Foundation Launches Bricks of Honor Fund

Through the Bricks of Honor Fund, Lincoln Parks Foundation provides a Brick of Honor at Veterans Memorial Garden free of charge for veterans who are facing financial challenges.

The Bricks of Honor Fund was started by the family of Sgt. Claude Frerichs, who passed away in December 2021. A proud Marine veteran who served in Vietnam from 1968-1971, Claude was a longtime member of the Veterans Memorial Garden Advisory Council. It was the wish of Claude’s family that his memorial gifts go towards the creation of the Bricks of Honor Fund.

“Lincoln Park Foundation is humbled to start the Bricks of Honor Fund in memory of our friend, Claude Frerichs. We are deeply passionate about the Bricks of Honor program. This Fund will allow us to honor veterans who need assistance to purchase a brick on their own. We thank the Frerichs family for inspiring this program,” said Executive Director Maggie Stuckey-Ross.

If you are interested in nominating a veteran for this program,

please fill out this form.

If you are interested in making a financial contribution to this Fund, 

please click here.

 

Claude speaking with a veteran in Fall 2021.


About the Garden

A visit to this site in Lincoln’s historic Antelope Park will take you on a walking tour of over thirty-seven military monuments and memorials. A place of solemn beauty, the garden allows peaceful reflection and serves as a permanent reminder of the sacrifices veterans have made to preserve our freedom. The Veterans Memorial Garden is located within Antelope Park at 3200 Veteran’s Memorial Drive.

Visitor Information

Garden hours are 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. 
Admission is free, donations are accepted.
Restrooms are available from April to October.
Parking is available north and south of the garden.
For everyone’s enjoyment of the garden, please:

  • Do not pick the flowers
  • Attend to children at all times
  • Stay on the paths and lawn areas
  • Leash your dog; pick up and dispose of pet waste
  • Walk your bicycle
  • No skateboards or roller blades
History

During the first week of June 1989, thousands gathered at Antelope Park to view the traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall. The area where the “Wall” was located, originally a ball field, became a sacred area for many people and was never the same.

By 1991, the Persian Gulf War brought a new wave of pride and patriotism. As a result, communities, states and the nation as a whole banded together to give proper recognition and honor to veterans of that time, and all eras. Through efforts of the Lincoln community, the area was officially named the “Veteran’s Memorial Garden.”

The Veteran’s Memorial Garden Advisory Council was formed to recommend policy on issues relating to the development, design, programming and preservation of the Garden area and all memorials contained in the Garden. The Council is comprised of mayoral appointed members committed to creating a place and promoting events to honor all veterans and their families, past and present.

Through the Council, an endowment account has been established to help maintain the Garden.

Military Memorials and Monuments

There are 37 memorials, monuments and tribute benches in the Garden today, including: Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, Sgt. Reuben S. Fuss Bench, Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, US Navy Seabees, US Marine Corps 1775, Special Forces - Silent Knight Warriors, China Burma India, Purple Heart Recipients, Disabled American Veterans (All Wars), US Navy Armed Guard WWII, All American Ex-Prisoners of War, 551st Strategic Missile Squadron, All Airmen, Nebraska's WWII Women Service Pilots, Nebraskans Who Served, US Merchant Marines, US Coast Guard, Bricks of Honor, Silent Death - The Final Chapter, MIA POW, Korean War Memorial, WWII, Statue of Liberty replica, 1917-1918 Memorial Avenue Tribute, Tuskegee Airmen & Buffalo Soldiers, Airborne, Nebraska's Fallen Heroes Post 9-11, Military Medical Personnel, All Military Women, Doolittle Raiders, 98th Air Refueling Vets Association, K-9 Corps, and All Veterans of the Civil War.

What You Can Do

Bricks of Honor

A "Brick of Honor" is available for all Veterans, living or deceased, who received an Honorable or General Discharge. Bricks for Veterans organizations and Auxiliary organizations will be accepted. The cost of a brick is $150. Click the link above for the downloadable form. All proceeds from brick sales go to improvements and maintenance of the Veteran’s Memorial Garden.

An annual dedication of newly placed bricks is held on the second Saturday in June at 10:00 a.m to dedicate all new “Bricks of Honor” in the garden and to celebrate the existence of Lincoln’s unique Veteran’s Memorial Garden. Brick order forms turned in by March 1 will be dedicated at that year's event.

Call our office for more information: 402-441-8258.

Garden Events

Many events are held at the Veteran’s Memorial Garden recognizing special days like Memorial Day, Patriots Day, Veteran’s Day and Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. On these and other holidays, all 46 flags are flying in commemoration. 

Veteran’s Memorial Garden Advisory Council

The Veteran’s Memorial Garden Advisory Council is comprised of 11 volunteer, mayoral appointed members, 7 of which must be Veterans. For more information about how to be part of this Council, visit parks.lincoln.ne.gov and type the keyword: veterans garden. 

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