Vietnam veterans raise money for statue in Davenport Veterans Memorial Park
On Friday, Chapter 776 of the Vietnam Veterans of America took donations outside Hy-Vee 53rd and Utica Ridge Road. The group wants to raise $10,000.
The veterans want to represent how they were perceived with such negativity when they came back home from the war.
The statue will depict a soldier carrying another soldier on his back, with the title 'No One Left Behind.'
'The Veterans Memorial Park is a fantastic place to go, just to pause and reflect. Then for us (veterans,) we can walk over when we have the statue in place, We can see a pride in the fact that we served, we were there and after we came home and having not been received real well, have been able to rise above that,' said Rod Kjersten, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 776 vice president elect.
The group will be outside the Hy-Vee store again from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.
For more information, visit here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
37 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Suspect in the stabbing deaths of a couple in an Arkansas state park is booked in jail
The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world's population sees AP journalism every day.
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Family of 13-year-old Erin Ko speaks out after fatal sailboat crash in Miami
The family of Erin Ko, a 13-year-old girl who died in a sailboat crash earlier this week off Miami Beach, released a public statement Thursday expressing gratitude for the outpouring of support and requesting privacy as they grieve the loss of their "beloved Erin." On Thursday afternoon, Alvin Wu, Erin's uncle and godfather, issued a statement to the media on behalf of the Ko family. "The Ko family wishes to extend our deepest gratitude for the outpouring of compassion and support following the tragic loss of our beloved Erin Ko," the statement read. "On July 28th, our lives were forever changed by a devastating accident that took Erin from us far too soon, leaving our family heartbroken beyond words." "Our grief extends to all those affected by this tragedy. We hold the other victims and their loved ones in our hearts, sharing in the profound sorrow this loss has brought to so many," Wu continued. "During this unimaginably difficult time, we kindly ask for privacy as we mourn Erin and honor her beautiful life. We hope you will understand our need for space to grieve, reflect, and begin the long journey toward healing." The family also shared a selection of photos and said they plan to speak more publicly about Erin's life in the future. "Until then, we are immensely grateful for your kindness, respect, and understanding." On Wednesday, Colegio San Pedro Nolasco Vitacura in Santiago, Chile, posted a tribute on Facebook confirming Erin's death. The school said Erin had attended from 2016 until 2024, when she moved to the United States with her family. "She was a beautiful, happy, healthy girl who had her whole life ahead of her," said Paula Escobar, Erin's former homeroom teacher. Elementary school director Francisca Aburto added, "Erin left a mark that's indelible. So that's very important for us to pass that on. While she was here, she was a light for us, for our school. For me, I also taught Erin before taking over as principal. I was her teacher in fifth grade, and in sixth grade. It was a wonderful experience…" The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner's Office confirmed Thursday that Erin and 7-year-old Mila Yankelevich died from accidental drowning. Both were aboard a sailboat when it was struck by a barge in Biscayne Bay, between Hibiscus Island and Monument Island. Authorities said the vessel, carrying five campers and a camp counselor, was dragged under the barge, which had a crane on top and what appeared to be pilings for a dock. The barge was supporting construction work in the Miami Beach area. Two other children—an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old girl—remain in critical condition at Jackson Memorial Hospital. A 12-year-old girl and a 19-year-old woman were evaluated at the scene but were not hospitalized. The children were participating in a summer sailing camp operated by the Miami Yacht Club and affiliated with the Miami Youth Sailing Foundation.
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Trailblazing Black journalist buried in unmarked grave in Yonkers finally getting a headstone
A trailblazing Black journalist, born enslaved just before the Civil War, lies in an unmarked grave in Yonkers, but soon, an elaborate headstone will help preserve his place in history. As CBS News New York's Tony Aiello reports, it's an honor 101 years in the making. John Edward Bruce, also known as "Bruce Grit," was one of the America's leading Black voices in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He founded several newspapers and wrote one of the first novels featuring a Black detective. "He was internationally renowned ... both as a reporter and as an opinion maker," said Robert Baskerville, with the urban think tank RiseUp. "And he was also widely known across the world as one of the pioneers of the Pan-Africanist movement." Baskerville says it's sad to realize Bruce was laid to rest in an unmarked grave. Hundreds attended his 1924 burial at Oakland Cemetery in Yonkers, including Bruce's close associate Marcus Garvey, but Bruce's fame did not equate to fortune. He wasn't a rich man, and whatever plans there may have been for a headstone, it was never installed. "You know, a few years later, we faced the Great Depression. So I guess it was something that just slipped through the cracks of history," said Harold McKoy II, with Rise Up. Now, private and public funds have paid for a black granite headstone etched with a portrait of Bruce. It will soon be installed, marking the final resting place of a man dedicated to preserving Black history. "It was important to him that Black culture was acknowledged and us as Black individuals knew our history," McKoy said. Baskerville and McKoy say it's a fitting tribute to a trailblazer and the legacy of Bruce.
