Supporters
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"America stands today, a beacon of freedom and democracy to the
world, because generations of her sons and daughters have put aside
personal safety, ambition and financial gain to wear the uniform of
military service.
It is not only right, but essential that we and future generations
not forget the sacrifice these brave men and women have made. That
is why I am proud to lend my enthusiastic support to Pittsburg State
University's effort to establish a permanent memorial to those who
have served in our Armed Forces."
Senator Robert J. Dole |
Campaign Leadership
"It is a real honor to be a part of this veteran's memorial project.
The fact that veterans from World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam
and Desert Storm will all be honored through this memorial is very
personal for me in that my uncle served in the Air Force during World
War II and my brother-in-law served in the Navy during the Korean
Conflict. May our thoughts and prayers always be with everyone who
has served our country so proudly with the ultimate sacrifice of many
with the giving of his or her life."
George Zugmier, of Scottsdale, Arizona, a 1964 graduate of Pittsburg
State who served with U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division in Vietnam
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"I am honored to be a part of this effort to bring a veterans memorial
to Southeast Kansas. I have had the opportunity on several occasions
to visit the Vietnam Wall in Washington D.C. As a veteran, I know
what impact visiting that site has on me. If we can share even part
of that sense of history and importance of military service with people
of all ages and backgrounds, I think we will have accomplished a very
worthwhile goal," Bishop said.
Jim Bishop, a 1965 graduate of PSU was a combat fighter pilot with
the U.S. Air Force from 1965 to 1970. |
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Larry Salzman
Larry Salzman has a long history of military service and a connection
to Pittsburg State. He served a pivotal role in advancing the idea
of bringing the "Moving Wall" back to southeast Kansas
as part of a permanent memorial to veterans.
Salzman served in the US Army from 1957 to 1977, including two
tours in Vietnam as a chief warrant officer and helicopter pilot.
Raised in Iowa, he came to Pittsburg State in 1966, where he was
stationed for two years on active duty as a member of the ROTC staff.
He now lives in Girard, where 10 years ago he played a key role
in obtaining the traveling Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Wall
for temporary display, and in erecting the Huey Helicopter Memorial
on the northeast side of the courthouse square. In 1994, Salzman
struck up a friendship with John Devitt, owner of the "Moving
Wall," when the traveling tribute to Vietnam Veterans was on
display in Girard. Salzman served a pivotal role in bringing university
leaders together with Devitt, which eventually resulted in the donation
of the "Moving Wall" to the PSU Veterans Memorial.
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John Devitt
John Devitt was an Army helicopter gunner in Vietnam. After the
war, he returned to his native San Jose, CA and in 1982 traveled
to Washington, DC for the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
That experience inspired Devitt to create a half-sized moving wall
so more people could share in that powerful experience. Devitt’s
Moving Wall first went on display in October 1984, in Tyler, TX.
Eventually, the one wall became three, all traveling simultaneously
to large cities and small towns across the US. Through his work
with the traveling walls, Devitt has brought the memorial in honor
of Vietnam Veterans to thousands of people across the country who
may never have the opportunity to see the permanent memorial in
Washington, DC. In 2002, Devitt designated the PSU Veterans Memorial
at Pittsburg State University as the permanent home for the first
of his Moving Walls to retire.
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