Supporters

"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

George Zugmier

"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

 

Jim Bishop

"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.

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. Larry passed away 4 March 2009. He lived in Girard, KS, where 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.

 

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.