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Military Police memorial in Fort Leonard Wood MO needs help

The memorial grove needs donors to help remember fallen soldiers.

November 08, 2010|by Jay Scherder, KY3 News | jscherder@ky3.com

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo -- Nov. 11 is Veterans Day. While we recognize the Army, Navy and Marines, there's one group that often gets overlooked. A group at Fort Leonard Wood is creating a unique memorial there to honor those soliders. Their slogan is "I am of the troops and for the troops." They are members of the Military Police.

"When we think of our conflicts, we think of war fighters, infantry-type soldiers." said Military Police Regimental Association Vice President Roger Macon.

As any soldier can tell you, that's not the whole story.

"Military police support all functions on the battlefield," Macon said.

The United States Army Military Police Corps Museum at Fort Leonard Wood honors those soldiers every day.  It includes exhibits about their heroism.

"Viet Kong had gotten into the embassy grounds earlier that morning and the MPs waited until daylight to assault the front gate," said Museum Director Jim Rogers, talking about a battle during the Vietnam War.

Twenty seven MPs were killed during the Tet Offensive in Vietnam. Those soldiers are among many who are memorialized from World War 1, World War 2, Korea, and the Global War on Terror.

"It's just unfortunate that our military police numbers are as high as they are," said Macon.

While the museum has its role in honoring fallen soldiers, the Military Police Regimental Association took it a step further.

"We've got two from the Korean War, four from Vietnam, and the rest are from the Global War on Terrorism," Macon said.

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The Military Police Memorial Grove is lined with bricks honoring military police. Some of those bricks are for those who have served and others who have fallen.

"He took a look at their battalion bench that housed the name of four of his buddies that had died in Vietnam," Macon said."Immediately, he broke down in tears."

The memorial is for men and women that served from across the country.  Two hundred-sixty engraved bricks surround the memorial and another 690 still need to be put down.

The MPRA uses money from its gift shop in the museum to help fund the memorial but need the community's help to pay homage to those who preserve the freedom of the country.

It's $35 to buy a brick to place at the memorial grove. You can purchase one at the Fort Leonard Wood Museum gift shop or by visiting its website.

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