The Heartland of America Museum is creating a veteran’s memorial featuring a Huey helicopter which has been recently refurbished.
The memorial, which will be called the Salute to Veterans, will honor all branches of the United States Military and make the Huey visible from Interstate 40.
“When Jim Lovell founded the museum in 2007, he wanted to put a helicopter on display but he couldn’t find one,” Campaign Coordinator Linda White said. She became involved with the Heartland Museum after her husband, Chuck, passed away last year, and she was invited to take his place on the board.
The quest continued after Dr. Jana Lou Scott became the museum director. However, she also faced difficulties finding one.
During the museum’s search for a helicopter, the VFW in Woodward closed, leaving an abandoned Huey helicopter on the property. This helicopter was later given to man in Oklahoma City who had plans to fix it up. Due to an accident, the man was unable to fulfill his goal, and his wife later advertised the Huey was free to anyone who would haul it off.
Huey was free to anyone who would haul it off. Heartland board members soon became aware of the helicopter and quickly took ownership of it.
“At the time Dr. Scott was ill, but she was able to come down and watch it be delivered,” White said. “She was so excited she made the first $1,000 donation to our restoration fund.”
Earlier this year, a local mechanic was able to finally restore the Huey, and plans to display the helicopter are well underway.
The layout for the Salute to Veterans will be in the shape of Oklahoma with the Huey at the center. White said the idea came to her after visiting a Texas airport and seeing all the Texas-shaped novelty items.
“I thought, ‘Boy, are they proud of their state,’ and then I thought, ‘We’re just as proud of Oklahoma,’” White said.
The helicopter will be mounted on a large pipe, which is being donated to the museum. Once set in place, it will be visible to motorists along Interstate 40.
Flags from the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard will be flown on site, and local firefighter and welder Cory Selman will be making benches decorated with the emblem from each branch of the military.
An interactive kiosk will allows visitors to hear a message from a man who worked on Huey helicopter in Vietnam and the sound of the Huey as it takes off.
“To the soldiers who were in Vietnam, the sound of the Huey meant help was on its way,” White said.
The museum also wants to include a message from a Huey pilot, especially a local one.
The museum eventually will sell bricks which can be purchased in honor of a veteran. White said she will be purchasing one for her husband Chuck, who spend 20 years in the Navy, and another for her son who joined the National Guard after high school.
“The project is to support our veterans and give them the respect they deserve, and unfortunately didn’t always receive,” she said.
For more information about the veteran’s memorial project, contact Linda White at (580) 774-9803.