MONROE - The Green County Veterans Memorial Park Committee has been able to acquire a helicopter for the tribute park after searching for more than a decade.
GCVMP board vice president Bill Hustad was glad to accept delivery of the Huey UH-1 from a private seller in Connecticut. It will be stored locally until all funds are raised to fully pay for the new addition to the park located at the intersection of County N and Wisconsin 81 in Monroe.
"It's a sense of relief," Hustad said. "There are a lot of people who have put a lot of hard work into this. It's very hard to get a helicopter. We feel proud we could get one. "
Though Leonardo da Vinci is generally considered the original inventor of the helicopter in the 15th century, a more practical design was developed in the 1930s by Igor Sikorsky and went on to first be used in combat during the Korean War. Beginning in 1950, the use of helicopters saved countless lives through quick medical evacuations and transportation for ailing Marines before becoming more crucial for gunfire spotting and grabbing downed fliers from the Sea of Japan for the Navy.
The aircraft used initially in the conflict of Korea became an even more active feature when troops fought in Vietnam. Bell H-1 Iroquois or "Huey" helicopters were powered by jet turbine. Designed by Arthur Young to use two wide chord blades and specialized stabilizing bars, these new machines were first flown in 1956 and were later vital with transport, battlefield command and control, troop insertion and extraction, fire support coordination, search and rescue, medical evacuation and other utility roles during the Vietnam War.
Board president Larry Ayres, a Vietnam veteran who served as a pilot for the Army, was happy to see the committee was able to bring in a new piece of history to celebrate more recent veterans in the area.
"It was closure for me to some extent," Ayres said. "Give other soldiers a place for their name; that's what inspires me to do this."
The committee still has steps to take regarding the helicopter. Not only is funding still needed to properly pay for it but research needs to be conducted. Hustad said members will work to track down the history of the aircraft via a unique serial number. With the information, they can restore the machine to its prior glory with paint detailing its combat history.
Fundraising will have to continue for new additions to be made at the park in addition to the helicopter. Not only will funding still have to be pulled together as a final total for the Huey, but the park's original design has also called for a Tribute to Green County Veterans Wall and other war plaques. The GCVMP Committee has kicked off a capital campaign to raise a total of $150,000 to finish the park. They recently found momentum with a $10,000 challenge donation from Colony Brands.
During the annual dedication, planned for Sunday at the park, Hustad said they will meet at 1:30 p.m. to acknowledge the newly placed Vietnam War plaque to be installed among other war era plaques and memorial bricks engraved with names of veterans that will be put in place.
GCVMP board vice president Bill Hustad was glad to accept delivery of the Huey UH-1 from a private seller in Connecticut. It will be stored locally until all funds are raised to fully pay for the new addition to the park located at the intersection of County N and Wisconsin 81 in Monroe.
"It's a sense of relief," Hustad said. "There are a lot of people who have put a lot of hard work into this. It's very hard to get a helicopter. We feel proud we could get one. "
Though Leonardo da Vinci is generally considered the original inventor of the helicopter in the 15th century, a more practical design was developed in the 1930s by Igor Sikorsky and went on to first be used in combat during the Korean War. Beginning in 1950, the use of helicopters saved countless lives through quick medical evacuations and transportation for ailing Marines before becoming more crucial for gunfire spotting and grabbing downed fliers from the Sea of Japan for the Navy.
The aircraft used initially in the conflict of Korea became an even more active feature when troops fought in Vietnam. Bell H-1 Iroquois or "Huey" helicopters were powered by jet turbine. Designed by Arthur Young to use two wide chord blades and specialized stabilizing bars, these new machines were first flown in 1956 and were later vital with transport, battlefield command and control, troop insertion and extraction, fire support coordination, search and rescue, medical evacuation and other utility roles during the Vietnam War.
Board president Larry Ayres, a Vietnam veteran who served as a pilot for the Army, was happy to see the committee was able to bring in a new piece of history to celebrate more recent veterans in the area.
"It was closure for me to some extent," Ayres said. "Give other soldiers a place for their name; that's what inspires me to do this."
The committee still has steps to take regarding the helicopter. Not only is funding still needed to properly pay for it but research needs to be conducted. Hustad said members will work to track down the history of the aircraft via a unique serial number. With the information, they can restore the machine to its prior glory with paint detailing its combat history.
Fundraising will have to continue for new additions to be made at the park in addition to the helicopter. Not only will funding still have to be pulled together as a final total for the Huey, but the park's original design has also called for a Tribute to Green County Veterans Wall and other war plaques. The GCVMP Committee has kicked off a capital campaign to raise a total of $150,000 to finish the park. They recently found momentum with a $10,000 challenge donation from Colony Brands.
During the annual dedication, planned for Sunday at the park, Hustad said they will meet at 1:30 p.m. to acknowledge the newly placed Vietnam War plaque to be installed among other war era plaques and memorial bricks engraved with names of veterans that will be put in place.