Bolivar student Asa Murray began the journey of creating a monument for Korea and Vietnam war veterans when he was in seventh grade. However, this was more than just a project for Murray. He felt the weight of what came before him, and this compelled him to create a public remembrance of the bravery that earned us freedom. “For 250 years, the United States has remained the land of the free, and the home of the brave,” said Murray. “But freedom requires a price to be paid. They paid the price. You may not know who they are, but they will be remembered.”
Inspired by many stories, Murray said one stood out to him. “I had originally planned to only include World War II veterans on the new monument,” said Murray. “Until I met and interviewed a Korean War veteran named Carroll Lindsey. He was a mortarman at Heartbreak Ridge, and his story and inspiration led me to expand the project to include both Korea and Vietnam veterans.” Heartbreak Ridge was a month-long military campaign during the Korea war, and Lindsey earned a Purple Heart award for his bravery.
Murray's journey started as a boy scout. “I was a seven-year-old Cub Scout when I helped Slate Rehm on his 2016 Eagle project in Dunnegan Park to honor veterans, which stayed with me. I earned my Life Scout rank when the headlines read of mobs vandalizing and removing monuments that memorialize our nation's past. Having many family members and friends who served in the military, I decided upon a lasting memorial to show veterans that my generation still remembers and values the sacrifices they made for freedom.”
This project has been in motion for almost five years, with many roadblocks along the way. “The first big hurdle was getting Scouts to approve a project of this magnitude,” said Murray. They try to discourage projects where they believe a scout cannot manage it alone, to prevent setting a Scout up for failure. However, Murray pushed forward in getting his approval, assuring that he could complete his goal. Even after Murray's initial fundraising attempt fell short, he continued to seek guidance and funding from local businesses in the community.
The monument features a B-24 Liberator named “Bolivar,” a famous B-24 that flew 81 combat missions flying 186,000 miles. According to Murray, the midnight black granite base was quarried in India. “The capstone appears to change colors depending on the time of day and sunlight," said Murray. “Several panels include scripture reminding viewers of the foundational principles on which our country was built.” The monument includes names of veterans along with the scriptures, and it stands between the Doughboy Memorial and the World War I roll call at the Polk County Courthouse in Bolivar.
