The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fountain at 4181 Broadway Blvd. in the Westport neighborhood honors the 451 Kansas City-area casualties of the Vietnam War through a granite name wall and a cascading five-pool fountain designed to symbolize the arc of American involvement in the conflict.

The memorial

The memorial occupies the corner of Broadway Boulevard and Vietnam Veterans Memorial Drive in Old Westport, maintained by the KCMO Parks & Recreation Department. It was designed by David M. Baker, a retired architect. Construction proceeded in two phases: the granite wall was dedicated December 16, 1985, and the fountain and surrounding park were dedicated September 6, 1986.

The water feature consists of five rectangular, interconnected pools of descending size arranged so water flows from a higher pool at the south end northward into two separate pools. The progression from smaller to larger pools represents growing American involvement in the war; the turbulent middle section evokes escalating conflict; and the final division into two pools stands for the split in American public opinion over Vietnam. The water itself is described in the memorial’s framing as a symbol of time’s capacity to cleanse and heal.

The Kansas City Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. commissioned the project. Art Fillmore served as chairperson of the original foundation and authored a healing inscription on the memorial’s plaque. After vandalism drew national attention, aviation-parts businessman and Air Force veteran Del Dunmire donated more than $250,000 to complete the fountain.

What it commemorates

A semi-circular granite wall displays the names of 451 Kansas City-area casualties of the Vietnam War — men and women killed or missing in action whose home was the KC metropolitan area. The Service Medal and Purple Heart Medal flank the name field. A headstone marked “Goodbye My Friend” honors deceased veterans. Visitors regularly leave flags and flowers at the base of the wall.

The memorial is distinct from the national Vietnam Veterans Memorial (the Wall) in Washington, D.C., designed by Maya Lin and dedicated November 13, 1982.

Annual events

Twice-yearly ceremonies are held at the site: one for Memorial Day in May and one for Veterans Day in November. The fountain was non-operational for several years due to pump failure before a replacement pump was installed in July 2023; ongoing restoration work includes capstone repair and lighting replacement.

See also

westport, liberty-memorial, wwi-doughboy-at-westport, kansas-city-kansas, civil-rights-era-kc, liberty-memorial-sculptures, The KS.City Wiki

See also

Categories
  • Wiki Page
  • Monument
  • Westport