Veterans say Idaho Falls isn’t taking care of memorial
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Rachel Cox-Rosen, KPVI
IDAHO FALLS – Vietnam-era veteran Frank Smith says the current Idaho Falls administration has left the Idaho State Vietnam Veterans Memorial’s lights, flags and marble floor in disrepair. He also believes the city doesn’t do enough to promote the memorial.
“It just really angers and saddens me that there are so many veterans in this town and we are so much part of the voting community, yet we’re ignored,” said Smith.
City officials say the memorial — which is in Russ Freeman Park — is under constant maintenance, but they only have $5,000 to spend on all the memorials in Idaho Falls.
However, they plan to fix the flags immediately, and say more changes are coming soon.
“Just give us a little patience here. Spring just started, but we guarantee that you will feel very happy about this memorial,” said Greg Weitzel, the Idaho Falls Parks and Recreation director. “As soon as we get the flowers planted and the painting done, it’ll look great.”
Mayor Rebecca Casper’s office gave KPVI a list of all the veterans events she’s attended since 2014, and she said she has the utmost respect for veterans.
This article first appeared on KPVI.com. It is used here with permission.