Son wants dad's memorial at airport restored
Warren Brown was only member of 185th killed in Vietnam
By Nick Hytrek Journal staff writer | Posted: Wednesday, December 05, 2007
SIOUX CITY -- It's understandable that a son would like to see his father's death in service to his country properly memorialized.
But refurbishing the Warren Brown memorial at Sioux Gateway Airport goes beyond remembering a father's sacrifice. When paired with the nearby statue honoring Col. Bud Day, it would be a reminder of all those who have served their country, said retired Air National Guard Maj. Troy Brown.
Today he'll approach the airport Board of Trustees with a plan to spruce up his father's memorial, a brick-and-concrete square planter that stands near the airport terminal entrance.
"I'd like a fundamental agreement that the memorial, as it exists right now, I think it's not representative of the way this city, this community, has always honored my father's sacrifice," said Brown, who retired from the Air National Guard in 2001 and is a lawyer in Maryville, Tenn.
Brown was 7 when his father, 1st Lt. Warren Brown, died during a combat mission in Vietnam on July 14, 1968, at age 29. Warren Brown was the only member of the Sioux City-based 185th Tactical Fighter Group, Iowa Air National Guard -- now known as the 185th Air Refueling Wing -- killed in the war.
A memorial to Brown was built in 1969 and placed in the parking lot of the former Bellas Hess department store at South Lewis Boulevard and Glenn Avenue, site of the current Hillcrest Shopping Center. It was moved to the airport in the early 1980s.
Sioux City's efforts to honor his father have always been fitting, Brown said, until the flagpole was removed from the memorial about five years ago.
"That has been the only disappointment," he said.
He became more determined to do something after his mother, Patricia Brown Feldick, died in June 2006 and he visited the memorial, which is moldy and shows signs of age on the plaque bearing his father's name. Brown said he'd like to rebuild the memorial to include a granite pedestal with a flagpole.
"This memorial does not do my father's memory or sacrifice justice," the 1980 East High graduate said. "I will do it on my own dollar because I don't want money to be an issue here."
During his meeting with the airport board, Brown said, he will also present a letter from his younger brother, Todd, who has many of the same concerns.
The board's president said he would be willing to listen to the family's concerns.
"Let's see what he wants, what the plans are and how that interacts with the (airport's) future plans," said Dan Kaplan.
A memorial consisting of a base with a flagpole and plaque is not unreasonable, Kaplan said.
"I just don't see that as a particularly difficult request," he said.
Brown said he's willing to make sure the memorial blends in with the airport and complements the nearby statue of Day, a Sioux City native, former Air Force pilot and decorated war hero who spent nearly six years as a prisoner of war after his jet was shot down over North Vietnam.
The 185th Air Refueling Wing, where Troy Brown served from 1981 to 1988, would like to see the memorial upgraded so that more people know who Warren Brown was, said wing executive staff officer Lt. Col. Stephanie Samenus.
"It's good for people to see that and remember not only him but all others that have given their life for their country," Samenus said.
Brown said he'd like the memorial to include an engraving of the poem "High Flight," written by John Gillespie Magee Jr., a World War II pilot whose words describing flight are inspirational to many pilots. The poem could give those who stop to read it a moment to reflect on the sacrifices of not only his father but all pilots, Brown said.
"It could cause people to contemplate what all military pilots feel," Brown said. "You have to come away from that with a broader view of what sacrifice is."
Nick Hytrek can be reached at 712-293-4226 or nickhytrek@siouxcityjournal.com.
But refurbishing the Warren Brown memorial at Sioux Gateway Airport goes beyond remembering a father's sacrifice. When paired with the nearby statue honoring Col. Bud Day, it would be a reminder of all those who have served their country, said retired Air National Guard Maj. Troy Brown.
Today he'll approach the airport Board of Trustees with a plan to spruce up his father's memorial, a brick-and-concrete square planter that stands near the airport terminal entrance.
"I'd like a fundamental agreement that the memorial, as it exists right now, I think it's not representative of the way this city, this community, has always honored my father's sacrifice," said Brown, who retired from the Air National Guard in 2001 and is a lawyer in Maryville, Tenn.
Brown was 7 when his father, 1st Lt. Warren Brown, died during a combat mission in Vietnam on July 14, 1968, at age 29. Warren Brown was the only member of the Sioux City-based 185th Tactical Fighter Group, Iowa Air National Guard -- now known as the 185th Air Refueling Wing -- killed in the war.
A memorial to Brown was built in 1969 and placed in the parking lot of the former Bellas Hess department store at South Lewis Boulevard and Glenn Avenue, site of the current Hillcrest Shopping Center. It was moved to the airport in the early 1980s.
Sioux City's efforts to honor his father have always been fitting, Brown said, until the flagpole was removed from the memorial about five years ago.
"That has been the only disappointment," he said.
He became more determined to do something after his mother, Patricia Brown Feldick, died in June 2006 and he visited the memorial, which is moldy and shows signs of age on the plaque bearing his father's name. Brown said he'd like to rebuild the memorial to include a granite pedestal with a flagpole.
"This memorial does not do my father's memory or sacrifice justice," the 1980 East High graduate said. "I will do it on my own dollar because I don't want money to be an issue here."
During his meeting with the airport board, Brown said, he will also present a letter from his younger brother, Todd, who has many of the same concerns.
The board's president said he would be willing to listen to the family's concerns.
"Let's see what he wants, what the plans are and how that interacts with the (airport's) future plans," said Dan Kaplan.
A memorial consisting of a base with a flagpole and plaque is not unreasonable, Kaplan said.
"I just don't see that as a particularly difficult request," he said.
Brown said he's willing to make sure the memorial blends in with the airport and complements the nearby statue of Day, a Sioux City native, former Air Force pilot and decorated war hero who spent nearly six years as a prisoner of war after his jet was shot down over North Vietnam.
The 185th Air Refueling Wing, where Troy Brown served from 1981 to 1988, would like to see the memorial upgraded so that more people know who Warren Brown was, said wing executive staff officer Lt. Col. Stephanie Samenus.
"It's good for people to see that and remember not only him but all others that have given their life for their country," Samenus said.
Brown said he'd like the memorial to include an engraving of the poem "High Flight," written by John Gillespie Magee Jr., a World War II pilot whose words describing flight are inspirational to many pilots. The poem could give those who stop to read it a moment to reflect on the sacrifices of not only his father but all pilots, Brown said.
"It could cause people to contemplate what all military pilots feel," Brown said. "You have to come away from that with a broader view of what sacrifice is."
Nick Hytrek can be reached at 712-293-4226 or nickhytrek@siouxcityjournal.com.
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Jim wrote on Dec 5, 2007 7:17 PM:
charlie blumer wrote on Dec 5, 2007 1:48 PM:
Away from Siouxland wrote on Dec 5, 2007 10:25 AM:
FRAN PALMERSHEIM wrote on Dec 5, 2007 10:23 AM:
Terry Kilbeg wrote on Dec 5, 2007 10:02 AM: