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USSVI FLASH-01: Accident topples USS Dorado memorial in Wichita (KS) Veterans Park Submitted by: Pat Householder on 7/28/2009

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When visitors to Veterans Memorial Park on Saturday discovered a memorial knocked down, some immediately thought it was a case of vandalism.  But on Monday, the story of what happened became more clear, and it appears the memorial was not intentionally damaged, according to Wichita police.

They said it was an accident ...due to the condition of the aged and decayed grout that held the 1,000 pound memorial to it's concrete base.  Two women who were in town for a church convention were taking pictures at the park Thursday, when one leaned against the 6-foot tall memorial and tipped it over, according to Wichita police.

The memorial that was damaged last week pays tribute to the men who were lost aboard the USS Dorado on Oct. 12, 1943.

Blake (project manager for Operation Ensign, a project of Veterans Memorial Park of Wichita Inc.) said that it is owned by the Dry Docked Dolphins, the Kansas chapter of the U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II. On Monday, he continued to try to contact members of the Kansas chapter to let them know about the damage.  He estimated the damage at about $10,000.

Blake said people who want to help with repairs may send donations to: Veterans Memorial Park of Wichita Inc.; P.O. Box 4754, Wichita, KS 67204. He said donations should be marked for: "Dry Docked Dolphins repair."

NOTE:  USSVI Memorials Chair Ray Wewers is making contact with the USSVI Dorado Base to see how they can assist, and the SVWWII leadership has been advised of the problem. The USSVI Charitable Foundation will likely contribute to the repair. 

Go to the link for the story and a picture.

http://www.kansas.com/196/story/907790.html

Are these photos of the same memorial?

How did the shorter stone fall in the opposite direction?

Edited by GaryKC 2009-07-28 6:10 PM

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Actually the newer type grouts are an epoxy type and much more resistant to shrinking or losing their grip. Also of course most of the memorial stones that are of any size are wider than taller. There are normal ways to mount the stones to their bases that most monument companies use. When we did the Regulus Stone at Pt. Magu, the company we got the stone from, sent along pictures and explanations of good ways to build the bases and secure one to the other. But you are right in that many of the older stones, might need to be resecured to their bases.

Viejo