Mission

Our mission is to complete the Veterans Memorial Parkway series of projects, to create a living, lasting tribute honoring those who have served and sacrificed for our country.

History

The Veterans Memorial Parkway was dedicated in 1994 by the Indiana Legislature along US 231 from Hebron to St. John as a tribute to the Lake County veterans who have served our nation in times of war and peace.  The Friends of the Veterans Memorial Parkway (FVMP) was created in 1995 to oversee the development of the Parkway, which was designated in 1994, by an act of the Indiana General Assembly. FVMP is the entity charged with the creation of the 15-mile Veterans Memorial Parkway, located in central Lake County, Indiana, and touching into western Porter County.

The inspiration for the Parkway was the establishment of the Lake County Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Stony Run County Park in 1970, marking it as the first such memorial in our country. In 1995 the Lake County Council established the Veterans Memorial Parkway Commission (VMPC) to oversee the vision of developing a series of memorials and beautification projects along the 15-mile route.  In 1998, the VMPC received a donation of two acres near Leroy, and in 2003 dedicated this property as the Lake County Korean Veterans Memorial. In 2002, the Friends of the Veterans Memorial Parkway, Inc., was established as the non-profit arm of the VMPC, who serves as the official membership of the Friends.  Both the VMPC and FVMP membership are all volunteers and serve to continue the work.

About the Memorials

The Veterans Memorial Parkway is comprised of several memorials that tell a story of those who served our country, memorializing their remembrance, for generations to cherish.