The Rosedale Arch in Kansas City, Kansas, will be the site of a Loyalty Day Celebration planned for 11 a.m. Saturday, April 29.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars, along with the Rosedale Development Association and the Unified Government, are holding the celebration.
Andrea Steere, communications and program coordinator of the Rosedale Development Association, said the event will be of special interest to people interested in history, and to veterans. The event is open to the public, and organizers also are working with students from Rosedale Middle School.
The Rosedale Arch near 35th and Booth is a World War I memorial that was dedicated more than 90 years ago, after World War I, according to information about UG landmarks, and it is a small version of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The Rosedale Arch is on top of Mount Marty. A memorial park recognizes the soldiers of the Rainbow Division of the U.S. Infantry, which were the first troops on the ground in France during the war.
The VFW Department of Kansas, 2nd District, selected the arch as the site for the Loyalty Day Celebration for the Greater Kansas City area, especially because this year is the 100th anniversary of the U.S. entry into World War I, according to the VFW district.
The day reaffirms loyalty to the United States and recognizes the heritage of American Freedom, according to a spokesman. It started in 1955 and became an official holiday in 1958.
The city of Louisburg’s VFW Post 7348 is the host of activities this year at the Rosedale Arch. Greg Goode is the commander of the VFW Post 7348.
There will be patriotic music, a color guard, guest speakers and a wreath-laying ceremony from 11 a.m. to noon. The public is invited to the event, and there is more information at ksloyaltyday.us.
Directions to the Rosedale Arch are to go to West 39th Street, turn onto Springfield, go past Rosedale Middle School, and then to Park Drive which leads to the Arch.
In case there is a lot of rain on Saturday, the event will be held in the Rosedale Middle School gym, 3600 Springfield, Kansas City, Kansas.