About 8,000 flags are going up on the Schlitterbahn waterpark grounds in Kansas City, Kansas, from the American Fallen Warrior Memorial Foundation project.
The small flags, which will be visible from State Avenue around 94th Street, are in memory of the casualties in the Wars on Terror, to honor their service during American Heroes Week through June 4, according to Jack Barnes, president of the AFWMF.
“These 8,000 casualties are about everything,” Barnes said.
He said volunteers from AFWMF, Home Depot and service organizations are helping to place the flags. Home Depot donated the flags, and the Home Depot stores in Olathe and Lawrence were represented by volunteers.
On Thursday morning, some members of the Kansas City, Kansas, Fire Department also stopped by to help place flags.
Visitors may come out and look at the flags and walk around, Barnes said. The monument project plans to have a table there to hand out information.
“We want to build community awareness; this year we chose Schlitterbahn because they said, ’Would you team up with us,’ ” Barnes said.
Barnes, who is a 24-year Navy veteran, said the project also had a similar flag display last year at City Park in Kansas City, Kansas. The American Fallen Warrior Monument Project wants to build a monument in Kansas City, Kansas.
Currently, the project will not be going to the former City Park site, but the foundation is now looking at sites in western Wyandotte County, including near the Kansas Speedway, near the American Royal area and possibly near the Woodlands area.
Visitors may view the flags from the parking lot area without paying an admission fee to the Schlitterbahn waterpark. Schlitterbahn will offer American Heroes Week from May 29 through June 4. The waterpark will open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, May 26, continuing those hours through May 29.
From Memorial Day, May 29, through June 4, members of the military, police, firefighters and EMTs will receive free admission at all Schlitterbahn waterparks. U.S. military veterans also will be admitted for free. Spouses and dependents will receive 50 percent off the regular price of a ticket.
Those who receive free admission and discounts will need to show their military identification or their proof of employment at the waterpark ticket booths. Members of the military who receive free admission will include active duty, retirees, veterans, reservists and Department of Defense. For more information, see www.schlitterbahn.com/kansas-city.
