Broken Arrow Unveils New Monument To Honor Korean War Veterans

The Korean War is often called the Forgotten War. In Broken Arrow, city leaders want to make sure the hundreds of Oklahomans who lost their lives serving are remembered.

Local artist David Nunneley created this statue of a soldier for Broken Arrow’s Veterans Park, but he passed away last month, before it could be dedicated. His grandson, Davis, was there for the unveiling.

"This is so cool," Nunneley said. “It is cool for our family, and it's cool for our veterans, which is why we did this. It's really great that we got to honor my grandfather, but really this is about the veterans."

Nunneley’s grandfather was passionate about history and every detail of the statue, from the weapons and helmet to the shoes had to look exactly like what soldiers wore during the Korean war.

"The history behind the work of art was his favorite process,” Nunneley said. “The research behind, getting every detail right, it just was his favorite part."

In order to get those details right, Nunneley’s grandfather talked with Korean War Veterans, like Clarence Oliver.

Oliver enlisted in the national guard when he was 17 and shipped out to Korea four years later. He said he was happy to help Nunneley on this project.

"Our generations is disappearing rather rapidly, and I feel blessed to be alive and help the family and help the community unveil this new statue,” Oliver said.

Now this lasting reminder gives comfort to the Nunneley family, that their loved one’s legacy will live on through the statue he created.

"I just have a lot of love for him and my grandma and a lot of respect for the veterans and Broken Arrow,” Nunneley said. “This is awesome."

Nunneley made 24 monuments in his career.