Home of several special events throughout the year, Wheeler Park is located at 1801 McCulloch Blvd., adjacent to the Kmart shopping center. Dedicated in honor of the nation’s veterans and soldiers, annual Veterans Day ceremonies are hosted at the park following the Veterans Day parade.
A Vietnam War Memorial stands at Wheeler Park in honor of Havasu Veterans. Ken Gallagher/RiverScene
In September, a ceremony is held there to honor Gold Star Mothers, those mothers who have lost their children in wars. In December, a Christmas tree lighting ceremony welcomes the holiday season with caroling, hot chocolate, and an appearance by Santa Claus for the children.
The central location is home to Havasu’s Vietnam War Memorial, on which are mounted plaques honoring two Havasuvians, Carey Dean Harmon and Scotty Ray Broadston, who were killed in action in the Vietnam War.
A prominent feature of Wheeler Park is the granite Soldier Statue that honors soldiers lost in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The statue came to Lake Havasu from Massachusetts when the Lake Havasu Freedom Foundation’s request letter was selected in a nationwide contest, and the statue was dedicated at Wheeler Park on May 30, 2010.
Ken Gallagher/RiverScene
A Veteran’s Day ceremony is held every November in Wheeler Park. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene
Military Moms lead Pledge of Allegiance during a ceremony at Wheeler Park. photo Ron Silva.
A lighting of the Christmas tree is held every December in Wheeler Park. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene
Trees are lit for the Christmas season every December. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene
Was kind of surprised that the origin of Wheeler Park was not covered in your article. It covers a brief description of what and how the Park is seen in todays history, but might have been nice to also mention that James A. Wheeler Park was built and dedicated in 1965 and was named for James A Wheeler who was the first Arizona Air Force pilot killed in Vietnam. The first fountain at the park was also one of the hi-lites of the city with it’s multi colored fountain that shot up into the air and was the city’s first Park.