Oklahoma Medal Of Honor Memorial Unveiled On Veterans Day At Manuel Perez Park In Oklahoma City

Press release from the City of Oklahoma City:

November 9, 2020

Mayor David Holt and other civic leaders will unveil the new Oklahoma Medal of Honor Memorial at Manuel Perez Park in a ceremony on Veterans Day.

The ceremony is at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the park, 21 SE 17th Street.

The memorial plaza is dedicated to every Oklahoman who earned the Congressional Medal of Honor, the military’s highest award for valor. The new park is named for Manuel Perez Jr., an Oklahoma City native who earned the medal on Luzon in the Philippines on Feb. 13, 1945.

“We’re happy to be able to properly honor Medal of Honor recipient Manuel Perez with this new park and memorial,” said OKC Parks Director Doug Kupper.

The west side of the park has two futsal courts and a basketball court, along with enhancements to a skate park. There’s also a new parking lot. A grand opening for the west side of the park is scheduled for 2021.

The memorial plaza honors the Medal of Honor recipients, and it’s next to a large new pavilion with Hispanic architecture and a children’s playground.

Military dignitaries will be among other speakers at the unveiling ceremony. Perez died a month after the action during which he earned the Medal of Honor, and he’s buried in Oklahoma City’s Fairlawn Cemetery.

Visit okc.gov/parks or follow @okcparks on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter for more information about parks and recreation in Oklahoma City.

This press release was produced by the City of Oklahoma City. The views expressed here are the author’s own.