Memorial Park (Omaha)
Memorial Park is a park located at 6005 Underwood Avenue near the Dundee neighborhood of Omaha, Nebraska. The park was created as a memorial for all of the men and women from Douglas County who have served in the armed forces. History. Originally proposed by a local citizen in an editorial to the "Omaha World-Herald", a group of businessmen and leaders, including Storz Brewery owner Robert H. Storz and the Omaha Zoo namesake Henry Doorly met to discuss a memorial. A site was chosen near Omaha University, where Happy Hollow Club and the Dundee Golf Course  were located. The Memorial Park Association was created, and in 1948 it raised funds to create a monument in the park. On June 5, 1948 President Harry S. Truman dedicated the site. In 1959 the Omaha Rose Society added a rose garden, and in 1990 Woodmen of the World added flagpoles and flags along the driveway coming into memorial park. A pedestrian bridge over Dodge Street called the Memorial Park Pedestrian Bridge was completed in 1968. The park was the site of several anti-Vietnam War protests by youth activists in the late 1960s and early 1970s. At Memorial Park , there are over 1,000 rose bushes. Events. On the last Friday in June, there is a concert in the park along with a fireworks show in commemoration of the Independence Day (United States) holiday. Originally, the show was sponsored by Commercial Federal Bank. Later, the event was sponsored by Bank of the West. Currently, the event is called "The City of Omaha Celebrates America." The event attracts over 50,000 people each year to picnic, listen to music and watch an amazing fireworks presentation with friends and family. Many stake out large spots every year, like this patriotic display affectionately referred  to as "The World's Largest American Flag Blanket!" Some claim it can be seen from space. Here are the musical acts who have performed there: 1987 - The Lettermen 1988 - Bobby Vinton 1993 - Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, The Drifters 1994 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Bobby Vee 1995 - Frankie Avalon, Sha Na Na 1996 - The Temptations 1997 - The Four Tops, America 1998 - Neil Sedaka, The Shirelles 1999 - Blood, Sweat & Tears, The Drifters 2000 - The Righteous Brothers, The Supremes 2001 - The Beach Boys, Gary Puckett 2002 - Creedence Clearwater Revisited, The Spinners 2003 - The Village People, The Pointers 2004 - (rained out ) The Doobie Brothers, Three Dog Night Also in 2004, 311 played at Memorial Park for free in celebration of Omaha's 150th Anniversary. There were over 40,000 people there to celebrate. 2005 - The Doobie Brothers, Three Dog Night, Mulberry Lane 2006 - REO Speedwagon, The Fifth Dimension 2007 - KC & the Sunshine Band, Little River Band 2008 - (rained out) Kool & The Gang, .38 Special 2009 - The Guess Who, Grand Funk Railroad 2010 - The Bank of the West Celebrates America concert marked its 20th year in Omaha in 2010 by bringing the national “United In Rock” tour of Foreigner, Styx, and Kansas to  the annual free live concert and fireworks show in Memorial Park on Friday, July 2, 2010. Officials estimated attendance reached a record 80,000 attendees. 2011 - Cheap Trick, .38 Special, Take Me to Vegas. The stage moved (permanently) to the Dodge Street side of the Park for the 2011 concert. 2012 - Huey Lewis and the News, Mockingbird Sun, Scarlett Drive. 2013 - Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Loverboy 2014 - Smash Mouth, Blues Traveler, Sugar Ray, Uncle Kracker 2015 - Joan Jett, Eddie Money 2016 - Kenny Loggins 2017 - Kool & the Gang 2018 – Starship featuring Marty Balin 2019 – Little Steven & the Disciples of Soul 2020 – (event  cancelled due to Covid Pandemic concerns) 2021 – (event scheduled for 8/28/21)