Veterans Fight to Keep Iowa City Airport Jet Memorial

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A pair of Iowa City veterans, Howard Horan and Steve Miller, are fighting to keep a Vietnam War-era F-86 Sabre jet memorial located at the entrance of the Iowa City Municipal Airport. The city is considering replacing the memorial due to increasing maintenance costs, but the veterans say the jet is an important tribute to all who served and they plan to fundraise and address the Airport Commission to keep it in place.

Why it matters

The jet memorial has stood at the Iowa City airport since 1972, serving as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. As the city weighs removing the memorial, it highlights the ongoing debate over how to best honor military service and preserve local history and landmarks.

The details

The F-86 Sabre jet was installed at the Iowa City Municipal Airport's entrance on South Riverside Drive in 1972 as a memorial to Vietnam War prisoners of war. However, city officials are now considering replacing the memorial, citing increasing maintenance costs estimated at $10,000 in repairs. Officials from the Clinton Airport have expressed interest in moving the jet to their facility.

• The F-86 Sabre jet memorial was installed at the Iowa City Municipal Airport in 1972.
• The Iowa City Airport Commission is set to discuss the memorial's future at its next meeting on Thursday.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Iowa City Airport Commission is set to discuss the future of the Vietnam POW memorial jet at its next meeting on Thursday. Veterans Horan and Miller plan to attend the meeting and advocate for keeping the memorial in its current location.