The idea for the Cuba War Memorial came from two brothers, W.D. (Delbert) and Phil Mullen, who had a vision to recognize war veterans, in honor of their fallen brother, Cliff.
During his second tour in Vietnam, in November 1968, Clifford T. Mullen suffered life-threatening burns. Cliff spent his dying days in Japan, and in response, the U.S. military provided the funds for his mother to fly overseas so she could sit at his bedside during his last days. However, there was no money for his father Henry to accompany her.
But true to their nature, the citizens of Cuba showed their compassion and raised almost $1,000 within a week in the month of December. They were able to send Henry to Japan, so he could join his wife in saying goodbye to their son.
In 2007, Cliff’s brothers, Delbert and Phil, decided they wanted to commemorate their brother’s sacrifice and those like him, who equally served and/or gave their lives for their country. And they wanted to do it while their mother, who was in her 90s at the time, was alive to see it. Within two years, with a Crawford County Foundation grant and support of its members and others in the community, the Cuba War Memorial was unveiled.
Located at 308 North Smith Street, Cuba, MO, the stunning red granite sculpture in the shape of a pyramid with a flying eagle on top was erected in 2008, just in time for a Veteran’s Day dedication. It memorializes those who served and died for our nation during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, Lebanon-Grenada War, Panama Conflict, Persian Gulf War, and Afghanistan-Iran War.
On the Cuba War Memorial’s dedication day, local and state officials gave tribute, an honor guard placed a wreath on the memorial while a bagpiper played in the background, and the heads of many bowed in respect. In the crowd, 97-year-old Florence Mullen stood by her son Delbert. And at the end of the formal ceremony, like several others, she reverently reached out to touch the stone where the names of six of her seven sons’ names were etched, her fingers tracing the letters.
Today, people from all over visit the memorial and recognize those who gave for our greater good. It is in that spirit of giving that CCF continues to pour into our county and communities.