Sunset Veterans Park is now home to the image of an Air Force C-123 aircraft. Here’s why

On July 27, an etched image of a renowned C-123 aircraft was installed in Sunset Veterans Park, which is located in Davis County near Hill Air Force Base. 

The C-123 gained notoriety due to its use during the Vietnam War, especially as an aircraft used to spray toxic herbicides in an effort to remove tree leaves and other foliage that provided enemy concealment. 

While not the only type of aircraft used by the U.S. military for that purpose, the C-123 was the most commonly employed. It sprayed Agent Orange and other toxic herbicides.

Because of its extensive use in chemical dispersal, it’s no wonder that the image of a C-123 appears on a granite panel of a monument honoring veterans harmed by exposure to toxic chemicals.  

That monument is the Agent Orange Memorial, and the panel with a C-123 spraying Agent Orange is prominently located on the back of the memorial above an inscription honoring victims of toxic chemical exposure. 

The inscription reads:

In honor of the warriors who bore the invisible wounds of Agent Orange — and in steadfast recognition of all Veterans exposed to toxic battlefields, from the jungles of Vietnam to the burn pits of the modern era. This memorial stands as a promise: That their sacrifice will never be forgotten, their voices will never be silenced, and those who follow will be protected.

The installation of the monument’s two back panels marks another milestone in the construction of the Agent Orange Memorial, which began in the fall of last year. 

Panels for the front of the memorial have not yet been put in place, but are expected to adorn the stately tribute in the near future. 

In the meantime, the Utah Agent Orange Veterans Foundation will continue its efforts to finish building a monument that pays homage to Utahns who have sacrificed so much for our nation.

Anyone interested in supporting the foundation’s mission can do so by making a donation at agentorangeheroes.org/donate/ or purchasing a personalized memorial brick at bricksrus.com/donorsite/agentorangeheroes.