Leavenworth in Leavenworth County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
A Lasting Friendship
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 22, 2010
1. A Lasting Friendship Marker
In 1997, the cities of Leavenworth, Kansas and Omihachiman, Japan became Sister and Brother cities. The two cities are connected because of the civic and religious commitment of one man, Mr. William Merrell Vories.
Vories was born in Leavenworth in 1880. In 1905, he traveled to Omihachiman as a YMCA evangelistic teacher and missionary. Vories dedicated his life to Christian principles and remained in Japan for the remainder of his life. He established numerous civic and entreprenurial organizations to support his missionary work. His legacy includes the establishment of the Christian Omi Brotherhood, the Vories Architectural Company, the Omi Pharmaceutical Sales Company, the Omihachiman Christian School, and the Omihachiman Vories Memorial Hospital. His work as a missionary, businessman, architect, social worker and educator significantly contributed to the Japanese and Omihachiman communities.
Mr. Vories' accomplishments are legend to the Japanese people. Numerous Japanese delegations continue to visit Leavenworth to pay homage to Mr. Vories and his birthplace. The cities of Leavenworth and Omihachiman celebrate Mr. Vories and his social, educational and religious teachings. Based on this common bond, our two cities have formed a lasting friendship.
October 12, 2008
Erected
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Education • Industry & Commerce • Peace. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1967.
Location. 39° 19.244′ N, 94° 54.587′ W. Marker is in Leavenworth, Kansas, in Leavenworth County. Marker is on Esplanade Street, on the right when traveling north. Memorial is in North Esplanade Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 207 North Esplanade Street, Leavenworth KS 66048, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Bleeding Kansas (within shouting distance of this marker); Lincoln at the Planters (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The First Public Park in Kansas (about 600 feet away); The Great Railroad Era (about 700 feet away); Law Offices of Sherman, Ewing, and McCook (about 700 feet away); General William Tecumseh Sherman (about 700 feet away); Leavenworth's Union Depot (about 800 feet away); Riverfront Community Center (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Leavenworth.
Also see . . .
1. Leavenworth, Kansas. City website homepage (Submitted on May 2, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Omihachiman, Japan. Wikipedia
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 22, 2010
2. A Lasting Friendship Marker
Missouri River in background
3. William Merrell Vories. Japanese Wiki Corpus website entry (Submitted on January 14, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 22, 2010
3. A Lasting Friendship Marker
Looking north in North Esplanade Park
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 22, 2010
4. Symbol on A Lasting Friendship Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on September 12, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 1, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 592 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 2, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
