The world's largest umpire can be seen in Ryan, Iowa. Since 1981 the former Happy Chef icon from a restaurant in Cedar Rapids, has been calling outs in a second career at Ryan's baseball diamond. His right hand once held a big spoon as a restaurant chef. Restorers fashioned the spoon into a finger, added face mask and hat, and gave him a new paint wardrobe.
In 2004 the 42N town of Ryan, Iowa received a Cobra Gunship via local VFW 6637 - Manchester and the US Department of Defense. Today the impressive static display can be seen as part of an all military branches memorial near the center of town. Some of these US Army airships served in Vietnam and in the more recent conflicts before being replaced by the Apache helicopter. US Marines however still utilize a variation of the two engine Cobra gunship fitted with modern avionics and weapon systems. An inscription located at the apex of the memorial park in Ryan reads, 'Freedom is not free.' Know that.
