Raising Awareness of ALS: Werner Park Hosts Lou Gehrig Memorial
By Aaron Bonderson 
, Reporter/Producer Nebraska Public Media
May 28, 2021, 12:08 p.m. ·
A Lou Gehrig memorial display is at Werner Park in Sarpy County until June 16. The memorial honors the baseball great’s fight with ALS and raises awareness of the disease.
June 2 will be recognized as Lou Gehrig Day across baseball. That day in 2021 will be the 80th anniversary of the Hall of Famer’s death.
Sarpy County Tourism Director Fred Uhe says there is a lot to see at the memorial.
“Boys Town brought out the bust and the stand and a rather large poster that has a picture of Mrs. Gehrig back in 1955 when she visited the sculpture and a little bit of the history of the sculpture,” Uhe said. “The poster also has a picture of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig when they visited Boys Town in 1927.”
The sculpture was originally at Yankee Stadium in New York before Gehrig’s wife, Eleanor, donated it to Boys Town in 1948.
Uhe says that's why ALS is an important fight for him.
“I had one friend that probably within six months of his diagnosis was gone, some linger on for a few years,” he said. “I mean on one hand it’s just we all know we’re going to pass someday, but just to know you’re facing such a terrible, terrible end, I mean it’s tragic.”
ALS attacks the nervous system and weakens muscles and motor functions. The disease is treatable, but no cure has been found.
The Lou Gehrig sculpture will return to Boys Town after June 16.