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Home My WebLink AboutCivil War Memorial Program, April 2015CIVIL WAR MEMORIALDEDICATION Thursday, April 9, 2015 • 11:30 a.m. Lynn Stuart Pathway • Veterans Park & Athletic Complex 3101 Harvey Road • College Station, Texas 2015 Board of Directors and Officers Memorial for all Veterans of the Brazos Valley, Inc. John Anderson .........................................Audit Committee Steve Beachy ............................. Special Assistant to the President Anne Boykin........................... Chief Information Officer Committee Glenn Burnside................................................Chaplain Irma Cauley .................................Brazos County Representative Chip Dawson ...................................History Committee (Chair) Chris Dyer ..................................ACBV Ex-Officio Representative Jerry Fox ..................................................... Treasurer Mike Guidry ............................................Event Committee John Happ....................Vice President, Development Committee (Chair) Brian Hilton .................................................. Secretary Randy House ................................................. President Fain McDougal ..................................Development Committee Mike Neu ....................... Chief Information Officer Committee (Chair) Louis Newman ..................................Development Committee David Sahm .................................Design Committee (Vice Chair) David Schmitz .........................City of College Station Representative Jim Singleton ....................................Design Committee (Chair) Travis Small............................... Special Assistant to the President Mike Southerland ............................ City of Bryan Representative Perry Stephney .........................................Event Committee John Velasquez .........................................Flag Coordinator Bill Youngkin .................................... Event Committee (Chair) Veteran Affiliations American Legion . Veterans of Foreign Wars . Disabled American VeteransOrder of Daedalians . Air Force Association . Vietnam Veterans of AmericaBrazos Valley Marine Corps League . Military Officers Association of AmericaVietnam Helicopter Pilots Association Civil War Memorial Dedication April 9, 2015 CALL TO ORDER SGM Perry Stephney, USA (Ret.) BVVM Board of Directors POSTING OF THE COLORS 13th U.S. Infantry and The Texas Rifles NATIONAL ANTHEM COL Lawrence Lippke, USA (Ret.) Brazos Valley Chorale RECOGNITION OF Sul Ross Camp #1457 CONFEDERATE VETERANS Sons of Confederate Veterans INVOCATION MAJ Glenn Burnside, USMC (Ret.) Chaplain, BVVM Board of Directors ASHOKAN FAREWELL Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra by Ungar WELCOME & RECOGNITIONS LTG Randolph House, USA (Ret.) President, BVVM Board of Directors SOLDIERS’ LETTERS Bill Youngkin, Esq. Event Chair, BVVM Board of Directors KEYNOTE INTRODUCTION MAJ Stephen C. Beachy, USA (Ret.) BVVM Board of Directors KEYNOTE ADDRESS T. Michael Parrish, Ph.D. Linden Bowers Professor of American History, Baylor University THE BLUE & THE GRAY Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra by Grundman HISTORY OF TAPS SGM Perry Stephney, USA (Ret.) BVVM Board of Directors CANNON SALUTE Sul Ross Camp #1457 and 7th Texas Light Artillery RIFLE SALUTE Ross Volunteers Texas A&M University TAPS David Jones American Legion Post 159 T. MICHAEL PARRISH, Ph.D. Michael Parrish is the Linden Bowers Professor of American History at Baylor University, where he teaches courses on Texas History, the Civil War, and Religion & War in American History. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of Texas at Austin, where he also worked as a Research Archivist at the LBJ Library & Museum and taught in the History Department. Dr. Parrish is the author or editor of several books on the Civil War and Southern History. He also serves as a series editor with the University of North Carolina Press, Louisiana State University Press, and the University of Arkansas Press. Dr. Parrish was named for his great grandfather, a 2nd Lieutenant in the 37th Alabama Infantry, Confederate Army of Tennessee. His remarks are titled “The Citizen Soldiers of the American Civil War.” A BRIEF HISTORY OF “TAPS” by Chip Dawson “Taps” originated during the American Civil War, becoming an important and distinctive piece of American military music. In the summer of 1862, Union Brigadier General Daniel A. Butterfield was dissatisfied with an existing bugle call (“Extinguish Lights”) currently used in the Army of the Potomac. Working with a bugler in his brigade, Butterfield adjusted that call to his satisfaction, reshaping it to be more melodic and somber. It was called “Taps.” By the fall of 1862 “Taps” spread rapidly among other Federal units in the East, and also caught on in Confederate armies. Thus, “Taps” soon became a standard for American military funerals and memorial ceremonies as well as the bugle call played at the close of the day—“lights out” at military posts. The U.S. Army recognized “Taps” as one of its official bugle calls around 1867. Reference: Website of Jari A. Villanueva, “24 Notes that Tap Deep Emotions”/ “Taps”—WestPoint.org. Villanueva is listed as the former curator of the Taps Bugle Exhibit at Arlington National Cemetery. KEYNOTE ADDRESS Ray James (left); Andy Strybos (right) The Civil War Memorial site is located on the northwest end of the 12-acre Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial grounds at Veterans Park and Athletic Complex. The two bronze sculptures designed by J. Payne Lara were created in the likeness of typical Union and Confederate Army soldiers. The setting depicts the final days of the Civil War after extended battle campaigns. The Confederate statue, near the site’s south end leading to the War on Terror Memorial, is shown walking south in full stride. He appears to have just noticed the passing Union soldier to his left. He is heading home to an uncertain future, and his reaction is one of uncertainty and caution. The Union statue, near the small oak thicket on the site’s north end, is heading in the opposite direction. He also appears to have just noticed his former Confederate opponent. He is watchful and reflecting upon the future of his former foe as well as his own. The two statues were designed by local artist J. Payne Lara and are separated by a split-rail wood fence (typical of that era), which was installed as an Eagle Scout service project in 2012. The memorial site’s dedication plaque reads: “GOING HOME” J. Payne Lara The American Civil War was unique in this country’s history. From throughout the nation men answered the call that they believed was their duty. Most were from agricultural backgrounds but soldiers and sailors came from all walks of life. This memorial pays tribute to those veterans of both sides who endured incredibly harsh conditions, poor food, diseases, and horrendous battles large and small. Many of those who served did not survive the war, which resulted in the highest number of casualties of any American war, before or since. Those who survived their time in uniform, from the North and from the South, thus began the long trip home, facing new realities, an uncertain future, and a Union restored. Dedicated on April 9, 2015 in commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the War’s end. CIVIL WAR MEMORIAL BRAZOS VALLEYSYMPHONY ORCHESTRA String Quintet:Javier Chaparro, ConcertmasterTracy Seeger, Violin II; Amanda Wilton, Viola;David Moreno, Cello; Gaven Krase, Bass MUSIC The string quintet is a select group of musicians from the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra. Today’s performance includes a sampling of music from BVSO’s upcoming Civil War Tribute concert on April 26 at Rudder Theatre. CIVIL WAR TRIBUTE Sunday, April 26 at 5 p.m. – Rudder Theatre Tickets available at bvso.org or 979-845-1234 In this tribute to the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War, Brigadier General Joe E. Ramirez, Jr., Commandant of the Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets, narrates Copland’s inspiring Lincoln Portrait as part of the BVSO 2014-15 season finale. Under the direction of Maestro Marcelo Bussiki, BVSO will also perform the moving melodies of the film scores of Gettysburg and Lincoln. ABOUT THE SCULPTOR – J. PAYNE LARA Born in nearby Brenham and raised in Navasota, J. Payne Lara showed an early interest in drawing, and he displayed an exceptional talent for molding and shaping clay figures. Growing up in a family of cowboys, Lara’s Texas heritage serves as an important source of inspiration for his art. His true passion is the Native American Plains Indian, and he spends much of his time learning about the traditional customs and culture of the Sioux. Lara has sculpted eight other bronze statues currently on display at the Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial. His art has been featured in a variety of publications and television programs, and it continues to earn him recognition today. THE ROSS VOLUNTEERS Sincerest thanks to these partners for their generous support CITY OF COLLEGE STATION, BRAZOS COUNTY, CITY OF BRYAN ***SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS, BOOKMAN PETERS, MERVIN PETERS, ADELHEID TRANT, GEORGE NELSON ***MARY ALICE & STEVE BEACHY, DR. & MRS. JAMES B. WOODLEY, NORMA & JOHNNIE HOLLEY, BILL YOUNGKIN, TRAVIS SMALL ***RANDOLPH W. HOUSE, FAIN MCDOUGAL, JIM SINGLETON,JERRY FOX, JACODY INC., A&M TWIN CITY PAINT & BODY Many thanks to all of our contributors! The Ross Volunteer Company, the oldest special unit of the Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets, serves as Honor Guard for the Governor of Texas. Ross Volunteers attend all Texas governor inauguration ceremonies and perform the three-volley salute at Texas A&M’s Silver Taps and Muster events each year. The group first organized as the Scott Volunteers on Texas A&M campus in 1887 (then known as Texas A.M.C.) for drill precision. It was named for Thomas Scott, agent of the board of regents and business manager from 1883 to 1891. When Gov. Lawrence Sullivan Ross was appointed college president in 1891, the company was renamed the Ross Volunteers. Lawrence Sullivan “Sul” Ross was the 19th Governor of Texas and a Confederate States Army general during the American Civil War. Ross came to be known as a “Soldier, Statesman and Knightly Gentleman,” and all Ross Volunteers are expected to reflect his traits and values. The company is composed of junior and senior Corps of Cadets members chosen from among their peers on the basis of honor, humility, and character. Reference: Heathman, C. (2013, July 2). Special units within the Corps of Cadets.The Bryan-College Station Eagle. Retrieved from http://myaggienation.com. P.O. Box 11055 • College Station, Texas 77842 info@bvvm.org • 979.696.6247 bvvm.org Special thanks to J. Payne Lara | 13th U.S. Infantry | The Texas Rifles Ross Volunteers | Sul Ross Camp #1457, Sons of Confederate Veterans L.S. Ross Chapter 100, United Daughters of the Confederacy Texas Division City of College Station Parks & Recreation | T. Michael Parrish, Ph.D. Bugler David Jones, American Legion Post 159 | RDM Pros 7th Texas Light Artillery | Texas Aggie Band Drummers Programs by Music by