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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTexas WWII Dedication ProgramTEXAS WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL STATE CAPITOL GROUNDS AUSTIN, TEXAS Dedication August 15, 2007 `At the core, the American citizen soldiers knew the difference between right and wrong, and they didn't want to live in a world in which wrong prevailed. So they fought and won, and all of us, living and yet to be born, must be for- ever profoundly grateful ......They were the sons of democracy, and they saved democracy. We owe them a debt we can never repay. " -from his book- "The Victors" - Stephen Ambrose "After talking to so many of them and reflecting on what they have meant in my own life, I now know that it is in those small ceremonies and quiet moments that this generation is appropriately honored. No fanfare is re- quired. They've heard the speeches. They know what they have accom- plished, and they are proud. They will have their World War II memorial and their place in the ledgers of history, but no block of marble or elaborate edifice can equal their lives of sacrifice and achievement, duty and honor, as monuments to their time. " -from his book "The Greatest Generation" -Tom Brokaw TEXAS WORLD WAR ll VETERANS WELCOME TO YOUR MEMORIAL! HONORABLE MILITARY SERVICE UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE ~~~ DURING WWII THE AIR ARM OF THE UNITED STATES WAS KNOWN AS THE US ARMY AIR FORCE. PRIOR TO 2 JULY 1926 IT WAS A PART OF THE US ARMY SIGNAL CORPS. FROM 2 JULY 1926 UNTIL 20 JUNE 1941 IT WAS THE US ARMY AIR CORPS. ON 18 SEPTEMBER 1947 THE US DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE WAS CREATED WITH THE US ARMY AIR FORCE AS ITS FOUNDATION. UNITED STATES NAVY UNITED STATES ARMY UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS ~~~ UNITED STATES ARMY AIR FORCE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD August 15, 2007 On behalf of the Texas World War II Memorial Committee, we welcome each of you, AND ESPECIALLY THE TEXAS WORLD WAR II VETERANS, to this dedication. Because of the generous support of numerous individual Texans, fellow veter- ans, associations, Texas corporations, and foundations, our "Greatest Genera- tion" of Texans finally get the long overdue tribute, esteem and apprecia- tion for their commitment, bravery, perseverance and sacrifice they so richly and rightly deserve. We are extremely proud of the unselfish project team effort as displayed by the staff of the State Preservation Board, our architects, Turner Partners Architecture, LLP, our granite fabricator, New England Stone, our general contractor, Austin Stone and Tile and our bronze fabricator, Valley Bronze of Oregon. Your pride in the project is evidenced by the beautiful finished product. We also deeply appreciate the outstanding administrative support we received from the Department of Texas -VFW Foundation and its financial advisor, Noble Trust Company. Thank you all. Together, we made it happen! May God continue to bless Texas and the United States of America. Grr~ ~~,Grxw~c/ Jim Duncan Co-chairman Larry Soward Co-chairman TEXAS WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL The Memorial honors the 830,000 Texans who served in the Armed Forces of the United States during World War II, the more than 22,000 who gave their lives and the millions who supported the war effort from home. The Memorial honors the spirit, sacrifice and commitment of Texas to the common defense of our nation and to the broader causes of peace and freedom throughout the world. It serves as an inspiration to future generations of Texans, deepening their appreciation of what the World War II generation both sacrificed and accomplished in protecting freedom and democracy. As an exact replica of the Texas Pillar at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D. C., the Memorial stands as an abiding symbol of Texas' contribution to the American national unity during World War II and a timeless reminder of the moral strength and awesome power that comes when a free people are united and bonded together in a common and just cause. August 1 S, 2007 TEXAS WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL COMMITTEE JIM DUNCAN 8~ LARRY SOWARD Co-Chairmen JOHN BRIEDEN GLEN GARDNER BOB HANKS Committee Members CAROL CASTLEBURY BETSY CHAPMAN DIANE SMITH Support Staff PROJECT ARCHITECT TURNER PARTNERS ARCHITECTURE, LLP PROJECT GENERAL CONTRACTOR AUSTIN STONE & TILE GRANITE FABRICATOR NEW ENGLAND STONE LLC BRONZE SCULPTURE CASTING VALLEY BRONZE of OREGON PILLAR ARCHITECT FRIEDRICH ST. FLORIAN BRONZE SCULPTURE ARTIST RAYMOND KASKEY STATE PRESERVATION BOARD GAYE POLAN -EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DOUGLAS YOUNG - PROJECT DIRECTOR U.S. DEPARTMENT of the INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE JOSEPH M. LAWLER, REGIONAL DIRECTOR DEDICATION PROGRAM PRELUDE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BAND OF THE GULF COAST, CARSWELL AIR FORCE BASE WELCOME JAMES E. NIER, MASTER OF CEREMONIES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION PRESENTATION OF COLORS TEXAS MILITARY FORCES LIVING HISTORY CAMP MABRY, AUSTIN, TEXAS NATIONAL ANTHEM AIR NATIONAL GUARD BAND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE REPRESENTATIVES OF BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA, TROOP 3 AND TROOP 408, AND LONE STAR COUNCIL -GIRL SCOUTS OF AMERICA TROOP 753 AND WALNUT CREEK INVOCATION CHARLES LAIRD, CHAPLAIN TEXAS LONE STAR CHAPTER KOREAN WAR VETERANS ASSOCIATION WELCOMING REMARKS THE HONORABLE RICK PERRY GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF TEXAS THE HONORABLE DAVID DEWHURST LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF TEXAS RECOGNITION OF JAMES E. NIER DISTINGUISHED GUESTS DEDICATION PROGRAM MEMORIAL TEAM STORY JIM DUNCAN 8~ LARRY SOWARD CO-CHAIRMEN: TEXAS WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL COMMITTEE INTRODUCTION OF THE THE HONORABLE TOM CRADDICK, DEDICATION SPEAKER SPEAKER OF THE TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DEDICATION SPEAKER MAJ. GEN. ROBERT IVANY, USA (Ret.) PhD., PRESIDENT, ST. THOMAS UNIVERSITY HOUSTON, TEXAS PRESENTATION OF THE LARRY SOWARD 8~ JIM DUNCAN MEMORIAL TO THE STATE OF TEXAS "AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL" MS. KAREN PRYOR "TAPS" AIR NATIONAL GUARD BAND BENEDICTION CHARLES LAIRD CONCLUDING REMARKS JAMES E. NIER POSTLUDE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BAND Texas World War II Memorial Dedication Speaker Major General Robert Ivany, ret. Bob Ivany has presided over one of the nations most respected institutions for the education of strategic leaders: the U. S. Army War College in Carlisle, Ps. There for three years, he instituted programs to develop the eezt generation of military and civilian leaders from the United States and 42 foreign countries to meet the challenges of cultural change, organizational transformation and a drastically altered national security environment. Serving as the Commandant of the War College capped Ivany's 34- year career in the Army. During his various commands as an armored cavalry officer, he led soldiers in the United States, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the Federal Republic of Germany and Vietnam, where he was wounded in action and decorated for valor. When not assigned to troop units, he assisted several nations in the transformation of their armed forces. In 1990, Ivany was the first senior officer invited to Hungary to contribute to the democratization of their defense establishment. He lived in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait with his family, advising military and civilian leaders on the modernization of their military forces following Desert Storm. In Kuwait, he headed the Americas effort with a team of 45 advisors managing a $1.2 billion program to improve their education, training and logistics. Ivany also served in a number of unique positions, including the Army Aide to the President of the United States from 1984 to 1986 and as an assistant professor of history and football coach at the United States Military Academy at West Point. As the Commanding General of the Military District of Washington, he directed a diverse organization of 5,500 civilian and military employees based on seven installations in three states and the District of Columbia. After completing his Army service in October 2003, he joined the faculty of the Graduate School of Business, Columbia University, as an adjunct professor in Executive Education. Dr. Ivany and his wife, Marianne, reside in Houston, Texas where Dr. Ivany is currently the eighth president of the University of St. Thomas. They have four children, three of which are currently serving as Army Officers, and three grandchildren. Many veterans, veterans organizations, individuals, corporations, foundations, and trusts contributed to the construction of this memorial. Some gave large sums -others gave smaller amounts that for them represented a sacrifice as large as the largest gift. To all we say a heartfelt "Thank You". Without each of you, this memorial would still be a dream. PRIME UNDERWRITING SPONSORS ~ $ zs,ooo ~ Albert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation Samsung Austin Semiconductor MAJOR UNDERWRITING SPONSORS ~ ~io,ooo co ~zs,ooo The Gordon and Mary Cain Foundation Texas Elks State Association Bob Jones The Strake Foundation PRIME SPONSORS ~ $s,ooo co $lo,ooo ~ The Honorable David H. Dewhurst H. E. Butt Grocery Company IESI Corporation Locke Liddell & Sapp, LLP Public Strategies GA LLC Brenda Pejovich Silver Eagle Distributors, LP Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4372 KEY SPONSORS $i,ooo to ~s,ooo ~ Joe B. and Helen Allen The Honorable Victor G. Carrillo CenterPoint Energy The Honorable Warren D. Chisum Daniel D. Clinton, Jr. Delta Waste Services, LP Mr. and Mrs. James S. Duncan The Honorable Troy Fraser Dan Haley PAC Mr. 8~ Mrs. Robert C. Hanks John D. Head, Jr. R. Bruce Laboon Larry Martin Mr. and Mrs. Frederick R. Meyer Joanna B.Peavy Dan Pearson KEY SPONSORS (Continued) ~ $i,ooo to $s,ooo> Hance Scarborough Wright Woodward 8~ Weisbart LLP Stan Schlueter Consulting Larry R. Soward Steelhammer Family Foundation Texas Gas Service Texas Gulf Coast Chapter -The Chosin Few, Inc. Texas Lone Star Chapter -Korean War Veterans Association The Honorable Jeff Wentworth The Honorable Beverly Woolley SUSTAINING SPONSORS ~ ~soo to $i,ooo Reggie Bashur John Brieden Walter Fisher & Associates Willliam E. Graham Cliff Johnson RBC Dain Rauscher, Inc. U. S. Ecology Texas LP The Honorable Leticia Van de Putte John J. Vay Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1806 Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8790 Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8790 Ladies Auxiliary The Honorable Tommy Williams Winstead Sechrist & Minick, PC PATRONS (Up to $500 ) American Legion Edwin Hardy Post No. 9 American Legion -11`h District American Legion Buddy Wright Post 48 Casey M. Bearden Dan and Michaels Black Elton Bomer Calvin C. Boykin, Jr. The Honorable Kim Brimer Lloyd A. Crabb, Jr. The Honorable Tom Craddick The Honorable Dianne White Delisi Robert M. Fowler Wyma Green and Thomas Wall Ingrid K. Hansen The Honorable Jerry Patterson James D. and Ann Patton Ben T. Phillips, Jr. Quorum Public Affairs, LLC Paul E. and Dalton L. Renner Travis E. Riley Saitas Z3< Arenson Malcolm E. Verdict Veterans of Foreign Wars -Department of Texas Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1815 Roger M. Willhite William J. Williams Donald Wood CREDITS The Texas World War II Memorial Committee extends special thanks to the following individuals or organizations who generously contributed their time, services or goods to help make the Texas World War 11 Memorial and its dedication ceremony a successful reality: Joe B. Allen, Attorney at Law H. E. Butt Grocery Company Boy Scouts of America, Troop 3 Boy Scouts of America, Troop 408 Lone Star Council -Girl Scouts of America, Troop 753 Lone Star Council -Girl Scouts of America, Walnut Creek Service Unit Bob Hanks Metrocare, managed by Acadian Ambulance Texas Historical Commission The Men and Women of the Texas Military Forces, Camp Mabry, Austin, Texas Texas Military Forces Museum, Camp Mabry, Austin, Texas Travis County Sheriff's Department TEXAS IN WORLD WAR II . Over 830,000 Texans served in the Armed Forces during World War II. Over 22,000 Texans gave their lives in ultimate sacrifice. . 4,011 Texans missing in action. In 1940, Texas accounted for 5% of the U. S. population, but provided 7% of the Nation's military personnel during the war. 1.5 million soldiers, sailors, airmen, coast guardsmen and marines from all over the U. S. were trained in Texas. Texans fought in all branches of the Armed Services and in every theater of war during World War II. 12,000 Texas women served in the Armed Forces. Texas was home to 175 major military installations, plus numerous minor ones - - -including 65 Army airfields, 35 Army forts and camps and 7 naval stations and bases. There were also more than 60 prisoner of war camps - - - more than in any other state. 160 Texans attained the rank of General or Admiral during World War II. . 33 Texans were recipients of the Medal of Honor, the Nation's highest recognition for military valor. i