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HomeMy WebLinkAboutVeterans Day Program 2007 AMERICA'S VETERANS THEIR SACRIFICE, OUR BLESSING VETERANS DAY PROGRAM I I NOVEMBER 200'] BRAZOS VALLEY MEMORIAL FOR ALL VETERANS COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS 5:30 P.M. MASTER OF CEREMONIES MAJOR GENERAL, USA (RET) ALVIN JONES Chairman Emeritus, BWM Board of Directors INVOCATION COLONEL TRAVIS H. SMALL, JR. Chairman Emeritus, BWM Board of Directors AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL JOEY DUNN Assistant City Manager, Bryan, TX POSTING OF COLORS TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY CORPS OF CADETS COLOR GUARD NATIONAL ANTHEM TEXAS AGGIE BAND TEXAS OUR TEXAS SERVICE MEDLEY PRESIDENT'S GREETING P. DAVID ROMEI, Px.D. President, BWM Board of Directors SPECIAL RECOGNITION BILL YOUNGKIN GOLD STAR PARENTS BWM Board of Directors WORLD WAR II VETERANS GREETINGS HONORABLE RANDY SIMS Brazos County Judge HONORABLE MARK CONLEE Mayor of Bryan, Texas HONORABLE BEN WHITE Mayor of College Station, Texas SPEAKER INTRODUCTION RANDOLPH HOUSE Lieutenant General, US Army (Ret.) KEYNOTE ADDRESS U.S. ARMY LIEUTENANT GENERAL JOHN A. VAN ALSTYNE 21 GUN SALUTE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY ROSS VOLUNTEERS TAPS BUGLER, TEXAS AGGIE BAND BRAZOS VALLEY MEMORIAL FOR ALL VETERANS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Zook . E~ VETERANS MEMORIAL DR P DAVID ROMEI PRESIDENT LIEUTENANT GENERAL, USA (RET.) RANDOLPH HOUSE VICE PRESIDENT MR JERRY E. FOX BOARD VICE PRESIDENT MR GEORGE McCoY, CPA TREASURER SERGEANT FIRST CLASS, USA (RET.) BRIAN HILTON SECRETARY, CIO COLONEL, USA (RET.) DR TRAVIS H. SMALL, JR CHAIRMAN EMERITUS BRIGADIER GENERAL, USA ~RET.~ LOUIS LYNN STUART CHAIRMAN EMERITUS MAJOR GENERAL, USA (RET.) ALVIN JONES CHAIRMAN EMERITUS MR STEVE BEACHY MR MICHAEL REAL DR RUSSELL BRADLEY CITY OF BRYAN APPOINTEE TIMOTHY N. BRYAN MS. DEBORAH JASEK MR TREY MALECHEK MR DAVID MARION CAPTAIN, USN ~RET.~ M.W. NEWMAN MR KEVIN C. SMITH ~BRAZOS COUNTY APPONTEE~ MR JOHN VELASQUEZ MR BILL YOUNGKIN 2 HISTORY OF THE BRAZOS VALLEY VETERANS MEMORIAL P. DAVID ROMEI, PH.D. In the 1990's, the City of College Station bought land between Harvey Road and University Drive East that it intended to use as a major new athletic park, featuring softball and soccer fields. As bond money for the park's development became available in 1999, the Parks and Recreation Board decided to name the park. Steve Beachy, Director of Parks and Recreation for College Station and a retired Lieutenant Colonel from the US Army, spoke to several people in the community about an idea he had to name it in honor of veterans. John Nichols of the Park Board, P. David Romei of the Arts Council and Craig Carter, representing the local chapter of the VFW all readily endorsed Beachy's idea and helped create a petition to ask the City Council to name the park "Veterans Park and Athletic Field." In the fall of 1999, the City Council, upon recommendation of the Parks Board approved the name. In the spring of 2000, a group of veterans and community leaders, Steve Beachy, P. David Romei, Craig Carter, John Nichols, Travis Small, and Debbie Jasek met to discuss the idea of using a part of the land at the new park as a memorial area for US military veterans. It was decided that a 12-acre area near what would be the southeast entrance of the park would be dedicated for the purpose of building an educational and memorial area in honor of veterans. Craig Carter was named to coordinate administrative matters as the group established itself as anot-for-profit organization; P. David Romei was appointed Chairman of the Design Committee with responsibilities for the layout of the twelve acres, art selection for a memorial, and the development of a vision and scope for the project; Steve Beachy became the liaison between the City of College Station and the developing group; and, John Nichols, a member of the Park Board, became the liaison between the Park Board and the group. In the summer of 2000, a local attorney, Larry Holt, performed the necessary legal tasks to incorporate the group in the State of Texas and with the IRS as anot-for-profit charitable organization. Shortly thereafter, Lynn Stuart, a retired US Army Brigadier General came on board as Chairman of Fundraising. Paulette Hunt came on board as Treasurer and Travis Small became Vice President and troubleshooter. In the fall of 2000, Stuart, Romei and Beachy called on the three primary government organizations in the Brazos Valley, Brazos County Commissioners Court, City of Bryan and City of College Station, and obtained a commitment from each entity to contribute $50,000 each to the project over atwo-year period. This $150,000 became the seed money for the endeavor to build a memorial. www.veterans-memorial.org 11 NOVEMBER 2007 Also, in the fall of 2000, Romei sent a nationwide call for entries out to artists asking them to reply with ideas for a veterans' memorial. Over 120 artists replied. From the 120 respondents, 25 were shown to a Design Committee made up of 16 community members. The 25 were later narrowed down in a five-hour meeting of the committee to 3 finalists in January of 2001. Each finalist was awarded $4,000 to develop a model of his sculptural design and plans for landscaping the immediate area, to include a memorial plaza. The three finalists came from California, Massachusetts and New York. In March of 2001, each of the artists visited College Station and presented his ideas and plans to the Design Committee. After careful consideration, Robert Eccleston, a former US Army Captain and member of the 10th Mountain Division, was selected and given a contract to create the sculpture that would become the center piece of the Veterans Park memorial park. The price ~~ of the sculpture was $152,000.00. Members of the BWM began to educate the public about its efforts. Speakers were sent to civic clubs, government organizations, and veterans groups. Television, radio and newspaper stories reported on the BWM's mission, vision and goals. Veterans and their family members were informed about how they could help and be included. Slowly at first, but with great enthusiasm later, thousands of people responded favorably and generously. The Wall of Honor, featuring the names of veterans, currently has over 4,500 names and the donors are in the thousands. The response has been overwhelming and would not have been possible without the patriotism of our community. As fundraising efforts continued throughout 2001, plans to develop the memorial plaza area and the sculpture's base, upon which would be the names of all honored veterans began to take shape. Larry Schueckler, a local landscape design architect, was engaged as a consultant to the Design Committee by Romei, and plans for the area developed quickly. Schueckler created many pages of detailed blueprints for the site from which the Design Committee could work. With little change to his plans, the Design Committee approved Schueckler's concept and submitted the plans and specifications to local contractors for bids. In April of 2002, Madison Construction of Bryan, Texas, was awarded a contract for $337,500.00 to construct the plaza, benches, honor walls, sculpture's base, stage, pathways, landscaping and other improvements on the site. Within two weeks of awarding the contract Madison Construction began construction. The memorial site was completed on time for the dedication ceremonies which took place on November 10 and 11, 2002. 4 The dedication ceremonies featured former President George H. W. Bush on November 10 and over 5,000 people on November 11. The Brazos Valley Symphony performed beautifully and the Ross Volunteers executed the military ceremonies with an exactness and dignity rarely seen. Dr. P. David Romei gave the keynote address, and U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady had it inserted in the United States Congressional Record on November 14, 2002; a rare tribute to the Brazos Valley and all those who worked so hard on the memorial. Since the dedication of the memorial, there have been four additions to the names - Memorial Day 2003, Veterans Day 2003, Veterans Day 2004 and Veterans Day 2005. two additions to the names, Memorial Day 2003 and Veterans 2003. Because all the space for Honor Wall names was taken by the summer of 2003, the BWM initiated an expansion in the summer of 2004. On Veterans Day 2004, the expansion was completed and now provides for an additional 6,500 names. The architect Elton Abbott and designer Tom Woodfin made significant contributions to the effort. Madison Construction effected the project under budget and on time. The beautifiil Louis Lynn Stuart Pathway was dedicated in a public ceremony on September 22, 2006. The War on Terror Memorial was dedicated on May 31, 2005 and is the first of 12 planned memorials that will be located upon the Louis Lynn Stuart Pathway throughout the 12 acre wooded site. Every war since the Revolutionary War will be included. On February 19, 2007, the Travis B. Bryan, Jr. Freedom Pavilion was dedicated in a public ceremony. The pavilion houses the computerized directory of donors and veterans and is the home of four benches dedicated to the loved ones of Brazos Valley Veterans. On November 11, 2007, we will honor the sacrifices of all our United States veterans who have given so much of themselves for America's freedoms. Texas State Judge Richard (Rick) Davis will be the keynote speaker. Brazos County Judge Randy Sims, Mayor Mark Conlee of Bryan, and Mayor Ben White will speak on behalf of our county and cities. We are proud to be a part of a community where duty, honor and country are fundamental values that we all share and respect. www.veterans-memorial.org 11 NOVEMBER 2007 HONOR WALL NAMES INSTALLED NOVEMBER 200'7 Jessica Shanti Baker Michael James Baker Hugh C. Barnett, Sr. Antonio R. Barrera Paul Mitchell Bonarrigo Edward Earl Boyd Clyde Wilburn Burch Olivia W. Burnside Glenn G. Burnside, II Glenn G. Burnside, I Christopher Buttry Juan B. Castillo Pedro B. Castillo Gene W. Clark Martin O. Cleveland John E. Coats D. Brooks Cofer, Jr. William Ottis "Tex" Collard Adam Steven Collett Donald F. Connealy Dustin Corbin Alfred E. Crenshaw Barry N. Crum Kevin R. Crum Albert Lee Culver Charles A. Debney Joseph Thomas Diviak George Brayton Dresser, Jr. Robert L. Earle USA USA USA USA USMC USA USA USMC USMC USA USMC USMC USA USA USN USAF USA USA USA USAF USA USA USA USN USA USA USA USN USA r USA USA USA USA USAF USA USAF USA USN USA USN USAF USA USMC USAF USMC USCG USA USAF USA USN USA USCG USA USA USAF USN USAF USAF William L. "Billy" Edwards Paul Anthony Emola Lawrence Eugene Everett Maurice W. Falkner Jay Melburne Gardner Judge L.M. Gardner Weldon Danforth Gardner Porter S. Garner, Jr. Alfredo Garza, Jr. Mark Allen Gorzycki James Moody Gregg Jose Armando Grimaldo Kie Adam Grocholski Herbert Byron Hancock AI Hanson Tom Hanson Henry M. Hargrave Darryl W. Hargrave Edwin H. Higgins Constance J. Hinchcliff Fred E. Hodge Joseph Wayne Holmes Juanita Davison Holmes August Joel Koch Thomas Eric Lanehart, II Fred P. Lanehart Glenn E. Lea Edward Franklin Lee Jeff B. Lilley, Jr. s . . Carl H. Manthei Paul E. Manthei Rudolph A. Manthei Daniel J. Manthei Kurt H. Manthei Homer A. Martin, Jr. Beatrice M. Martin Miller B. "Buddy" Martin Anthony Garrett McLain Rafael O. Medina Kendrick Rhodes Menefee Henry W. Moehlman, III Thomas L. Moehlman Thurston A. Mooney Gus U. Mueller Frederick W. Mueller Wayne L. Mueller Jonathan Charles Neelley Frank A. Nigro Leonard E. Olson Billy Lloyd Osborne Wilbur E. Parker Stanley Pavlas Rick Perry Lee L. Piraino Gary Ross Rackley Robert Brandon Reid Michael J. Renghofer John Edward Reyna 7 USA USN USN USN USN USA USN USN USAF USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USN USN USA USA USAF USA USMC USAF USA USN k Thomas W. Ritter Michael Bernard Roth Robert C. Russell Miller W. Russell Anthony J. Saculla Ross Joseph Scanlin Leroy J. Schoenemann Edward A. Segura A.M. "Tony" Sorensen, Jr. Raymond Wiley Stanford, Sr, Arthur A. Stocker Arthur J. Stocker Robert Sustaita Esequiel A. Tamez, Sr. Brian James Taylor Bobby Lee Twitty Michael Stuart Vance Lewis Terry Webb Billy Joe Whalin Edgar Ewing Whitley William L. Wiese Randall Mark Wiese Arlan Bill Williams John Grant Wilson Jon Patrick Wilson Ernie Wright Kevin Wayne Yargo Joe R. Zemanek USN USN USA USA USAF USN USAF USAF USA USN USA USA USA USA USAF USMC USN USMC USMC USAF USAF USA USA USA USA USA USMC USAF www.veterans-memorial.org 11 NOVEMBER 2007 ~o ETERNAL COLUMN DONORS I I NOVEMBER 200'7 Jane Mooney Adams James & Kimel Baker Mike Beal Bill & Susan Birdwell Paul & Merrill Bonarrigo Bruce & LaJuan Boyd Jo Louise Piraino Burley Glenn & Olivia Burnside 2007 Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial Board The City of College Station Management Team Cynthia & Candice Clark Tommy C. Coats Adam Collett Cecial Davis Crenshaw L.G. & Pat Crum George B. Dresser & Mary Elizabeth Dresser Billie D. Earle Janie Emola Emma Sue Everett Katherine Garza James M. Gerbig Catherine Collard Goen Mary Grimaldo, Jose Grimaldo Jr & C Marie Yandell Ronald Grocholski Tommy, Mary, Haley & Spencer Hanson Mary Hanson Barbara, Hugh Jr. & Mary Darryl & Catherine Hargrave & Family Catherine, Kaytlyn, Emily & Hayley Hargrave Lupe Hernandez Edwin H. Higgins Fred & Esther Manthei Hodge & other family members Robert & Ann Horton Heat Transfer Research, Inc. Kay M. Johnson Barbara Johnson, Tommy, Edward & Mary Lanehart & Clara Hubacek Roy W. Kelly Dad, Mom, Bailey & Hailey Patsy, Ginger, Auvye, David, Linda, Debbie, Terrie & Larry Gloria T. Lea Children of Paul -Elaine, Larry, Gail & Dennis Children of Rudolph -Chris & Jeff Manthei Esther Manthei Hodge & Children Danielle Ramsey, Clarice Fulton & Ruth Crocker Gary Manthei Ruth Martin Michelle Martinez Anne Cofer McKellar Brent & Mindy McQueen Cathy McWhorter, Wes McWhorter & Laura Greenwald Gloria & Rudy Medina Ellen R. Moehlman James & Sandy Mynar Daughters Barbara and Ellen Emil E. Ogden Carl Olson Susan Sorensen Davenport Olson Chris & Peggy Osborne & Family Cannon & Necia Perdue - CP Plumbing Barron Family, Perdue Family, Mallori McLain Ashley Province Bonnie & Vic Reid Peter Timothy Renghofer The Reyna Family B. Don & Becky Russell Jane, Elaine, Gene, Hazel, Ronald & Carolyn Mike, Sheryl, SharonJean & Wynona Ronald &SharonJean Marjorie Saculla Rosie Scanlin & Family Segura Family Johnnie Mae Stanford Terry Steelman & Clay Steelman Arthur J. Stocker Robert Sustaita Skip, Marie, Kelsey, Keaton -The Taylor Family Penny Sue Thomas Laura Thompson & Kathryn Greenwade Karen & Bill Vance Patti M. Wells Laura E. Whalin Rita Whitley William L. Wiese Nancy D. Wiese Mary & Glen N. Williams Jason Williams & Brandon Williams Brenda Wilson & Jesse Burgess Ernie Wright Liz Zemanek 13 Leroy J. Schoenemann www.veterans-memorial.org 11 NOVEMBER 2007 BRAZOS VALLEY VETERANS MEMORIAL KEYNOTE SPEAKER 200'] LIEUTENANT GENERAL JOHN A. VAN ALSTYNE Lt. Gen. John A. Van Alstyne `66 is the 38th Commandant of Cadets and Head of the School of Military Sciences at Texas A&M University. Gen. Van Alstyne became Commandant in October 2002, upon completing 36 years of service with the United States Army. Prior to his retirement from active duty, he was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Personnel Policy. A graduate of Spring Branch High School in Houston, Gen. Van Alstyne earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing from Texas A&M and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant through the University's Army ROTC program. He earned a Master of Science degree in Military Science from the Army Command and General Staff College in 1976 and a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in 1986. Prior to his last Pentagon assignment, he served as commanding general of the United States Army Training Center at Fort Jackson, S.C., and with the Army's Training and Doctrine Command at Fort Monroe, Va., as deputy commanding general for initial entry training. During his military career, he served as an infantry platoon leader and company commander, commanded a mechanized infantry battalion and a motorized infantry brigade, and was assistant division commander of the 1st Armored Division. He was an advisor to Vietnamese combat forces during the Vietnam War and served as Chief of Staff of the 24th Infantry Division during its combat engagements in the Persian Gulf War. Among the general's military decorations are three Defense Distinguished Service Medals, the Army Distinguished Service Medal, four awards of the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Star Medals, five Meritorious Service Medals, two Air Medals, and five Army Commendation Medals. He also holds the Combat Infantryman, Expert Infantryman and Parachutist Badges. Gen. Van Alstyne and wife Anita reside in College Station. They have one son and two daughters, and six grandchildren. BRAZOS VALLEY VETERANS MEMORIAL PAST KEYNOTE SPEAKERS 2002 FORMER PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH -DEDICATION SPEECH 2002 DR P. DAVID ROMEI -INAUGURAL KEYNOTE SPEECH 2003 LT. GEN. USA (RET.) RANDOLPH HOUSE 2004 TEXAS GENERAL LAND COMMISSIONER JERRY PATTERSON 2005 U.S. SENATOR JOHN CORNYN 2000 TEXAS SENATOR STEVE OGDEN 14 15 www.veterans-memorial.org 11 NOVEMBER 2007 The Board of Directors of the Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial extends its deepest gratitude to THE BRYAN FAMILY HERITAGE TRUST MR. TRAVIS B. BRYAN, JR. MR. TRAVIS B. BRYAN, III MR. TIMOTHY N. BRYAN for their generous underwriting of the TRAVIS B. BRYAN, JR FREEDOM PAVILION 16 I 17 www.veterans-memorial.org 11 NOVEMBER 2007 The Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial Board and Members express our deepest gratitude to the CITY of C,CILLEGF, S~r,~T1~ Parks eT' Recreation CITY OF BRYAN The Gond Life, Texas Style." and to CHOATE MONUMENT COMPANY, BRYAN, TEXAS To enroll names for November 11, 2008, please submit your application, accompanied by a $100 donation for each name no later than August 15, 2008 The Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial P.O. Box 11055 College Station, Texas 77842 Applications are available at the P. David Romei Arts Center, 2275 Dartmouth Street, College Station, Texas 77840 or you can visit us online at www veterans-memorial.org 18 rr Special Thanks to AMIE McCOY ~~ BRONIUS MOTEKAITIS TRAVIS H. SMALL, JR. Special Thanks to ERIC WIVAGG FOR HIS DESIGN OF THE FREEDOM PAVILION ~, DESIGNFIRST www.designfirstinc. com 19 www.veterans-memorial.org 11 NOVEMBER 2007 COPY -CORNS ~~ Service ~ Technology LARRY AND JESSICA HODGES OWNERS With deepest gratitude ~~ ARMY NAVY MARINE CORPS AIR FORCE COAST GUARD MERCHANT MARINE