No other war monument on the Capitol grounds honors an American ally. The Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument goes above and beyond to do so.

We are disappointed that the very people on whose behalf we went to war are choosing not to stand shoulder to shoulder with Texas Vietnam veterans to honor our service; however, their right to live and speak in freedom is exactly what we fought for. We hope they remember that 3,417 Texans died to afford them this privilege.

The Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument Committee will continue its work to complete and dedicate a monument fitting of the sacrifice of our fallen and the service of our fellow Texas veterans who served honorably in our nation’s Armed Forces in the Vietnam War.

Robert Floyd, Chairman
Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument Committee

The exhibit includes 3,417 hand-embossed military-style “dog tags” bearing the names, ranks, branches of service, dates of loss, and homes of record for each Texan who died in the Vietnam War. A blank tag honors those Texans known only to God who perished in or because of the war.  An identical set of tags will be entombed in the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument.

Eriq Moquin, son a Vietnam veteran, designed the exhibit, which was produced by Excalibur Exhibits for the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument.

The Texas Vietnam Heroes Exhibit will travel across Texas as part of the monument’s continuing educational mission.  It opened March 24, 2013, in the Great Hall of the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum in Austin in conjunction with the Reading of the Names ceremony, and will remain in the LBJ Library through July.

Lyrics | Creedence Clearwater Revival lyrics – Proud Mary lyrics

Sunday, March 24  - A Reading of the Names of the 3,417 Texans who died in Vietnam conducted by more than 110 volunteers will be held at the Lady Bird Johnson Auditorium of the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library from 8:30 a.m.– 5:30 p.m.  On the same day, the Texas Vietnam Heroes Exhibit of 3,417 hand-stamped dog tags honoring each Texan will open in the Great Hall of the LBJ Library. Parking and admission at the Library are free.  An evening reception for veterans and families will be held at 6:00 p.m. at Austin’s historic Scholz Garten. Several family members of Texans killed in the Vietnam War will be participating in both the Reading of the Names and the reception.  Hundreds of Texas Vietnam veterans from across the state are expected to attend.

Monday, March 25 – The monument Groundbreaking Ceremony will take place on the Texas Capitol Grounds at 10:00 a.m. Texan Joe Galloway, the combat correspondent whose best-selling book We Were Soldiers Once, and Young, recounts the battle for which he was the only civilian awarded the Bronze Star with a ‘V” for Valor, will deliver the keynote address.  Ms. Karoni Forrester, the Texas State Coordinator of the National League of families, will also speak.  Forrester’s father, U.S. Marine Corps pilot Captain Ronald Wayne Forrester was shot down in Vietnam and remains among those listed as Missing In Action. Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson will serve as the Master of Ceremonies.  The ceremony is free and open to the public.  Full information, including information about special hotel rates and how to make reservations for the reception, is available at http://buildthemonument.org/groundbreaking-events.

The Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument will honor all Texans who served in the Armed Forces in the Vietnam War, which officially ended 50 years ago. The 3,417 Texas Heroes of the war will be individually remembered by the entombment of personalized dog tags bearing their name, rank, branch of service, hometown and date of loss.

U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam veterans Don Dorsey and James Hart are hand-stamping each tag.  The tags will be dedicated for entombment during the Groundbreaking, then carried in vintage military vehicles accompanied by Patriot Guard and Combat Veteran Motorcycle Riders to Bastrop. The people of Bastrop will host a Receiving Ceremony at 2:00 p.m. at the Deep in the Heart Art Foundry where the bronze monument is being built.  The monument, now in the clay stage of production, will be available for public viewing at the foundry.  A duplicate set of the Hero Tags will be displayed for the public in the Texas Vietnam Heroes exhibit.

]]> http://buildthemonument.org/news/historic-tribute-to-3417-fallen-heroes-tcvvm-groundbreaking-events/feed 0 http://buildthemonument.org/uncategorized/texas-capitol-vietnam-veterans-monument-groundbreaking-events?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=texas-capitol-vietnam-veterans-monument-groundbreaking-events http://buildthemonument.org/uncategorized/texas-capitol-vietnam-veterans-monument-groundbreaking-events#comments Sun, 20 Jan 2013 06:19:42 +0000 tcvvm http://buildthemonument.org/?p=2501 The Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument will celebrate its Groundbreaking on March 24 and 25 in Austin with a special tribute to the Texans who died in the Vietnam War. All Texas Vietnam veterans are invited to attend the events which are free and open to the public.

On March 24 a Reading of the Names of the 3,417 Texans who died in Vietnam will be held at the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library auditorium from 8:30 – 5:30. On the same day, the Texas Vietnam Heroes Exhibit of 3,417 hand-stamped dog tags honoring each Texan will open in the Great Hall of the LBJ Library. An evening reception for veterans and families will be held at6:00 p.m. at Austin’s historic Scholz Garten. The monument Groundbreaking Ceremony will take place on the Texas Capitol Grounds at 10:00 a.m. on March 25. Texan Joe Galloway will deliver the keynote address. Full information, including how to make reservations for the reception, is available at http://buildthemonument.org/groundbreaking-events.

The Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument will honor all Texans who served in the Vietnam War. The 3,417 Texas Heroes of the war will be individually remembered by the entombment of personalized dog tags bearing their name, rank, branch of service, hometown and date of loss. The tags will be dedicated for entombment during the Groundbreaking. The monument will be dedicated in the fall of 2013. Please visit www.buildthemonument.org to learn more about the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument.

“To see so many — 18, 18, 18, maybe 19 — and then you start, every once in a while, to see a 20- or 21-year-old. But most of them are under 20. And this is just Texas. You see sheets and sheets, just line after line of nothing but 19- and 20-year-olds — kids.”

Don’t miss Austin KXAN’s Jim Swift’s great story about the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument 3415 Project!

Beaumont Mayor Becky Ames and VVA Chapter 292 President Kerwin Stone, joined by many volunteers and sponsors, brought this unforgettable event to life.

The weekend kicked off with a veterans’ reception Friday at the new Beaumont Events Center, hosted by Kerwin Stone and VVA Chapter 292.  In honor of our Texas heroes, Buddy Farina of VVA Chapter 685 (Galveston) conducted a POW/MIA Table Ceremony, followed by the Associate members of VVA Chapter 292 Remembrance and Roll Call of the names of Southeast Texas Vietnam veterans who made the supreme sacrifice in Vietnam.

Saturday morning rolled out with a ceremony commemorating the 25th Anniversary of VVA Chapter 292 at the All Veterans Memorial erected by the chapter in Beaumont.  Afterwards, veterans and patriots saddled up for a motorcycle tour of other veteran memorials in the city.  The afternoon ended with music, grub and good times at the Cowboy Harley-Davidson dealership.

An evening reception at the Art Museum of Beaumont preceded Saturday night’s Heroes Dinner.  Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument artist/sculptor Duke Sundt shared his vision and creation with guests, and Texas Vietnam veterans participated in a tribute procession with the monument maquette.

On behalf of all Texas Vietnam veterans who did and will benefit from Beaumont’s tremendous “Welcome Home Brother” weekend, a heartfelt thank you salute to the committee volunteers who Welcomed Our Brothers Home –

Mayor Becky Ames
Kerwin Stone
Barbara Otto
Sandra Womack
Robin Troy
Mike Marcellus
Carol Gary
A.J. Brian
Dee Lane
Patrick Anderson
Sheree Pierce
Doug Porter
Carol Wilson

“Monument should be for Texans that served”

Texas Vietnam veterans (L-R) Freddie Garcia, Julian Caldereon, and Harold Heung.

Best of all, the night was an opportunity for many people – including the Round Rock Express players – to thank Texas Vietnam veterans for their service.  The Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument project will serve as a catalyst for many such events of tribute.

Texas Vietnam veteran Richard McBride and Round Rock Express ballplayer…thanks for your service.

Thank you  also to the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets Color Guard and Ross Volunteers and the Boy Scouts of the Capitol Area Council for contributing to a night honoring the Texas veterans who “stepped to the plate” during the Vietnam War!