On March 24, 2013, the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument coordinated an historic Reading of the Names of the 3,417 Texans who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces during the Vietnam War. The event took place in the Lady Bird Auditorium at the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library.
During the opening ceremony, the Texas Hero Tags that will be entombed in the monument were brought to the front of the auditorium by members of the Texas Association of Vietnam Veterans Firebase Team, who also posted the Colors.
Robert Floyd, chairman of the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument, delivered a brief statement before the first of more than 110 volunteers stepped to the microphone to read the name, rank, branch of service and home of record for each Texan who died in the Vietnam War.
Hundreds of people came from across the state – and two from out of state – to volunteer as readers, or to listen as witnesses as the names of men, some known to them, many not, all honored, were spoken aloud.
Among the volunteer readers were many Gold Star family members, friends, and comrades of the war dead.
Also participating were a number of dignitaries, including LBJ’s daughters Luci Baines Johnson and Lynda Johnson Robb…
State Senators Juan Hinojosa and Leticia Van de Putte and State Representatives Wayne Smith and Jason Isaacs…
The directors of the Texas Tech University Vietnam Center and Archive and the LBJ Library….
And Texan combat correspondent and author Joe Galloway and his wife Grace.
This historic nine-hour tribute to those from Texas who died in Vietnam was, as Robert Floyd said, “A message to the future that these men will always be remembered and eternally appreciated by a grateful state and a grateful nation.” Ellos nunca se olvidan. They are never forgotten.
It was an honor, standing next to my husband Kerry Orr, to read the names.
What an honor to read those names and remember those who gave all. I had my brother Raymond Donald Mareck on my list and it was something special to share with all the heroes from that era…this was a long time coming Thank you