Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial: Genesis to Present
P. David Romei, Ph.D. 3 November 2002

In the 1990’s, the City of College Station bought land between Harvey Road and University Drive East that it planned to use as a major new athletic park, featuring soft ball 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, spoke to community leaders about an idea he and Craig Carter had to name the newly acquired park in honor of veterans. John Nichols of the Park Board, P. David Romei of the Arts Council, and Craig Carter, representing local veterans organizations, readily endorsed the idea and helped create a petition to ask the City Council to name the park “Veterans Park and Athletic Complex.” In the fall of 1999, encouraged by the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Sojourners and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the College Station City Council and Mayor Lynn McIlhaney approved the park’s name as recommended.

In the spring of 2000, Steve Beachy, John Nichols, P. David Romei, Craig Carter, Travis Small, and Debbie Jasek met to discuss the idea of using a part of the land at the new park as a memorial site for America’s military veterans. It was decided that a 12-acre area near what would become the southeast entrance to the park should be dedicated for the purpose of building a memorial to honor veterans. A realistic sculpture, honor wall, pathways, plaza and educational component were envisioned for the site.

Craig Carter was elected president of an exploratory group and later would become the first president of the Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial Committee, a not-for profit organization. P. David Romei was named Chairman of the Design Committee and assigned the responsibility of creating a vision for the site and developing the scope of activities for the project. Romei formed a committee of 16 local residents for the purpose of considering different concepts for the layout of the twelve acres and to establish the methodology and process for selecting a sculpture for the plaza. Steve Beachy became the liaison between the City of College Station and the Veterans Memorial Committee, and became the Corporate Secretary. John Nichols, a member of the Park Board, became the liaison between the Park Board and the Veterans Committee. Travis H. Small, Jr. was elected Vice President and Paulette Hunt became Treasurer.

In the summer of 2000, a local attorney whose father had been Mayor of College Station, Larry Holt, executed the necessary legal documents to incorporate the group in the State of Texas, and to obtain from the Internal Revenue Service legal status as a not-for-profit charitable organization. This status permitted donors to claim tax deductions for charitable contributions to the memorial project.

Shortly thereafter, Lynn Stuart, a retired US Army Brigadier General, came on board as Chairman of Fundraising. Because Stuart is so well respected and loved by citizens all over Texas, his role as the Chairman of Fundraising proved to be essential to our cause. Even when he had to undergo critical medical treatments for six months in Houston, Stuart never surrendered his responsibility. His dedication to the memorial is a shining example to us all of that which can be achieved when loyalty and dedication come before all else.

In the fall of 2000, Stuart, Romei and Beachy called on the three primary governments in the Brazos Valley, Brazos County Commissioners’ Court, City of Bryan and City of College Station, and obtained a commitment from each government to contribute $50,000 to the veterans memorial project over a two-year period. This $150,000 became the seed money for the memorial.

In the fall of 2000, Romei sent a nationwide call for entries to artists asking them to reply with ideas and concepts for a veterans memorial. Over 120 artists from all over the world replied. From the respondents, 25 were shown to the Design Committee. The 25 were narrowed down to 3 finalists. Each finalist was awarded a generous stipend to develop a model of a sculpture design and plans for landscaping the immediate area, to include a memorial plaza.

In March of 2001, each artist 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 to create the sculpture that would become the centerpiece of the Veterans Memorial Plaza.

Members of the Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial board began to educate the public about its vision for a memorial. Speakers were sent to civic clubs, government organizations, and veterans groups. Television, radio and newspaper stories reported on the BVVM’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 1,800 names and the donors are in the thousands. The response has been overwhelming and would not have been possible without the patriotism found so abundantly in our community.

As fundraising efforts continued throughout 2001, plans for the memorial plaza and the sculpture’s Texas granite base developed quickly. Engraved on the over 500,000 pounds of granite wall are the names of all honored veterans, 23 former US Presidents, the current President of the United States and 7 Texas A&M graduates who received the Congressional Medal of Honor. Romei engaged Larry Schueckler, a local landscape designer, as a consultant to the Design Committee. Schueckler created over 10 pages of detailed blueprints for the site. With little alteration 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 to construct the plaza, benches, honor wall, sculpture’s base, stage, pathways, landscaping and other improvements on the site. Construction began within two weeks of awarding the contract to Madison Construction Company. While work proceeded on the site, Robert Eccleston completed the sculpture. The magnificent sculpture was delivered from New York and installed on October 4, 2002.

In May of 2002, Mr. Don Adam, Chairman of The Adam Corporation, gave a major gift to the veterans memorial project. Mr. Adam’s generosity ensured the success of the veterans memorial committee’s mission. It is in gratitude for all Mr. Adam, First American Bank, and Madison Construction have done on behalf of veterans that we offered to name the memorial plaza in his honor. Mr. Adam declined the personal honor and asked instead that his late father, a retired member of the United States Army, receive the honor. The site for the memorial shall forever more be known as the Louis L. Adam Memorial Plaza.

The Board appointed Carol Wagner Chairman of the dedication ceremonies scheduled for November 10 and 11, 2002. She has appointed over 10 subcommittees, including public relations, hospitality, security and others. The dedication ceremony is a major event that represents the importance of the Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial. It is the enthusiastic support and labor from the over 100 members of Wagner’s committee that has ensured the dedication’s success.

George H.W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States of America, placed a wreath at the Honor Wall and Sculpture on Sunday morning, November 10, 2002, the day before the dedication. President Bush’s historic visit honored the service and sacrifice of all America’s veterans represented on the Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial. President Bush said, “The Brazos Valley Community can stand proud. The names that mark the memorial showcase the sons and daughters who gave dedicated service to our nation, so that future generations can share the freedoms we enjoy. Their task was great and their sacrifice even greater, but their legacy stands firm and their memories burn bright.”

All those who have worked with such devotion, creativity and love on this sacred project express our thanks to former President Bush and all of our fellow citizens who have contributed in so many wonderful ways to make this dream a reality. The Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial symbolizes our solemn oath to remember for eternity every American hero. To this we put our names; to this we pledge our honor.