What: Missouri City cordially invites all residents, stakeholders, area veterans, project donors, media outlets and municipal partners to join the groundbreaking ceremony for the City’s future Veterans Memorial, paying tribute to our military for their honorable service.
This landmark celebration will involve City officials, City staff, MCTX Parks Foundation Board Members, and representatives from the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Photos will be taken during and after the event; light refreshments will be served to guests after the ceremony.
“We are very excited to see the Veterans Memorial Project kick off. It has been a major focus from day one [and] we are glad to finally see it come to life,” said Bill Odle, President of the MCPF, which is spearheading the initiative.
When: Monday, Nov. 11 at 9 a.m.
Where: The City Hall Plaza located in front of the Community Center, 1522 Texas Pkwy.
Veterans Memorial Project (City Council Actions/Corporate Donations):
- H-E-B has committed to a $50,000 sponsorship toward the Veterans Memorial Project.
- Wells Fargo has committed to be an exclusive $100,000 banking sponsor.
- MCPF and staff launched the Memorial Paver Project. Customized pavers will lead up to the monumental tribute and this program provides an opportunity for citizens, individuals, families and organizations to “Honor or Remember” a veteran with a 4” x 8” engraved concrete brick; they cost $300 each. For more details on how to support the initiative through the Memorial Paver Project; visit this City website page: http://bit.ly/2N7BM6X.
- At their Monday, July 1 Regular Meeting, Councilmembers authorized an economic development agreement between the Reinvestment Zone No. 1; the City of Missouri City, Texas; and the Missouri City Development Authority (MCDA), pertaining to the development and construction of a veterans memorial and a parks maintenance facility. This agreement allows TIRZ No. 1 to reimburse $250,000 for the Veterans Memorial. View details in the July 1 MCDA meeting agenda packet on the City website.
- At their Monday, May 20 Regular Meeting, Councilmembers authorized City Manager Anthony J. Snipes to negotiate and execute a contract with LMA Design, LLC. for design of the Veterans Memorial. View details in the meeting agenda packet on the City website.
Other project partners include the George Foundation and Niagara Bottling, LLC.
“We are thankful that the Parks Foundation saw fit to allow the Veterans Memorial to be the signature and kickoff project for our City Hall placemaking initiative,” said City Manager Snipes. “Not only will this Memorial honor those who have served our country so valiantly, it will also be a key artistic focal point of the City Hall Complex.”
Veterans Memorial Project Details:
City officials and staff selected an innovative Veterans Memorial design by Lloyd Lentz, a Principal with LMA Design Houston and the son of a World War II and Korean War Veteran, the grandson of two World War I veterans and the brother of a Vietnam Veteran. Mr. Lentz’s concept honors America’s brave military who have valiantly served our country, and it features a five-point star with an eternal flame and fountain in its center and is surrounded by arched columns. The timeless design represents the flow of life through the bubbling fountain and the flame of freedom burning eternally. It also symbolizes the bravery, sacrifice and strength veterans stand for in this country.
The final memorial design will include:
- Landscape, sculpture, lighting and architectural and artistic design elements;
- Space and infrastructure that will accommodate parking, sound systems, podium placement, power and an area with chairs and standing room for guests; and
- Eco-friendly materials that are “native” to Texas and that can withstand inclement weather conditions and have limited maintenance and repair requirements.
“The construction will honor veterans from the past, present and future and create a permanent tribute to the courageous men and women who protect and serve our great Nation,” Snipes said.
As part of its education and engagement outreach, MCPF is partnering with the local American Legion Post 294 to promote state and national recognition and to raise funds for the project. “I have been involved with memorials in the past and have worked with city, county and state personnel in bringing Veterans projects to fruition. Working with Missouri City personnel has been a very rewarding experience in that you literally take the motto ‘Show Me’ to heart and make honest efforts to interface with the public in seeing and transforming dreams into reality,” said Dennis Thibault, Veterans Chairman/Liaison for the City Veterans Memorial/Legion Park, who served in the Army’s elite 82nd Airborne Division in a Recon Group and was an active Jumpmaster of various aircraft.
For more information about Missouri City, please watch the City website: www.missouricitytx.gov, like us on Facebook—fb/MissouriCityTX, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat—@MissouriCityTX and Nextdoor, watch Missouri City Television (Ch. 16 on Comcast and Ch. 99 on AT&T U-verse) or download the MCTX Mobile app (available for free in Google Play and the Apple app store.)