Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial Celebrates 25th Anniversary

At their July 8 meeting, the Bryan City Council presented a proclamation to the Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial Board recognizing their 25th anniversary. Board members present: Lacey Lively, Bill Youngkin, John Blair and Mayor Pro Tem James Edge.

The Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial is commemorating its 25th anniversary as a place that honors veterans from all branches of the U.S. military and across all periods of American history.

To celebrate the milestone, the Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial Board invites the community to attend Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial Day on Thursday, July 17, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The event will feature open house tours of the 12-acre memorial site, located at 3101 Harvey Road in College Station’s Veterans Park and Athletic Complex.

Chartered on July 17, 2000 as a non-profit corporaꢀon, the Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial is supported by generous community residents, organizations, and partners, including Brazos County and the cities of Bryan and College Station. The all-volunteer board of directors proudly contributes their time and resources to salute our veterans. Their mission is to proactively pay tribute to veterans through an educational venue where future generations can learn that freedom comes with a heavy price.

Over the last 25 years, the site has grown into a major destination for remembrance and education. Key features include:

• The Louis L. Adam Memorial Plaza with the 250-ton red granite Wall of Honor that features the names of more than 6,760 veterans and an iconic bronze sculpture of a solider carrying a wounded comrade that was created by New York artist Robert Eccelston.
• The plaza is surrounded by the Lynn Stuart Pathway that connects the 18 individual memorial sites that represent major American conflicts and the War of Texas Independence.
• Along the pathway, there are interpretive panels with historical background for each conflict, granite markers, life-sized statues, steel benches with donor plaques, and a Never Forget Garden.
• Currently, there are a total of 24 life-sized, historically-accurate bronze statues and six bas-relief bronze panels by Navasota artist J. Payne Lara adorning 16 of the 18 sites.

The board’s goal is to have the last two memorial sites, China Relief Operations and Mexican Border Service, completed with bronze statues by July 4, 2026, to coincide with the 250th anniversary of American Independence. Future plans also include a Memorial Entrance Project, Submarine Veteran Memorial Statue, Gold Star Memorial, as well as other site enhancements.

Donations are always welcome and can be made towards a specific war memorial or for the general upkeep and enhancement of the 12-acre site itself.

Add a Name to the Wall of Honor
Each year, Brazos Valley residents have the opportunity to add a beloved military veteran’s name to the Wall of Honor. The veteran may be living, deceased or actively serving, and does not have to be a Brazos Valley resident. The cost is $250 per name, and the application deadline is Aug. 15 each year. The fee covers the cost of engraving and lifetime maintenance. New additions are recognized at the annual Veterans Day Ceremony. Names received after Aug. 15 will be recognized the following year.

Upcoming Events

• Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial Day
  Thursday, July 17, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
• Kosovo War and Expeditionary Operations Statue Dedication Ceremony
  Monday, Oct. 13, at 10 a.m.
• 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony
  Thursday, Sept. 11, at 5:30 p.m.
• Veterans Day Ceremony
  Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 5:30 p.m.

Tours
Is your group or organization interested in a guided tour of the Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial? Email the board at info@bvvm.org.

Contact
Visit the Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial website and follow on Facebook to learn more and to stay informed.

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