About the Memorial
Deadline for Second Engraving
of Veteran's Name on Memorial Wall is September 1st.
Now that the first deadline for veteran names on the memorial is past, the next engraving will take place this Fall. Don't want too late and miss
the next engraving. To Sponsor a Veteran for the Memorial we will need
a copy of their DD 2 14 for proof of Honorable Discharge or
cemetery with Military Marker on grave. The Veteran will
need to have been born in, or lived in or buried in Hopkins County.
We are asking for a $50 Donation that will help pay the cost of
engraving that Veteran's name on the wall. Sign up at 220 Connally.
Become a Physical Part of
Our Hopkins County Veterans Memorial
in The Veterans Walkway
By Purchasing a 4X8 Brick For $300 Donation
Buy a Brick Any time, no cut off dates
Families, Businesses, Organizations, Clubs, Class of ?,
Veterans from outside the Hopkins Co, In Memory of, In Honor of,
We Salute and much more. Endless what you can have
Engraved on a brick and be a physical part of the Memorial Forever.
(HCVM Committee reserves the right to rejected anything offensive)
Are you a Hopkins County Veteran? With a purchase of a Brick,
your sponsorship (1X) for the Memorial Wall is included.
And if you have already signed up and donated your $50 sponsorship fee,
then the Brick will cost you only $250.
What a Great Christmas, Birthday or Aniversary Gift
a Brick would make.
Have that someone that has everything.
Honor them with a brick.
We do accept Visa & Mastercard or debit card
For a form or more information
Call Pam Elliott at 903 885-1080
Or email pamelli53@gmail.com (Subject line: BRICK)
Veterans Corner for Feb. 07, 2012 by Jim Thompson
Hopkins County continues to rally in support of the HopkinsCounty Veterans Memorial with donations. Texas Heritage National Bank recently pledged $3,000. Guaranty Bond Bank recently donated another$5,000, another $3,000 was donated by Raven Industries, the Lions Clubpresented the committee with a check for $1,300, and Legacy Hospice met withcommittee members and is now planning a fundraiser with all proceeds going tohelp pay for the construction of the Memorial. Check presentations by Wood County Electric Cooperative and BrianTolliver Ford are scheduled within the next few days.
Local Professional Engineer J.W. Burnett of DynamicEngineering has donated approximately $11,000 of in-kind structural engineeringdesign services, thereby reducing the project cost by that amount.
The Veterans Memorial committee has already raised well over$400-thousand. Construction of theMemorial is expected to be finished by July 4, 2012. If you or your company or group isconsidering making a donation, NOW is the time to financially help put theproject over the top! Contact TommyAllison 903-885-0867, Clayton McGraw 903-439-7410, or Pam Elliott 903-439-8753.
The names to be engraved on the Veterans Memorial are thoseof honorably discharged veterans who were born in, are buried in, or lived inHopkins County for any significant period of time. If you want to honor a veteran who does notmeet the basic requirements or just generally want to support the project, agreat way to do so is to purchase a $300 customized "brick" or"paver" for the walkway. Youdetermine the message of up to 80 characters on the "paver," thecommittee can provide a certificate that is suitable for framing for you to give,and the purchase supports the project. Examples of paver messages include:
Honoring 5 generations of the Smith family in service to America
God Bless America and our Veterans-- John & Jane Doe
In honor of Stanley"Blackie" Arnold -- Eula & Angela
"Semper Fi"
God Bless America! First Baptist Church
The JonesFamily
Thursday, March 1st, is the deadline for the list ofVeterans' names that will be engraved first. If you want your Veteran's name to be among the first, you must submitthe name with supporting documentation (proving honorable discharge) by March1st. Other names will be added at alater date if submitted after the "first" deadline.
The addition of the memorial, along with the other majorimprovements being made, will enhance the value of an already historic andcultural area, attracting visitors from both near and far. How do we know thosecoming from outside our area are really out there? Well, read on…
A 2009 first-of-its-kind national research study revealsthat 78% of all U.S. leisure travelers participate in cultural and/or heritageactivities while traveling -- translating to 118.3-million adults and over$192-billion each year. The study was conducted for the U.S. Cultural &Heritage Tourism Marketing Council in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The study also pointed out that cultural and heritagetravelers are more frequent travelers, reporting an average of just over 5leisure trips per year, and more than a third of those travel between 100 and300 miles per day during each trip. Among the types of activities preferred bysuch tradition-focused tourists are visiting farmers' markets, culinaryactivities, attending art/craft fairs and festivals (45%), and visitinghistoric sites (66%). The vast majority of such travelers (65%) say they seekexperiences where the "destination, its buildings and surroundings haveretained their historic character."
The entire news release detailing the study can be foundonline at:
http://gozaic.com/press-room/press-releases/New-Study-Reveals-Popularity-of-U-S--Cultural-and-/
Hopkins County'sveterans will be genuinely and permanently honored in a classic and beautifulway, and more people from outside our area will visit, bringing with them dollarsto be spent with local merchants. Sounds like a "win-win" foreveryone! Reminds me of that line from that Kevin Costner baseball movie "Fieldof Dreams" about 20 years ago, "If we build it, they will come."
About the Memorial
The Hopkins County Veterans Memorial is to be erected in honor of the men and women who have served our country with honor. It is our privilege to recognize their sacrifice and dedication with a memorial to be placed in the center of our city. All veterans who have lived in, or are buried in Hopkins County and received an honorable discharge will have earned the right to be included on the memorial. These individual served at great personal cost to protect the freedoms that we enjoy today. We are seeking your enthusiastic support and monetary contributions to make this a reality for all to enjoy as we pay tribute to our veterans in a setting that is beautiful and dignified.
The Veterans Memorial Park in Heritage Square will attract visitors from near and far. The architecture will compliment the adjacent, historic Hopkins County Courthouse and will have a park-like atmosphere. The granite memorial is designed to display up to 10,000 names and will include a computerized kiosk allowing visitors to locate individual names, display information on their service, commendations, and view a picture if one is available. Visitors to the memorial will have the opportunity to learn about the heroes that have stood ready and willing to serve in order to allow all of us unparalleled freedoms.
The Hopkins County Veterans Memorial Organization is a 501(c) (3) entity. Funding for the memorial will come from private donations, grants, and in-kind donations from local contractors. A plan for “phased” construction has been developed to allow construction to begin as we continue to solicit contributions. A financial commitment of $750,000 is estimated, with future funds needed for growth and continuing maintenance. This living memorial is intended to allow us to honor past, present, and future service men and women.
The committee has received many $50 gifts from family and friends of individual veterans. There have also been numerous fund-raising events. However, we are still in need of funds and would welcome any contributions or pledge of future contributions from those who would support this project. This is your opportunity, as you reflect on all of the blessings our nation enjoys, to honor and remember those who served to make freedom possible for all of us.
Statement of Purpose:
“To perpetuate the memory of our veterans who have served their country with honor: That their dedication, deeds, and sacrifice be a constant source of motivation toward greater accomplishment and patriotism.”
The purpose of the Veterans Memorial shall be to erect a memorial that will include the names of all veterans that have served under honorable conditions in the United States Armed Forces (US Army, US Navy, US Air Force, US Marines, US Coast Guard, US Reserves, Merchant Marines, etc.) and meet at least one of the following requirements:
- Any Veteran who has resided in Hopkins County.
- Any Veteran who is buried in Hopkins County.
- Unanimous agreement of the Executive Board.
This memorial will serve all of the people of Hopkins County and Veterans serving in times of conflict or peace. Desiring to build this memorial in an appropriate location has led us to the City Square adjacent to the County Courthouse on the southeast corner of the square. This property is partially owned by the City of Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County. Our conclusion; after considerable debate, research and discussion with fellow citizens of Hopkins County, is that a more worthy location cannot be found. Our pride in those who protect the freedom we love should not be hidden from the people they serve.
This Veterans Memorial Park in Heritage Square will attract visitors from far and near. The Architecture will compliment the County Courthouse and the atmosphere will be such that people will come to honor and fellowship.
To facilitate these goals the design should include:
- Stone wall sections with veterans names, organized for ease of locating a loved ones name with areas that provide opportunities for visitors to reflect on and honor those inscribed.
- A structure or structures that honor this purpose and reflect a sense of pride and endurance.
- Elements with energy such as flags, sounds, or possibly flowing water.
- Paving patterns or other architectural features that draw people to the memorial
and square.
- Use of existing 36th Infantry memorial and possible 49th Armorded Division.
- Inscriptions honoring previous contributors to Heritage Square Park.
Hopkins County Veterans Memorial
PO Box 533
Sulphur Springs, TX. 75483
info@hcvm.org
Veterans Walkway
