2021 Salute to Veterans by The Eagle Advertising Department

2021 VETERANS DAY SPECIAL SECTION

Marine Corps League eagle staFF report Hosting Nov. 13 Cornhole Tournament The Brazos Valley Marine Corps League will host a cornhole tournament on Saturday at Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que in College Station. Registration begins at 11 a.m., with

MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN G.I. Watch history come alive!

games beginning at 11:30 a.m. Teams of two can pre-register for $30, with day-of registration costing $40 per team. Cash prizes will be awarded for first-, second- and third-place winners. There will be a silent auction and raffle. Proceeds from the event will be used to sponsor wreaths through Wreaths Across America to be placed on graves of veterans in the Brazos Valley. Anyone interested in participating can register a team at brazosvalley1391. org/opcornhole. For more information, email brazosvalley1391@gmail.com or waabrazosvalley@gmail.com. Cooper's Old-Time Pit Bar-B-Que is at 3055 Texas 6.

To all of our veterans, we salute you! Thank you for serving our country and protecting our freedoms!

PRESERVE  HONOR  EDUCATE 19124 HWY 6 S, College Station, TX

www.americangimuseum.org

Thank You

Veterans for your sacriﬁce and service to our country.

1729 Briarcrest Drive, Bryan, TX 77802 PUBLISHER: Crystal Dupré • EDITOR: Darren Benson • MANAGING EDITOR: Rob Clark DISPLAY ADVERTISING MANAGER: Linda Brinkman • PUBLICATION DESIGNER: Courtney Lewellen Hernandez

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Erin, ACU, RN Senior Airman, USAF

Proud to employ nearly 2,100 veterans, National Guard and reservists. BSWHealth.com

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Salute to VETERANS

November 10, 2021

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Salute to VETERANS

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TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER | NOV. 11, 1921

A century of remembrance Timeline

Memorial for unidentified fallen soldiers marks 100 years

1921: The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is established. At the time, the Tomb was not yet complete. A crypt was created for the funeral, with the intention that the rest of the Tomb would subsequently be created. 1925: In November, the Army ordered a civilian guard to begin daily duty at the Tomb in response to increasing reports of visitors’ disrespectful behavior.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

1926: In March, soldiers from nearby Fort Myer were first assigned to guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The guards, present only during daylight hours, discouraged visitors from climbing or stepping on the Tomb. 1932: On April 9, the completed Tomb was unveiled. 1937: The Army issued orders for the Tomb to be guarded 24 hours a day. 1948: The Tomb began being guarded by soldiers from the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Regiment, “The Old Guard.” 1956: President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill to select and honor unknown service members from World War II and the Korean War. They would be buried in crypts next to the original Tomb. 1958: Unknown soldiers of World War II and the Korean War interred. 1961: Specialist 4th Class Fred Moore was selected as a Tomb Guard, becoming the first African American posted and earning the prestigious Tomb Guard identification badge.

The Unknown Serviceman of the Vietnam War is buried May 29, 1984, at Arlington Cemetery.

The evolution of the Vietnam crypt ASSOCIATED PRESS

In 1921, the remains of an unidentified American service member were interred in a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., in a ceremony presided over by President Warren G. Harding.

‘W

e are met today to pay the impersonal tribute. The name of him whose body lies before us took flight with his imperishable soul. We know not whence he came, but only that his death marks him with the everlasting glory of an American dying for his country.” — President Warren G. Harding during his Nov. 11, 1921, address at the burial of an unknown American soldier

A DNA discovery In 1994, Ted Sampley, a POW/ MIA activist, determined that the remains were likely those of Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie. In 1998, DNA testing confirmed Blassie’s identity. At the request of Blassie’s family, the Department of Defense exhumed the remains. In accordance with the wishes of his family, Blassie was reinterred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.

BELOW: The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier features elaborate carvings of wreaths and three neoclassical figures representing peace, victory and valor. ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

Crypt rededication The crypt designated for the Vietnam War Unknown remains vacant. On Sept. 17, 1999, it was rededicated to honor all missing U.S. service members from the Vietnam War.

1984: Unknown Vietnam soldier interred in a third crypt. 1996: Sergeant Heather Lynn Johnsen became the first woman to earn the Tomb Guard identification badge. T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E

During the Vietnam War era, advances in science and technology made identification of the dead increasingly accurate. By May 1984, only one set of recovered American remains had not been fully identified. These remains were designated as the Unknown Soldier from the Vietnam War.

Sources: Arlington National Cemetery, U.S. Army, Library of Congress, Associated Press

Salute to VETERANS

November 10, 2021

Leonard G. Doss, Survivor of the Bataan Death March By bill youngkin, Youngkin & Doss, PLLC There are some stories about veterans that need to be told but there are also stories about veteran’s families that need to be told. Such is the case of Leonard G. Doss, Jr., a veteran of WWII. Leonard is the father of my neighbor who lives across the street, Dr. David Doss and the grandfather of my law partner, Matthew Doss. Leonard was born and raised in Ft. Worth and graduated from Paschal High in 1939. While in school, he dated Jean Hoera who was his “serious” girlfriend. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in the hopes of becoming a pilot but ended up as a staff sergeant in the 20th Pursuit Squadron specializing in airfield defense. In October 1941, Leonard and his unit set sail for the Philippines. On December 8, 1941, the Japanese launched a surprise attack and the battle for the Philippines began. The U.S. failed to reinforce and support those on the ground and on April 9, 1942, the American forces surrendered to Japan. It was the beginning of a long and terrible ordeal for Leonard and his fellow American soldiers. The Japanese considered the surrender as “disgraceful” and brutalized the American

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prisoners of war (POW). Thus began The Bataan Death March. The March lasted six days and ninety miles. Almost 650 American POWs would lose their lives on The March. If a soldier fell out, he was bayoneted to death. According to interviews conducted with Leonard, he stated, “It was a survival of the fittest. Four of us got a five gallon bucket of water. We took turns carrying it. You know, a guy really had to be your brother to share with him.” When the survivors reached Camp O’Donnell, nearly 2,300 more American POWs would die due to injuries suffered from beatings by the Japanese soldiers or by disease. In an article with the Ft. Worth Star Telegram, Leonard stated, “You’d be surprised what the old body can endure.” In the meantime, Leonards’ parents and girlfriend, Jean, had no further contact with Leonard. All that they were told was that Leonard was missing in action. They would hear nothing more after the surrender of the American forces in 1942 until the end of the war in 1945. Thinking that Leonard was dead, Jean met and married another man and had a little girl by that husband. Leonard would be shipped by the

Japanese to Japan aboard what the POWs called a, “Hell Ship” with its deplorable conditions. It was so crowded the men could not sit down. The ship finally reached Japan and Leonard, along with his fellow Americans, were forced to work as slave laborers in the mines in the mountains of Japan. Work in the mines was cold and so terrible that Leonard stuck his leg between the mining gears, breaking his leg. Years later Leonard said, “It smashed up my leg pretty bad at the ankle, but it kept me out of the mines for about a month.” Things began to change after the POWs saw smoke arising in the distance from the area around Tokyo. With dropping of the atomic bombs, the war ended with the surrender of the Japanese on August 14, 1945. Leonard and his fellow POWs began to receive food packages dropped from U.S. planes. When Leonard was finally liberated, he weighed only 101 pounds, sixty pounds less than after his capture. What he also discovered was all the letters he wrote to family and Jean that were confiscated by the Japanese and never turned over to the Red Cross. It was upon

Salute to VETERANS

his return home that Jean, now married with a child, received the letters Leonard had written to her during his years of capture. Jean realized that Leonard never stopped loving her and she him. Jean then decided to divorce her present husband and she and Leonard were married on July 4, 1946. Leonard would adopt Jean’s baby daughter, Kay, and they would eventually have three sons together. Dr. David Doss, Dr. Richard Doss, and Daniel Doss, a mechanical engineer. Leonard enrolled at Texas Christian University and had a career as a boat dealer on Eagle Mountain Lake. He and his wife Jean would have 49 years together before his death from Lou Gehrig’s disease. As Leonard would state to his grandson Matt Doss, “Dying is easy, living is hard but if you give up, you will never know those good things the Good Lord may give you.” Leonard enjoyed 49 years of marriage to Jean and four wonderful and successful children and numerous grandchildren. He never quit, he never gave up and he enjoyed what the Good Lord gave him. T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E

photos By Michael Miller

9/11 Memorial and Statue

dedication at Veterans Park

Attendees gathered for a 9/11 remembrance and statue dedication ceremony at Veterans Park in College Station on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021.

THANKS ALL VETERANS for your SERVICE to our great country!

RODNEY HURT ‘77 • BRADLEY HURT ’00 • NICK LUTZ • RYAN CARR • GARY GRIFFIN DONNA P BEELER • KATHY LANGSTON ‘04 • JOHN THAMES • RICKY GREER • ANGIE DEAN • KACEY BOURKE

3840 Corporate Center Dr. • Bryan • 979-774-3900 (phone/text) • www.serviceinsgroup.com T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E

Salute to VETERANS

November 10, 2021

army

air Force

air ForCe

NavY

arMY

1SG Johnny yEPPEz rETirED ArMY

SSG. richard Kovar Air corp

coL. WiLLiaM FiFe WWII, KOREA

sgt. DaViD Portales MartineZ Served 1976-1980

CLareNCe Cobb WWII on the USS Copenhee

ssg e6 augustine g. Flores

navy

army

MARINES

arMY

NavY

army

LT. Jerome m Loving Vietnam 1965-68 DistinguisheD Professor emeritus from the a&m english DePt.

cPL. John amador yEPPEz

CPL RICHARD LEE STONE 1953-2019

PFC FranCisCo C. rodriguez WWii

LaveLLe Cooper Cobb Nurse duriNg WWii

SgT. Jamin SyPTaK CALVARY SCOUT

AIR FORCE

arMY

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AIR FORCE

national guarD

ARMY

JAMES D. MCLOUD Staff Sgt.

Spec e-5 LaLo Martinez 68’-70’ Vietnam era

cPL amador munoz WWii

COL. JAMES LEE MCCLESKEY

ronnie Matthews

JESSE DE LA CRUZ VIETNAM

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ARMY

AIR FORCE

ARMY

ARCHIE PATTERSON, JR. WARRANT OFFICER WWII

LT COL WILLIE BLACKMON Bosnia, Gulf, iraq

COL-RET. WALTER H. PARSONS, JR. Corps of EnginEErs - WWii

CPT. KELLY ANNE O’NEILL ChemiCal Corps

COL-RET. KEVIN J. O’NEILL VIETNAM

COL-RET. CYNTHIA O’NEILL-SMITH KOSOVO-IRAQ

ARMY

1986-2016

ARMY

1St Lt. MICHAeL D. PARSoNS INFANTRY

Lt. CoL-Ret. WALteR H. PARSoNS, III Corp of EnginEErs - ViEtnam

MAJ GEN-RET. WILLIAM “LEN” SMITH CALVARY, ARMOR KOSOVO, IRAQ

1ST LT WILLIAM D. PARSONS CORPS OF ENGINEERS-KOREA

CPT JOHN F. PARSONS ARMOR-IRAQ

SGT-RET. KEVIN J. O’NEILL, JR. iNFaNTrY - iraQ, DiNai

ARMY

NAVY

ARMY

Lt. CoL PAUL R. PARSoNS INFANTRY

CPT. FRANCIS J. O’NEILL WWII

COL-RET. FREDERICK A. O’NEILL WWII

REBECCA J. PARSONS VENTURA

COL-RET. DONALD L. PARSONS INTELLIGENCE-VIETNAM

LT. GEN-RET. EDWARD J. O’NEILL WWII

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1954-1961

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1959-1989

November 10, 2021

Veteran carves out hope through nonprofit

Canes for Veterans By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Waco Tribune-Herald

Former Military Cavalry Scout James “Jamie” Willis, of Copperas Cove, was in a dark place when he started carving his first cane back in 2016. Willis had lost his wife in 2014 and was raising two daughters by himself. A back injury had left him temporarily paralyzed. He struggled with recovery, especially using a cane in public. “I felt useless and depression set in,” Willis said. “How was I supposed to provide for my family? I felt like I was worthless.” But learning to carve canes restored his sense of purpose and inspired a nonprofit, Canes for Veterans Central Texas, that allows him to supply personalized canes to other veterans. Willis served in the military as a Cavalry Scout from 1989 to 1998, enlisting when he was 20. During his time in the service, Willis was deployed to Desert Storm, and spent time in Fort Hood as well as Korea.

After his back injury, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs placed Willis on full disability, and doctors told him he wasn’t going to be able to work again. In 2016, he came across a Facebook post about free canes for veterans and reached out to Oscar Morris, who was making them. Morris had an extensive waiting list and suggested Willis attempt to make his own. Willis was hesitant at first but agreed and under the help and direction of Morris, two weeks later he had his very own cane. “I was excited,” Willis said. “I had a cane made that was fully functional. It was lifechanging. I didn’t feel useless anymore because I’ve learned how to do something. Because when I used it people wouldn’t look at me, they would look at my cane because it was different.” Morris challenged Willis to make another cane and give it away to a veteran. Willis took him up on that challenge and has since made 650 canes, each one taking

about 40 hours. Willis relies on donated wood from individuals and businesses such as Dominion Energy Privatization at Fort Hood. Olivia Chee, a customer projects designer for that business, remembered Willis’ nonprofit from The Central Texas Beard and Mustache Club she participated in, and recommended that Dominion donate any wood from its projects. “We had a project where we had to do a lot of tree executions and I asked what happened to the trees,” Chee said. Dominion officials agreed to provide wood for the canes, and so far has had one project that yielded seven truckloads of wood. For Chee, the nonprofit hits close to home. “I love what Jamie does,” Chee said. “My father himself is a veteran and received a cane from the VA, and they are just standard canes, there is nothing special about them. So just to know that he is

making personalized canes for veterans out there is what is really great.” Willis has donated canes for veterans all over the world, including Japan, Australia, and Germany. “It’s an amazing feeling,” Willis said. “When I actually turned this into a nonprofit organization it was an amazing feeling to have friends join me. They actually wanted to be a part of what was going on. It was like having a brotherhood again.” Willis, along with volunteers including friend Dave Garza, is now hoping to tackle 800 pending orders at Canes for Veterans Central Texas. “People don’t understand that it isn’t something we can knock out every day,” Willis said. He said the process is extensive and he is trying to prioritize the veterans who might not be with them for much longer so that they can enjoy their canes with what time they have left. With canes in high demand, Willis hopes to be able to recruit volunteers to help work through the orders. Wood is also needed, said Willis, as all the Christmas trees that were donated were destroyed during the big freeze earlier this year. Willis said he uses all types of wood to personalize the canes.

BEST OF THE BRAZOS VALLEY Best Electrician •2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 THE EAGLE’S READERS’ CHOICE Best Electrician • 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021

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While he said the orders can be overwhelming at times, since the nonprofit is run solely by volunteers, Willis enjoys being able to provide for a group of the population that means so much to him. “I feel amazing,” Willis said. “I didn’t think it would go like this. I never meant for it to happen but for people to respond the way they have is a great feeling. It keeps me going knowing that people get their canes and see it as amazing art work, it gives me a sense of pride.” Willis hopes veterans are making good use of the canes they receive as he believes more needs to be done to help them. “Veterans don’t get enough recognition for what they have done,” Willis said. “They risk their life for our freedoms and right now a lot of people look down on soldiers, and if I can give them a little token of appreciation for what they have done, they deserve a lot more than what they are getting from the VA.”

TO ALL VETERANS

THANK YOU! Tracey Scasta, O.D. (979)695-2020 • www.scastaeyes.com J. Craig Scasta, D.D.S., F.A.G.D. (979)260-2626 • www.scastadds.com

1550 Copperﬁeld Parkway College Station, TX 77845

Happy vETERANS DAY To purchase tickets or for more information, visit Bush41.org. 1000 George Bush Drive West, College Station, TX 77845 T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E

(979) 691-4000

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@bush41library November 10, 2021

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

VETERANS DAY | BY THE NUMBERS Living US veterans

SALUTE TO

Percent of veterans living among the adult population in 2019: Less than 6

THOSE WHO

6-7.9

8-9.9

10 or more

SERVED A look at the annual observance that honors military personnel

17.4 million

The number of military veterans in the United States in 2019.

1.6 million

The number of female veterans in the United States in 2019.

Veterans keep on serving Where do veterans choose to work? Private for profit 62% 70%

Veterans Day facts How does it differ from Memorial Day? Memorial Day is a time to remember those who gave their lives for our country, particularly in battle or from wounds they suffered in battle. Veterans Day honors all of those who have served the country in war or peace — dead or alive — although it’s largely intended to thank living veterans for their sacrifices. Why celebrate on Nov. 11? World War I officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919. However, the fighting ended about seven months before on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, Nov. 11, 1918, was largely considered the end of “the war to end all wars” and dubbed Armistice Day. On June 1, 1954, at the urging of veterans service organizations, Congress amended the commemoration yet again by changing the word “armistice” to “veterans” so the day would honor American veterans of all wars. Why isn’t it Veteran’s Day? The holiday is not a day that “belongs” to one veteran or multiple veterans, which is what an apostrophe implies. It’s a day for honoring all veterans — so no apostrophe needed.

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The changing profile of US veterans

Private nonprofit 5%

Percent of U.S veterans by:

Era of earliest service 2021

WWII

31 Korea

2046 4

Post-Gulf war

50-69

Non-Hispanic white

2% Hispanic 8

Gender

Women

Veterans

32% of veterans work in public service or charitable organizations compared to 22% of non-veterans.

Federal government 15%

2046 62 2021

37 33

Race/ethnicity

State government 5%

70+

Other peacetime

24 <50 years

2046 33 2021

22 Gulf War

Age 2021

41 Vietnam

Local government 7%

Non-veterans

Black

Asian

13 15

2 4

Men

Self-employed/unpaid family workers 7% 9%

Veterans who work in government

2046 18

Ceremony 100 years of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier The theme for Veterans Day 2021 is centered on the centennial commemoration of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Tomb was initially dedicated by the Army on Nov. 11, 1921, with the burial of an unknown service member from World War I.

Annual remembrance Each year, a national ceremony is held on Nov. 11 at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. The ceremony commences precisely at 11 a.m. EST with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and continues inside the Memorial Amphitheater with a parade of colors by veterans’ organizations.

Salute to VETERANS

32%

20%

Percent of federal employees who are veterans

Federally employed veterans who serve other veterans at VA

Sources: U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Pew Research Center Lee Enterprises graphics T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E

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2021

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REDISCOVERING AMERICA

Test your Veterans Day knowledge JEFFREY SIKKENGA | InsideSources.com

ov. 11 is Veterans Day as well as the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the solemn landmark at Arlington National Cemetery honoring military personnel killed in action who have never been identified. Since 1999, a vacant crypt on the grounds has honored missing service members from the Vietnam War. The quiz below, from the Ashbrook Center at Ashland University, Ashland, Ohio, provides an opportunity for you to test your knowledge of Veterans Day and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

1 What was Veterans Day originally called?

A. Armed Forces Day B. Remembrance Day

C. Soldiers Day D. Armistice Day

2 In what year was the name changed to Veterans Day? B. 1945

C. 1954

D. 1962

3 Starting in 1971, after the Uniform

Holiday Bill was passed moving federal holiday observances to Mondays, dates. What president signed the legislation returning the annual observance to its original date? A. Richard M. Nixon B. Gerald R. Ford

C. Jimmy Carter D. Ronald Reagan

4 Why is Veterans Day always observed

on November 11, rather than on a Monday, like other national holidays?

A. The World War I cease-fire was signed on the 11th day of the 11th month B. The Allies won the First Battle of Ypres on November 11 C. The last World War I soldier returned home on that date D. The Battle of the Somme ended on November 11 after 141 days

5 According to the Department approximately how many veterans living in the United States today? A. 7 million B. 12 million

C. 19 million D. 46 million

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS

President Dwight Eisenhower stands with veterans who watched him sign a bill June 1, 1954, changing Armistice Day, Nov. 11, to Veterans Day in honor of all servicemen and women.

6 Which US state is home to the

most Medal of Honor winners?

A. New York B. Pennsylvania

C. Ohio D. Texas

7 In proposing legislation to create the

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in 1921, which congressman said, “It is hoped that the grave of this unidentified warrior will become a shrine of patriotism for all the ages to come, which will be a source of inspiration, reverence and love of country for future generations”? A. William A. Ashbrook of Ohio B. Champ Clark of Missouri C. Hamilton Fish III of New York D. Frederick Gillett of Massachusetts

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ceremony dedicating the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier? A. Woodrow Wilson B. Warren Harding

C. Calvin Coolidge D. Herbert Hoover

9 In addition to the Tomb of the

Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery also houses a Tomb of the Civil War Unknowns. Of the 2,111 unidentified soldiers buried there, 1,800 were recovered from which battlefield? A. Antietam B. Vicksburg

C. Gettysburg D. Manassas (Bull Run)

10 Which former general said, “The

highest obligation and privilege of citizenship is that of bearing arms for one’s country”? A. George Patton B. John Pershing

C. George Marshall D. Douglas MacArthur

U.S. Army Signal Corps Maj. General George S. Patton is pictured, circa 1940s. ANSWERS: 1-D, 2-C, 3-B, 4-A, 5-C, 6-A, 7-C, 8-B, 9-D, 10-A

A. 1938

Salute to VETERANS

November 10, 2021

HAVE YOU VISITED OUR COMMUNITY’S HIDDEN GEM? THE BRAZOS VALLEY VETERANS MEMORIAL IS LOCATED IN VETERANS PARK AND ATHLETIC COMPLEX AT 3101 HARVEY ROAD. THIS 12-ACRE SITE INCLUDES LIFE-SIZED STATUES, A WALL OF HONOR, INTERPRETIVE PANELS AND MEMORIAL SITES THAT COMMEMORATE THE SACRIFICES OF VETERANS FROM EVEY MAJOR WAR IN OUR NATION’S PAST. ADMISSION IS FREE. DONATIONS ARE WELCOME. Do you have a beloved veteran you’d like to add to the Wall of Honor? The veteran may be living, deceased or active, and does not have to be a Brazos Valley resident. The cost is $150 per name, and the application deadline is Aug. 15 each year to be recognized in that year’s Veterans Day Ceremony. Learn more: BVVM.ORG info@bvvm.org /BVVETS