The Texas Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which features five tablets of Texas granite bearing the names of 3,271 Texans killed in action during the war in Vietnam and 156 missing in action, 54 remains recovered and 102 still missing, will celebrate its 30th anniversary on November 11th. Former President George H. W. Bush dedicated the memorial in 1989.
On May 14th, Fair Park First, Spectra, and The City of Dallas will announce a significant restoration of the Texas Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Fair Park. The project, which will be paid for by the State Fair of Texas Fair Park Improvement Fund, and administrated by Spectra, is scheduled to be completed in time for the opening of the State Fair of Texas in late September.
The announcement coincides with the opening of Dallas Summer Musicals’ two-week engagement of the acclaimed musical Miss Saigon, a love story set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War. Members of the touring company of Miss Saigon will perform as part of the May 14 announcement event.
WHO:
Willis Winters – Dallas Park and Recreation Department
Peter Sullivan – Spectra
Rick Graham – Former Dallas Summer Musicals Board Chair, Marine Corp. Captain., Vietnam Veteran, Recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross
Mitchell Glieber – State Fair of Texas
The cast of the touring company of Miss Saigon
WHEN:
1:00 PM; Tuesday, May 14
WHERE:
Texas Vietnam Veterans Memorial
The intersection of First and Parry avenues, near The Music Hall
(rain venue: The Crystal Terrace at the Music Hall, overlooking the Memorial)
DETAILS:
The Vietnam War evokes feelings of patriotism and pain. The Texas Vietnam Veterans Memorial pays honor to those Texans who served the United States in that hard-fought and heavily debated conflict.
Former President George H. W. Bush dedicated the memorial in 1989. Five tablets of Texas granite bear the names of Texans killed or missing in action, including nine Congressional Medal of Honor recipients.
A soothing waterfall flows alongside the memorial, which is familiarly known simply as, “The Wall.” Wreaths, bracelets, flowers, flags and other sentimental items are sometimes left next to the tablet bearing the name of a loved one.
