Lynn Stuart Pathway Groundbreaking and Soft Opening
Wednesday, April 21, 2010 – The Board of Directors of the Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial (BVVM) will host a groundbreaking of the War for Texas Independence site along the Lynn Stuart Pathway Wednesday, April 21 2010 and 10:00 am. This week, the newest addition to the Veterans Park began taking shape with the addition of 21 of the historical interpretive panels that tell the story and commemorate the veterans of each of the wars fought by the United States, beginning in 1776.
Another recent addition to the pathway is a 32 foot long dray stack rock wall built by members of the BVVM Board and other volunteers. The rock, from Carlisle Barracks in Pennsylvania, was reclaimed rock from older colonial walls.
The historical panels, each 2’ x 3’, were designed by Anne Boykin, chief information officer for the BVVM. In addition to her work as Heritage Progams coordinator for the Cyity of College Station, Ms. Boykin also serves on the Museum of the American G.I. Board of Directors.
The BVVM Board of Directors commissioned noted Navasota artist J. Payne Lara to create the second of eighteen planned sculptures to be located along the newly completed LYNN STUART PATHWAY. The Board commissioned the design at their meeting on April 14, 2010, and authorized the artist to proceed with the prototype.
Mr. Lara is a talented local artist who has a deep appreciation of historical figures. He is excited about the challenges and potential to create this important addition to the Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial site. His works are located throughout Bryan and College Station and include the striking Civil War memorial sculpture in Anderson, Texas.
“Come and Take It” will be dedicated October 2nd on the 175th anniversary of the opening battle of the War for Texas Independence in 1835. The battle occurred at Gonzales when a Mexican army officer called for Texans to give up a cannon that the government had provided for the town’s defense. “Texians,” as some styled themselves, refused to give it back and waved a flag reading “Come and Take It.” After a skirmish, the Mexican army retreated.
The statue displays the typical dress of a Texian soldier. The Texian soldiers did not have official uniforms and wore whatever they had available. This soldier is depicted with his right hand on his Bowie knife and positioned to advance.
This will be the second memorial to a specific war along the new one-half mile scenic pathway which surrounds the original Veterans Memorial. Additional memorials are planned for each of the seventeen principal United States wars as well as the War for Texas Independence. The vision of the Board is to complete all eighteen memorials before the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026.
Funding for these statues and sites is by tax-free donation.
For more information about the Lynn Stuart Pathway and the Memorial for all Veterans of the Brazos Valley, Inc., please call 979.450.3296 or E-mail: info@bvvm.org.
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