Page 95 - Lubbock Senior Link Magazine Fall 2019- Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS

THE

REGIONAL

MONUMENT OF

COURAGE

By Steve Oien

monument is red granite
with a Purple Heart
Medal on it.

Our region is honored to
have 11 Medal of Honor
recipients, the oldest
from the Indian Wars to
he Lubbock War Memorial has Memorial in Huneke Park at 82 the most recent two from
nd
921 names listed on black granite Street and Nashville Avenue. Though the Viet Nam War. Each is remembered
Twalls. These individuals, men the Monument will be in Lubbock, it in some way in their own home towns,
and women, have died in combat during is “regional”, as it represents the area but there has been no centralized place
America’s wars since World War I. from the top of the Texas Panhandle for them together until the Regional
They paid the ultimate price to protect down to the Midland-Odessa area. Monument of Courage is completed.
our freedom. Truly, this War Memorial Their part of the monument consists of
stands on hallowed ground. We honor Gold Star Families are those who have a black granite monolith with an eagle
and remember them. lost a loved one serving in the military. perched on it. Their profile and military
They bear their loss daily, never able history will also be lasered onto the
However, another group of individuals to fill the hole in their hearts left by a black granite.
is seldom remembered and honored lost son, daughter or parent. They still
for their tremendous sacrifice to keep pay the price for our freedom. Their The Regional Monument of Courage
us free. They have also paid a high part of the Regional Monument of is thought to be the only memorial
price for our freedom and that of future Courage is the black granite Gold Star honoring these three groups of heroes
generations as well. We walk past them Family Memorial, the centerpiece of in the U.S.A. We and our descendants
every day, yet we often don’t recognize the monument. must never forget the sacrifices made
their sacrifice, sorrow and pain. for our freedom.
Purple Heart Recipients are those
That is why funds are being raised to who either survived their combat The construction for the monument
construct “The Regional Monument wounds and came home or were killed is expected to be completed by
of Courage.” Its purpose is to honor in combat. The Purple Heart is among early November of this year and its
and remember our region’s Gold Star the most honored of military medals; it dedication will follow the week of 18
Families, Purple Heart recipients, represents the sacrifice and price these November. It is the honorable thing
and 11 Medal of Honor recipients. warriors have paid for our freedom. to recognize these brave families and
Many have lost an arm, a leg, or the men and women who sacrificed so
The Monument will be located near more, yet we often do not honor their much for us. We are forever grateful!
the Lubbock Area Veterans War sacrifice as we should. Their part of the

You can still mail in a contribution to: Chapter 0900, MOPH: P.O. Box 64266, Lubbock, Texas 79464.

Lubbock Senior Link 95