Page 18 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2020- Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS

The Regional

Monument of Courage

by Steve Oien

The Lubbock War Memorial has 921 names listed on black The Purple Heart is among the most honored of military
granite walls. These individuals, men and women, have died medals; it represents the sacrifice and price these warriors
in combat during America’s wars since World War I. They have paid for our freedom. Many have lost an arm, a leg, or
paid the ultimate price to protect our freedom. Truly, this more, yet we often do not honor their sacrifice as we should.
War Memorial stands on hallowed ground. We honor and Their part of the monument is red granite with a Purple
remember them. Heart Medal on it.

However, another group of individuals is seldom Our region is honored to have 11 Medal of Honor recipients,
remembered and honored for their tremendous sacrifices the oldest from the Indian Wars to the most recent two from
to keep us free. They have also paid a high price for our the Vietnam War. Each is remembered in some way in their
freedom and that of future generations as well. We walk past own hometowns, but there has been no centralized place for
them every day, yet we often don’t recognize their sacrifice, them together until the Regional Monument of Courage was
sorrow and pain. completed. Their part of the monument consists of a black
granite monolith with an eagle perched on it. Their profile
That is the mission behind “The Regional Monument of and military history are also lasered onto the black granite.
Courage.” Its purpose is to honor and remember our region’s
Gold Star Families, Purple Heart recipients, and 11 Medal of The Regional Monument of Courage is thought to be the only
Honor recipients. memorial honoring these three groups of heroes in the U.S.A.
We and our descendants must never forget the sacrifices
The Monument is located near the Lubbock Area Veterans made for our freedom.
War Memorial in Huneke Park at 82nd Street and Nashville
Avenue. Though the Monument is in Lubbock, it is The construction for the monument was completed in July of
“regional”, as it represents the area from the top of the Texas this year and its dedication was on Purple Heart Day, Aug.
Panhandle down to the Midland-Odessa area. 7, 2020. It is the honorable thing to recognize these brave
families and the men and women who sacrificed so much for
Gold Star Families are those who have lost a loved one us. We are forever grateful!
serving in the military. They bear their loss daily, never able
to fill the hole in their hearts left by a lost son, daughter, or
parent. They still pay the price for our freedom. Their part of
the Regional Monument of Courage is the black granite Gold
Star Family Memorial, the center piece of the monument. This Article is sponsored

Purple Heart Recipients are those who either survived their by The Friends of the
combat wounds and came home or were killed in combat.
Monument

18 Senior Link