Tucked away in College Station’s Veterans Park and Athletic Complex (3101 Harvey Rd. ) is a hidden gem – a 12-acre site dedicated to veterans from our nation’s major wars. The Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial (BVVM), includes life-sized statues, a Wall of Honor, interpretive panels and memorial sites.
Chartered on July 17, 2000 as a non-profit corporation, the BVVM is supported by generous community residents, organizations, and partners, including Brazos County and the municipalities of Bryan and College Station. The BVVM’s all-volunteer board of directors proudly contributes their time and resources to salute our veterans. Their mission is to proactively pay tribute to veterans through an educational venue where future generations can learn that freedom comes with a heavy price.
Former President George H.W. Bush helped dedicate the BVVM on Nov. 10, 2002. Bush said “The Brazos Valley community can stand proud. The names that mark the memorial showcase the sons and daughters who gave dedicated service to our nation so that future generations can share the freedoms we enjoy. Their task was great and their sacrifice even greater, but their legacy stands firm, and their memories burn bright.”
Bush later said the BVVM is of similar quality to those on the famed mall in Washington, D.C.
Louis L. Adam Memorial Plaza & Wall of Honor
Within the Louis L. Adam Memorial Plaza sits the 250-ton red granite Wall of Honor, which serves as the memorial’s focal point. The wall bears the etched names of more than 6,000 veterans representing all periods of U.S. history who are family and friends of Brazos Valley residents.
Notable names include 24 presidents and former Texas A&M University students who received the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award. The bronze sculpture mounted at the top of the wall depicts a G.I. carrying a fellow soldier to safety. The statue is the work of artist Robert Eccleston of Schuyler Falls, New York.
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. New additions are recognized at the annual Veterans Day Ceremony. Names received after Aug. 15 will be recognized the following year. Click here for an application.
Lynn Stuart Pathway & Memorial Sites
Named after Brig. Gen. Louis Lynn Stuart (U.S. Army), the Lynn Stuart Pathway is a half-mile trail connecting the BVVM memorials. The pathway features interpretive panels with historical background for each conflict, granite markers, and steel benches adorned with donor plaques. Of the trail’s 18 memorial sites, a majority have life-sized, bronze statues designed and sculpted by Navasota’s J. Payne Lara.
Notable sites along the trail include the War on Terror Memorial that displays a steel relic from one of the World Trade Center towers and the Vietnam War Memorial that features a 15-foot-high bronze UH-1D Huey helicopter plate depicting soldiers preparing to drop into a dangerous landing zone.
Future statues are planned to commemorate the Southwest Asia (Gulf War), Mexican Border Service, China Relief Expedition, Kosovo War, Expeditionary Operations and Survivors Family Memorial. We are also working on gathering donations to build an entrance to the memorial.
>> Click here to learn more about the Lynn Stuart Pathway.
How You Can Get Involved
The BVVM board strives to preserve the history and memory of all military service members while providing educational opportunities for the community to learn about our history. Your generous donation can be directed toward a specific memorial or for the memorial grounds in general. Email info@bvvm.org for more information about donation opportunities.