This page will show past president articles and event occurrences concerning the Memorial Site
2007 Fall Message
The Central Texas Fallen Heroes Memorial Fund and the VFW 9192 dedicated a memorial for the Fallen Soldiers of Central Texas on May 28th, 2007 at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen. This initial dedication honored the soldiers from Central Texas who have died since 2003 supporting operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The memorial consists of four stones, each representing a year from 2003-2006. One side of the 7’ tall black granite monuments has the names of the soldiers who died in that year. The other side of the stone has a picture of each of those soldiers laser-etched into the granite. We wanted to do this so that visitors to this memorial would forever remember that these soldiers were real people.
The memorial fund is continuing to raise money for future construction of the memorial. We need another $27,000 in order to fulfill our future construction needs. Once we reach that goal, the memorial fund will begin raising money to offer college scholarships to the children of the fallen soldiers on the memorial. If you would like to be a part of a memorial honoring our fallen soldiers, contact Pat Turck or Jack St. John to find out how you can help. We have t-shirts (pictures available at the link on the main page) along with memorial patches for sale. Cash donations are also accepted.
The executive board encourages everyone in Central Texas to contribute to this cause. Businesses and organizations should see this as a way to truly show support for our soldiers.
We are currently compiling names and photos for the soldiers who have died in 2007. If you are the family member of one of these soldiers, or know the family of a fallen soldier from 2007, we need a photograph of your soldier to be included on the 2007 stone, which will be dedicated on Memorial Day 2008. If we do not receive a photo from the family, we will use the photo that we find through a variety of web sites, usually Department of Defense photographs.
The organizers of this memorial fund are all employees and officers with the Killeen Police Department. We are not only veterans, but we are citizens in a community that has thrived as a result of the military presence in this area. Those who have never lived in a military community will never understand the strong connection that these local communities have with the soldiers. All of the soldiers on the memorial are considered members of the Central Texas community and we hope this memorial shows our support for them and their families for generations to come.
Please get involved and help build this memorial through your donations and generosity.
The stories in Faces of Freedom are true stories - stories of service, pride and love. The stories will remind you that America has been blessed with greatness in every generation and no generation has shown greater valor than our current generation of heroes in Iraq and Afghanistan. Read and be inspired. - Gen. Colin L Powell
The Central Texas Fallen Heroes Memorial Fund was developed to raise funds to build a memorial honoring all of the soldiers from Central Texas killed supporting operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
As a result of the generosity of businesses, community organizations and private citizens, we have reached the goal for the initial dedication event, scheduled for May 28, 2007 at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery on State Highway 195 in Killeen.
The event is scheduled to start at 11 am with Joe Lombardi acting as the master of ceremonies and the keynote speech being delivered by US Congressman John Carter. A flyover with B-25 bombers from the Confederate Air Force is also planned, along with the presence of a large group from the Patriot Guard.
This event is being planned to honor all of these soldiers and we strongly encourage everyone to attend this dedication event. Memorial Day was created as a day to remember and honor our fallen soldiers. This day should be reserved for attendance at memorial ceremonies and events designed to recognize these heroes.
Please take time to look through this web site and learn more about this project. Visit the supporter pages and see the massive number of groups, businesses and individuals who have supported this project. Also take a few minutes to learn about the design of the memorial we will be dedicating and look through the “Troops” page to see photos of all of the fallen soldiers from Central Texas.
We will continue our fundraising efforts indefinitely as we need another $30,000 to fulfill the requirements of the final design. Any remaining funds will be placed into a scholarship fund for the children of fallen soldiers. Future fundraisers include a raffle (with prizes including a motor vehicle, a night out at Cheeves Brothers SteakHouse with a limousine ride, and autographed memorabilia from celebrities, including Troy Aikman, Tony Dorsett, Mel Renfro, Tommie Harris, Yao Ming and Gov. Perry), and a possible concert with a nationally known recording artist.
Be a part of a lasting memorial in Central Texas by donating today. If you have any questions on the project, contact the Board members via email on this site.
We are currently collecting photos of soldiers killed thus far in 2007. If you are a family member of one of these soldiers and have a specific photo you would like us to include on next year’s stone, please contact us and let us know.
The Central Texas Fallen Heroes Memorial Fund is an official 501(c)(3), non-profit organization.
Archived 072507
Ft. Hood and Central Texas have been home to some of the finest soldiers in the history of the Armed Forces of the United States. These soldiers have always answered the call to duty and have served their country, and this community, honorably since the post’s inception in 1942.
The Central Texas community, consisting of many cities, including Killeen, Harker Heights, Copperas Cove, Belton and Temple, have built their communities around the military and many of these cities thrive economically as a result of the military presence in Central Texas.
All of the communities of Central Texas have sought ways to show their support for the military and Ft. Hood through a variety of programs and memorials. The Central Texas community embraces Ft. Hood and the military as well as any other community would valuing the service it renders.
In 2002, Ft. Hood and its supporting units began a lengthy commitment in support of the Iraq War and the War on Terrorism in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, many of these brave soldiers have lost their lives in support of this mission, which is ongoing.
The Killeen Police Department, VFW Post 9192, the Texas Veteran’s Land Board, family members of some of the fallen soldiers, and various concerned citizens of Central Texas, have joined together to form the Central Texas Fallen Heroes Association. This 501(c)(3) non-profit organization is committed to raising funds for the construction of a memorial to honor all of the Central Texas soldiers who gave their lives in support of their missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The memorial will be placed at the new Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen.
A formal dedication ceremony is planned for Memorial Day, May 28, 2007.
The design of the memorial consists of black granite stones for each year of the conflict, beginning in 2002.(Very few lives were lost in 2002 and will be added to the 2003 stone). Names of soldiers lost in each respective year will be etched on one side of the stone with a photograph of each soldier etched into the other side of the stone.
(Many of these photos were provided by the soldiers’ families, some were not, but is something which is available for the family of any Central Texas fallen soldier. Unfortunately if a good quality photo is not available we have to use one that our researchers obtain, usually from the Internet)
The design for the memorial has plans for stones through 2010. These stones will surround a bronze statue of the helmet, rifle and boots memorial. This memorial will be displayed proudly near the entrance to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery and will serve as a reminder of the bravery and commitment of these soldiers.
An additional $40,000 is needed for completion of the memorial. Donations can be made by contacting any of the Board members listed on the main page “Contact” link. The Central Texas Fallen Heroes Memorial Association has received the designation as a non-profit organization from the Internal Revenue Service.
Donations should only be made to one of the individuals listed on the “Contact” link on the main page.
A receipt will be generated for every donation whether it be services rendered or a monetary donation.
Donations can be made directly to the Central Texas Fallen Heroes Memorial Association account at the First National Bank of Killeen, account #01-1127349.
We would like to thank all of those who have contributed to this effort and we welcome anyone who wishes to contribute in the future.
Show your support for our troops by supporting a memorial to honor their sacrifices.
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Several members of the Killeen Police Department are spearheading the construction of a memorial for Central Texas Ft Hood soldiers who have been killed in Afghanistan and Iraq hostilities over the last four years. The funds to construct this memorial were raised through a charity football game played between Killeen Police and Temple Police on January 15, 2005.
As a result of that game and donations from a number of businesses and associations around Central Texas, we raised approximately $28,000. The Killeen Team is depicted here, at Copperas Cove High School stadium. The Temple officers photo is not available as of date.
Initial plans for construction of the memorial had us placing the memorial at the Killeen/Ft. Hood Regional Airport. This was at the request of several family members who last said goodbye to their loved ones at the airport or saw them for the last time flying from that airfield.
However, due to logistical issues surrounding placement of the memorial at the airport, those plans were scrapped. After discussing the issue with family members of fallen soldiers, they have agreed, and we think it is most appropriate, to place the memorial at the new Central Texas State Veteran’s Cemetery in Killeen. This facility has developed into a beautiful cemetery and several of the fallen soldiers we are memorializing have been, or will be, buried at the cemetery.
Approval was requested of the Texas Veterans Land Board to place the memorial at a site of the Texas Veterans Land Board’s choosing at the Central Texas State Veteran’s Cemetery. We would like to dedicate the memorial on Memorial Day, May 29 2006.
Construction of the monuments has already begun and we seek permission to begin site preparation and concrete work at the cemetery. Final approval will be sought at the April 17th 2006 Land Board meeting.
The idea for our memorial is that it is a "growing" memorial. We are going to have a 6’ x 4’ (six feet tall) black granite tablet monument for each year of the conflict starting in 2003. The Central Texas soldiers who died in that year will have their names etched on one side of the monument along with their photographs (in a montage) laser etched on the opposite side.
We have already purchased the three stones to represent 2003, 2004, 2005. Those tablet stones, and the etching described, cost $21,000. We have already begun the fundraising for the 2006 and we will evaluate the need for additional stones as the conflict continues. (If the number of casualties reduces significantly in the future, we will consider combining years on one stone with proper wording to reflect the date of death for those soldiers.)
We are going to place a bronze statue in the center of the memorial. The statue will be the 4’ tall Colt M16 rifle with affixed bayonet, GI boots and GI kevlar helmet statue that I am sure everyone has seen, publicized over the news media since the start of the conflicts. It can be viewed at www.largeart.com, and elsewhere on this web site.
That statue will be ordered during the week of March 20 2006 and is expected to be in Killeen by May 1st 2006.
These black granite monuments will surround the statue, allowing visitors to view both sides of the tablet stones.
The names of each fallen soldier will be engraved on the front side of each designated year granite tablet, and the available photo of each soldier laser etched on the reverse side of that year tablet. Unfortunately photo quality varies depending on that photo obtained for any given soldier.
As we continue our fundraising and on-going maintenance of this memorial, we will look at planting shrubs and or trees near the memorial to add to the overall appearance of the memorial.
In summary, our initial donation to the cemetery will be valued at nearly $25,000, as of May 2006.
As additional improvements are made to the memorial, that value will continue to go up unfortunately.
Officers from the Killeen Police Department have adopted this project as a long term project to honor the soldiers of the Ft Hood, Central Texas community who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
As this cemetery continues to grow, we believe that it will become a site that is visited by many people and this memorial will help the cemetery become like all other veterans cemeteries, where there are a variety of memorials for different conflicts, donated by different groups, all honoring the service men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.
We are planning to begin site preparation and construction no later than May 1st 2006.
Patrick M Turck
From the months prior to receiving Land Board approval......
Memorial Location
Due to unpredicted issues at the Texas State Land Board, the actual approval for the
Memorial Site to be placed at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen
was removed from the Land Board meeting agenda that was held on April 17 2006.
This naturally upset various Executive Board members and dependants of families of
Central Texas Fallen Heroes, to where a secondary location is
now being considered. This secondary location is being considered in the event
the Texas State Land Board makes the ultimate decision to not authorize placement of
this memorial for Central Texas Soldiers killed in action in Afghanistan and Iraq
be placed at Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen Texas.
Negotiations with the members of the Texas State Land Board
The Texas State Veterans Cemetery officials and the Memorial Executive Board
continue as of April 19 2006.
All future progress updates pertaining to this sensitive issue will be placed at this website page.
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Our receipts, business cards and supporter demo packet, (which contains an example of the certificate and memorial pictures
every supporter will be issued for their continued support) is in the process of being completed.
They will be issued to the Fund Coordinators as soon as possible for their use. Thanks for your patience!
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