New Vietnam Veterans Memorial

The monument Groundbreaking Ceremony will took place on the Texas Capitol Grounds at 10:00 a.m. Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson served as the Master of Ceremonies. Senator Juan Hinojosa and Representative Wayne Smith, Vietnam veterans who co-sponsored the monument legislation, spoke as did Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst and monument committee chair Robert Floyd. Senator Leticia Van de Putte introduced the veterans who participated in the groundbreaking, including elected officials and Texas Vietnam veterans Dr. Tone Johnson of Corpus (USA), Mr. Eloy Rodriguez of Beeville (USMC), Colonel Jim Lamar of Austin (USAF), Mr. Stan Sellers of Bandera (USN) and Ms. Patricia Rowan of Houston (ARC). Also turning the soil was Gold Star Mother Mrs. Oleta Smith of Dumas, mother of SGT James Warren Smith, US Army, KIA. (March 25, 2013)