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 VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK in McKINNEY
6053 Weiskopf Ave.

This is the artist's drawing of the projected memorial and the surrounding buildings
(click on for large view)

On 5 August, 2008, the McKinney City Council selected seven residents to be members of the
McKinney Armed Services Memorial Board:
David Allevato
Natalie Delaroche
Jim Nichols
Linda Kay Clifton
Ralph French
Curtis Rath
Ronnie D Foster


 

McKinney VFW Post Commander, Jim Alton Nichols, presents a check for $2000 to City Councilman Bill Vitz as a donation to the
 Veterans Memorial Park in McKinney

$50,000 has been donated to the
Veterans Memorial in McKinney by

O&S Holdings LLC
of Santa Monica, California.
O&S is the real estate developers responsible
for the
Bridge Street Town Centre located
at the intersection of Hwys 121 and 75.
The site will include the
McKinney Convention Center,
Collin County Higher Education Center,
Westin Hotel and more.

Thanks to the employees of
LEGACY TEXAS BANK
with help from
RICK'S CHOPHOUSE
 for a donation of $3063 presented at the
City Council meeting on 20 May, 2007

Go Here

 Photobucket
MicKinney ISD Student Councils
raised $1400 for the Memorial
(click on picture for large view)

Memorial Mystery
Go Here

INITIAL GROUND
BREAKING CEREMONY
Veterans Day 11 November, 2007
To view the program
Go Here
VETERANS DAY CEREMONY
13 NOVEMBER 2010
(photos courtesy of Clif Pratt USAF)

City of McKinney
Veterans Day Ceremony
Saturday, 13 November, 2010
11:00 AM
6053 Weiskopf Avenue

Choral Prelude - McKinney North High School Choir
Steven L. Nelms, Choir Director
“God Bless America”
“The Lord Bless You & Keep You”
“Battle Hymn of the Republic”
Welcome - David Allevato, McKinney Armed Services Memorial Board
Opening Prayer -  Chris Board, Gold Star Father
Presentation of Colors
- McKinney Fire Department Honor Guard
National Anthem - McKinney North High School Choir
Post the Colors - McKinney Fire Department Honor Guard
Introduction of Speakers - McKinney Mayor Brian Loughmiller
Speakers - Representative Sam Johnson
Representative Ralph Hall
General Harvey McCarter, USAF (Ret.)
“The Wall of Honor” - R. D. Foster
"Taps" - Zachary Freisenhahn – McKinney High School
Missing Man Fly Over - Carl Best - Four AT-6 aircraft – Aero Country Airport
Retire the Colors - McKinney Fire Department Honor Guard
 

Veterans Day 2010

McKinney North High School Choir

Veterans Day 2010

McKinney Fire Department
Color Guard

Veterans Day 2010

McKinney Armed Services Memorial Board Chairman
Dave Allevato

Veterans Day 2010

Mayor of McKinney
Brian Loughmiller

Veterans Day 2010

McKinney Police Department

Veterans Day 2010

Congressman Sam Johnson

Veterans Day 2010

Brig. Gen. Harvey McCarter

Veterans Day 2010 Veterans Day 2010

RD Foster with stories of names from the Wall

Veterans Day 2010

AT-6 Flyover by AT-6 Squadron - Vintage WWII fighters

Veterans Day 2010

Congressman Ralph Hall

Veterans Day 2010

Congressman Sam Johnson

Veterans Day 2010

Chris Board (on left) Gold-Star Father of Cody Board

Veterans Day 2010 Veterans Day 2010

Gen. McCarter and
RD Foster
(photo from Tracy Rath)

From Channel 8 News
Veterans Honored in McKinney
at Site of Future Memorial


 

Artist's Concept of Proposed Memorial Site
The site is approximately 80 feet wide and longer than a football field.
Newman, Jackson, Bieberstein, Inc. - Landscape Architecture + Urban Design
has been hired to develop the site. 

 

Below is the update of the memorial design.

The site is just under one-fourth of an acre. The actual memorial is on the west (left) end of the site where there will be featured an American flag that will be lighted and will fly 24-hours a day, as well as a fountain. The names of the Collin County fallen will be listed on the walls in that area. A ribbon-like walkway will extend from one end to the other. On the east (right) end, a Shumard Red Oak tree will be planted and dedicated to each branch of the Armed Forces. 

David Shipp design

 

For a close-up view click on pictures below.

  
David Shipp Design

David Shipp design

This is how the memorial site looked on 3 March, 2007:

original site pics 7 original site pics 6 original site pics 5 original site pics 4
Looking from west to east. From south to north. SW to NE. South to North.
original site pics 3 original site pics 2 original site pics 1
East to West. NE to SW. West to East.
  
      
 


 VETERANS MEMORIAL in McKINNEY GROUND-BREAKING CEREMONY
11 November, 2007
(photos by Trina Foster)

Present Colors -
US NAVY
RD Foster points out the location of the Memorial T. J. Grant; Tamara Cottle (daughter of James Malone KIA Vietnam); Gilda Garza; Kay Clifton Congressman Ralph Hall Kay Clifton (sister of Robbie Robinson KIA Korea)
Phyllis Broomfield (Mother of Johnny Craver KIA Iraq)
TA6 Texans preparing for flyover.
Travis Grant Danny Hoffman (Brother of Charles Hoffman KIA Vietnam) RD Foster; Mayor Bill Whitfield; Congressman Sam Johnson, Ralph Hall, Rev. Rickey Hargraves Retire Colors

 

 Veterans Memorial Park in McKinney
By R. D. Foster

In the summer of 2003, I was at the American Legion Hall in McKinney, playing a show there with my band. During one of the breaks I was talking to a couple of guys I knew that I hadn’t seen since high school, and one of them ask me, "Whatever happened to Bill Bryan?"

I was stunned! Bill Bryan had been killed in 1968 in Vietnam. Bill and I had gone into the Marine Corps together in June of 1966, two weeks after graduation from McKinney High School. I was one of the lucky ones to have gone to Vietnam and came back in one piece. Bill, however, did not. The fact that Bill had sacrificed his life for our freedom, and the possibility that he had been forgotten really bothered me. I decided right then and there to do something about that.

I had always wanted to be a writer, and had just finished my first book, a novel about Vietnam. Knowing there was an infinite amount of information to be gathered on the Internet, and I, being a novice at working with computers, recruited an old friend of mine, Linda Phillips to help. In the following weeks and months we found twenty men from Collin County, thirteen of whom had lived in McKinney, who had died in Vietnam. While in the process of doing that research, we extended our interest, and as of April 2006, have identified the names of over 300 Collin County men who died in war, from WWI to the war in Iraq.

In the early 1970’s, Collin County began the transformation from basically a rural farming economy to the cosmopolitan area it is rapidly becoming. I would dare say that ninety percent of the people who live here now have never heard of any of those heroes, other than Audie Murphy. Linda, and I decided we would push for a memorial to be built to honor them. She recruited a friend of hers, Veda Babb, and we wrote letters, sent e-mails, and made phone calls to members of the county government, and basically hit a brick wall. There was no interest whatsoever. It was very depressing. We then redirected our focus to the City of McKinney. Some of our emails were answered, though the enthusiasm that Linda, Veda, and I shared was obviously not there.

Everything changed when Linda made a phone call to newly elected City Councilman Bill Vitz. Bill was all for it. The wheels began to turn, however slow, they were still turning. The first official meeting was held February 20, 2005. Along with Councilman Vitz, John Kessel-Executive Director Community Development Services, Rod Tweet-Recreation Superintendent, and Ron Dumpke from the Parks Department were there representing the city. Linda, Veda, Trina Foster, and I were there to present our ideas. The idea was subsequently presented to, and approved by the Parks Board, which paved the way for a committee to be formed and to actually lay out the plan. On Tuesday April 18, 2006, the McKinney City Council approved funding for a McKinney Veterans Memorial. The dream has become reality.
McKinney Veterans Memorial Committee:
Bill Vitz
Gilda Garza
Linda Phillips
Ronnie D. Foster
Veda Babb
Judge Bill Dowdy
Charlie Phillips
Linda Smith
Bill Smith
George Webb
Beth Larsen
Clinton Tennill Jr
Gene Sera
David Allevato
City of McKinney Representatives:
John Kessel
Rod Tweet
Steve Brainerd

This page will be updated as we move further in making the McKinney Veterans Memorial a reality.

 

CITY OF McKINNEY, Texas

RESOLUTION NO. 2006-________

  • A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF McKINNEY, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING THE MEMORIAL TO VETERANS OF THE CITY OF McKINNEY TO BE LOCATED IN THE CRAIG RANCH TOWNE CENTER.

  • WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of McKinney, Texas has determined the need for a memorial to the veterans of the City of McKinney; and,

  • WHEREAS, the City Council approved the budget on October 19, 2005; and,

  • WHEREAS, the City desires to locate the memorial to the veterans of the City of McKinney in the Craig Ranch Towne Center.

  •            NOW, THEREFORE, E IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE   CITY
    OF McKINNEY, TEXAS, THAT:

  • Section 1. The City Council of the City of McKinney, Texas accepts Craig Ranch Towne Center as the location for the memorial to the veterans of the City of McKinney.

  • PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF McKINNEY, COLLIN COUNTY, TEXAS ON THIS THE 18TH DAY OF APRIL 2006.

    City of McKinney
    ______________________

    BILL WHITFIELD
    Mayor

    ATTEST:
    ____________________________
    SANDY HART, CMC
    City Secretary

    BEVERLY COVINGTON
    Deputy City Secretary

    APPROVED AS TO FORM:
    ____________________________

    MARK S. HOUSER
    City Attorney

    These are the five proposed sites, and how the decision on the final location was arrived.
    (click on pictures for large view)

     

    1 CRAIG RANCH
     
    Pros:
    City Park Property
    Private maintenance supplemented with city funding
    Visibility
    Opportunity for construction const supplements
    (my comments- The layout is very similar to the mall in Washington DC. It will be a great place to hold parades, concerts, family picnics, etc..., and still maintain the honor, dignity, and serenity, such a memorial should have. It is easily accessible for all, and will have restroom facilities close by. Twenty-four hour access-Security would not be an issue.)
    Cons:
    Parking
    Expansion
    (my comments-I originally preferred the location to be in the old part of town. However, after carefully studying all the locations, I thought this would be the best place. One hundred years ago, old McKinney was the town square; one hundred years from now this memorial will still be standing, and will be in old McKinney.)
    2 CORNER of COLLEGE & WILSON CREEK PARKWAY

     

    Pros:
    City Park Property
    City Maintenance
    Parking
    Expansion
    Mature trees on site
    Cons:
    Visibility
    No water feature at site
    Close proximity to vehicular traffic
    (my comments-Security is the main problem here, and no restroom facilities. The site would be very restrictive for large gatherings, parades, etc...) 
    3 TOWNE LAKE SOUTH PENINSULA

     

    Pros:
    City Park Property
    City maintenance
    Parking
    Visibility
    Surrounding water
    Vertical element contrasts with horizontal
    Restrooms available
    Concessions available
    Cons:
    Paddleboat dock location
    Underground gas line
    (my comments-Towne Lake was our original choice. However, the only way to get to the site is by foot. This would make it very hard for the disabled and the elderly to get to it. Due to the gas line that runs underneath, it has very stringent restrictions attached. Plus, as most of know, the lake floods quite often.)
    4 ERWIN PARK Pros:
    City Park Property
    City maintenance
    Parking
    Expansion
    Pastoral setting
    Cons:
    Visibility
    No master plan for Erwin Park
    No water feature nearby
    (my comments-The restrictions attached to the property make it very limited to what can be built there. The purpose of the park is to maintain a pristine area, which I support wholeheartedly. I think we should leave the park as it is.)
    5 WILSON CREEK GREENWAY Pros:
    City Park Property
    City maintenance
    Parking
    Expansion
    Cons:
    Visibility
    (my comments-Security is my main concern. There are people in our society who wouldn't think twice about taking a can of spray paint and defacing something like this. The Throckmorton statue on the square is a prime example. Plus this is a floodplain.) 


     

    The Mystery of the
    Collin County War Dead Memorial of 1951

    By R.D. Foster

    In the midst of doing research for the names of Collin county men who had been killed in war, I came across this article form the McKinney Examiner.

    McKinney Examiner
    June 23, 1951
    Tribute To Collin War Dead

    Fallen heroes of Collin County were paid high tribute at a public memorial and unveiling ceremony held Friday afternoon at 4 o"clock on the East side of the public square. The program, under the auspices of the Woodmen of the World camp of this city was largely attended and well received.

    E. B. Lyons of Denison, district manager for the W.O.W. presided over the impressive program presenting as speakers for the afternoon county Judge Bill Parker of Hunt County, who spoke on "Our debt of gratitude to the boys who have made the supreme sacrifice." Frank Davis, who will speak in behalf of veterans organizations of this county, and the dedicatory address by Hon. R. E. Miller of Omaha, Neb., vice-president of the W.O.W.

    The statue to be unveiled will include names of those men who lost their lives from this county in World Wars I and II and the Korean War up to the present time. The Firing Squad, Bugle corps and Military band from Perrin Field, at Sherman, assisted with the program and McKinney Eagle Scouts will be on hand to raise the colors.

    The program which lasts for one hour will be broadcast over Station KMAE, McKinney.

    The article was confusing to me, as part of it was written in past tense and part in future tense. My question is: Was there a statue dedicated on the east side of the square or not? If it was, what happened to it? Any information you may obtain from some of our older citizens would be greatly appreciated.
     

    On April 29, 2006, I spoke with Helen Hall, probably the person who knows more than anybody about the history of McKinney and Collin County. She remembered the presentation, and the monument. According to her, a tree was planted, and next to it was a granite or cement column with the names of the war dead engraved. She doesn't know whatever became of it.

    ... BREAKING NEWS ... GROUNDBREAKING SET FOR THE COLLIN COUNTY VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK IN MCKINNEY ...

    VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK
    in McKINNEY

    Photobucket

    (Jan. 24, 2011-McKinney, Texas) - The Veterans Memorial Park in McKinney will break ground with a ceremony on Wednesday, Feb. 16 at 11 a.m. The $1.2 million memorial park received the final amount of funding for its Craig Ranch location when the Collin County Commissioners Court approved a $300,000 park construction grant last year. The park is anticipated to open on Veterans Day this year. 

    "This memorial park is extremely important to our entire community. It took a lot of people to help make it a reality, and we are all eagerly anticipating the dedication this fall," said McKinney Interim City Manager Rick Chaffin.  

    The memorial is located on a half acre site in Van Tuyl Plaza at Craig Ranch. It will feature a Wall of Honor with the inscribed names of those Collin County servicemen and women who sacrificed their lives in defense of our freedom, while it honors all veterans. A lighted American flag will fly 24-hours a day over the wall. A fountain at the base of the flagpole will symbolically water Shumard Red Oak trees representing each branch of the Armed Services. A ribbon-like walkway will extend from one end to the other.   

    "It's been more than five years since we first conceived the idea, and we are all focused on finishing the park in time to honor our fallen soldiers this Veterans Day," said former Marine and McKinney Armed Services Memorial Board member Ronnie Foster. "This park will provide our community and the entire county with a place to remember those who have fought and died for our freedom, and pay tribute to their sacrifice."                                

    ----------------------------------------------------------------

    McKinney Courier-Gazette
    by Marthe Stinton, mstinton@acnpapers.com
    16 Feb. 2011
    Veterans Memorial Park
    Construction Under Way

    - McKinney council members break ground on the $1.2 million Veteran's Memorial Park scheduled to be completed by November 2011. They include, from left to right, Mayor Pro Tem Pete Huff, David Brooks, Travis Ussery Geralyn Kever, Mayor Brian Loughmiller and Ray Ricchi. photo by Kate Keating/McKinney Courier-Gazette

    The groundbreaking for the $1.2 million, half-acre Veterans Memorial Park confirmed the dream Ronnie D Foster, an ex-marine who rallied for the park, had envisioned for the past six years - a tribute to the county's veterans and service men and women.
    The dream began in 2005 when Foster and four other county residents met with city officials. "At that meeting four average McKinney citizens came prepared to persuade officials that our hometown - the county seat of one of the most patriotic counties in America - needed a memorial," he said. "[We needed a memorial] to honor all those young men and women who are courageous enough to put on the uniform of the United States military and put their lives on the line in service of our country - but especially those who went off to war and didn't come home."
    Foster said he was surprised that he didn't have to convince the city to build a park but instead received immediate support from the city. "After 150 years of sending men and women off to fight and die in the name of freedom, it was time that the city of McKinney pay tribute to those people," he said.

    The memorial park will be located in the Van Tuyl Plaza at Craig Ranch and will serve as a focal point for the upcoming Town Square at Craig Ranch. The park will feature a wall of honor, where the names of Collin County service men and women will be inscribed. Above the wall, a lighted American flag will fly over the ribbon-like walkway that will encompass park. A fountain at the base of the flag will water

    David Allevato is a member of the McKinney Armed Services Memorial Board. "This groundbreaking ceremony is a culmination of five years of work to get us to this point," he said. "On this site, on Veteran's Day of this coming year, you will see an actual park. I'd like to thank many people, city, county, individual citizens for getting us this far."

    McKinney Mayor Brian Loughmiller said the site would recognize the sacrifices of those in the armed forces. "The Veteran's Memorial Park will serve as a noble reminder of the sacrifices of these individuals," he said. "To all servicemen and women and all veterans, please accept our gratitude and words of thanks on behalf of the community."

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