BROWNWOOD, Texas –The Central Texas Veterans Memorial in Brownwood is nearing completion, more than 70 years after a memorial was first proposed there. A $22,860 community development grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority will help put the finishing touches on the site.
The memorial includes 12 granite tablets surrounding a 75-foot-diameter concrete circle, located at the site where the 36th Infantry Division of the Texas National Guard trained at Camp Bowie during World War II. During the war, the 36th Infantry Division saw more days of combat than any other infantry division.
“The dedication and sacrifice of members of our armed forces is inspirational and deserves our highest praise,” LCRA General Manager Phil Wilson said. “We at LCRA are honored to help fund the completion of a monument to these brave heroes. It’s especially meaningful to have the monument here, where so many trained to defend our nation.”
The tablets and other plaques honor veterans of all wars from World War I forward. A half-mile concrete walking trail will include a water fountain and benches. An accessible sidewalk connects the memorial to a nearby veterans outpatient clinic and the Brownwood Regional Medical Center.
“The memorial is so important to Brown County,” said Dr. Stephen Kelly, president of the Central Texas Veterans Memorial Committee. “It not only preserves a rich history within our community, it also honors all veterans, especially the 259 veterans from Brown County who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.”
For decades, various community groups and veterans in Brown County worked to fundraise and get traction for the memorial, but there were many setbacks. The Central Texas Veterans Memorial Committee re-formed in late 2015, and the pieces came together.
“So many tenacious people worked on this project over the years,” Kelly said. “To see it finally come to fruition is just incredible.”
Pictured, from left to right, are: Phil Wilson, LCRA general manager; Lori A. Berger, LCRA Board member; Charles B. “Bart” Johnson, LCRA Board member; Dr. Stephen Kelly, president of the Central Texas Veterans Memorial Committee; Keith Clark, memorial committee treasurer; and Col. James Masters, commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3278.
The committee will use the community grant to complete electrical work and lighting, and install benches, landscaping and drip irrigation at the site. Kelly expects the work to be completed in time for the opening of the Vietnam Moving Wall traveling exhibit, scheduled to be on display at the Central Texas Veterans Memorial June 8-12.
The grant is one of several recently awarded through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. The program provides economic development and community assistance grants to cities, counties, volunteer fire departments, regional development councils and other nonprofit organizations in LCRA’s electric and water service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves.
Applications for the next round of grants are due July 31. More information is available at lcra.org/cdpp.
About LCRA
The Lower Colorado River Authority serves customers and communities throughout Texas by managing the lower Colorado River; generating and transmitting electric power; providing a clean, reliable water supply; and offering access to nature at more than 40 parks, recreation areas and river access sites along the Texas Colorado River, from the Hill Country to the Gulf Coast. LCRA and its employees are committed to enhancing the lives of Texans through water stewardship, energy and community services. LCRA was created by the Texas Legislature in 1934. For more information, visit lcra.org.
