History of the Memorial
In 1987 the Big Spring Chamber of Commerce sponsored the mobile Vietnam Memorial know as the Moving Wall. A special committee was formed to plan and organize the event.
During the last week of September 1987, after months of planning and work, the Wall arrived. It was contained in huge wooden crates accompanied
by a Vietnam veteran named Michael Letton. One by one, the panels of the Wall were assembled on plot of land at the corner of the former
Webb Air Force Base, overlooking the distant West Texas horizon.
The Wall impacted the lives of many of the thousands of people who visited it. Day or night, the Wall was never alone - someone was always there, finding the name of a lost friend, family member, a lost comrade or standing alone in the shadows with just their memories.
As the Wall was being disassembled and readied for it's next venue an as-hoc group formed; some from the chamber committee, veterans and a few from those who had spent days at the Moving Wall. The group decided that the land on which the Wall had stood could see no other purpose but as a site for a memorial to that week when the Moving Wall brought some peace to many from the area and to ensure that we never forget the sacrifices that had been made years ago.
The founding group consisted of:
From this group the Vietnam Memorial Committee of Big Spring was formed and incorporated as a 501(c) (3) non-profit corporation in February of 1988. The committee's chartered purpose was to:
A few months later in August 1988, the Vietnam Memorial Committee obtained a lease from the Howard County Junior College District for the two and a half acres land on which the Moving Wall had stood. A tree was planted to represent the commitment to build the memorial. The Committee had the land, all that was needed then was the money.
Since air power played a large role in the Vietnam war an air show highlighting Vietnam era aircraft seemed a natural idea for raising the one-hundred thousand dollars needed for construction.
On October 22,1988 the first air show was held. Though organized by complete novices at such events the air show was a great success. Attendance was estimated to be over 5000. Planning the second air show had begun before the first one was over.
Between air shows other activities were held.
The second annual Vietnam Memorial Air Show was held the last weekend of October 1989. This event drew thousands of people from throughout West Texas to Big Spring. It featured professional civilian air show performers, the Army's Golden Knights parachute team, and many military aircraft demonstrations.
The final air show was held October 1990. The first two air shows provided the organizers the expertise to produce a world class air show. This was confirmed by many of the 30,000 visitors,who said it was the best air show they had ever seen.
With the profits made from the air shows, from bake sales, T-shirt sales, and with the many generous donations from members of the community the Big Spring Vietnam Memorial became a possibility.
Construction began in late Fall of 1990 with the pouring of the foundation and in January of 1991 plaza construction completed and the memorial was assembled.
On May 27, 1991 a dream that was born four years earlier was fully realized when the community of Big Spring dedicated the Big Spring Vietnam Memorial.
Five years later in 1996, a UH-1 Huey was acquired from the U.S. Army to be placed on permanent display. Hundreds of hours were spent cosmetically restoring the Huey, and providing it a paint job that matched Vietnam era Medi-Evac helicopters. On Memorial Day, 1997 the Huey was dedicated.
The following year December 1997 an F-4E Phantom II (66-368) Phantom was acquired from the USAF. In in five short, but intense, months it was completely restored and mounted next to the Huey. It's dedication ceremonies were held Memorial Day 1998.
A chapel honoring Gold Sart families was funded through local contributions and dedecated. It currently contains photographs of Howard County's KIAs and POW/MIAs.
This memorial would not have been possible without the financial support and hard work of so many members of the Big Spring community they are to numerous to list, but not unappreciated.
The Big Spring Vietnam Memorial, and others like it throughout the country, will ensure those who sacrificed their lives, those who didn't return, and those who survived yet still carry scars, seen and unseen, will never be forgotten.
Thank you Big Spring for making it possible.
(+ Deceased)
During the last week of September 1987, after months of planning and work, the Wall arrived. It was contained in huge wooden crates accompanied
by a Vietnam veteran named Michael Letton. One by one, the panels of the Wall were assembled on plot of land at the corner of the former
Webb Air Force Base, overlooking the distant West Texas horizon.
The Wall impacted the lives of many of the thousands of people who visited it. Day or night, the Wall was never alone - someone was always there, finding the name of a lost friend, family member, a lost comrade or standing alone in the shadows with just their memories.
As the Wall was being disassembled and readied for it's next venue an as-hoc group formed; some from the chamber committee, veterans and a few from those who had spent days at the Moving Wall. The group decided that the land on which the Wall had stood could see no other purpose but as a site for a memorial to that week when the Moving Wall brought some peace to many from the area and to ensure that we never forget the sacrifices that had been made years ago.
The founding group consisted of:
- Charlie Lewis
- Robb McKenzie
- Don Boling
- Patrick Carnahan
- Ken Dunwoody +
- James Justice +
- Robyn Drinkard +
From this group the Vietnam Memorial Committee of Big Spring was formed and incorporated as a 501(c) (3) non-profit corporation in February of 1988. The committee's chartered purpose was to:
- Promote education and understanding of military conflicts, including the Vietnam War and the role of the American military in Vietnam;
- To construct and dedicate a memorial to Howard County residents who were killed-in-action or are missing-in-action in Vietnam;
- To build and operate a museum/chapel to promote education and understanding of military conflicts including the Vietnam War;
- and to promote education and understanding about prisoners of war in Vietnam.
A few months later in August 1988, the Vietnam Memorial Committee obtained a lease from the Howard County Junior College District for the two and a half acres land on which the Moving Wall had stood. A tree was planted to represent the commitment to build the memorial. The Committee had the land, all that was needed then was the money.
Since air power played a large role in the Vietnam war an air show highlighting Vietnam era aircraft seemed a natural idea for raising the one-hundred thousand dollars needed for construction.
On October 22,1988 the first air show was held. Though organized by complete novices at such events the air show was a great success. Attendance was estimated to be over 5000. Planning the second air show had begun before the first one was over.
Between air shows other activities were held.
- Seminars on the Vietnam War were presented to high school students.
- On September 10, 1989, POW/MIA Recognition Day, at the request the of the Memorial Committee, the City of Big Spring renamed Eighth Avenue and the intersecting Avenue D to Rackley Street and Swords Avenue to honor Lt. Col. Inzar Rackley and Lt. Col. Smith Swords, two Howard County residents who are missing-in-action in Southeast Asia.
- Three more trees had been planted, one each for Rackley and Swords,and a third for Major Edward Hudgens, who is no longer missing-in-action as his remains were returned in 1997.
The second annual Vietnam Memorial Air Show was held the last weekend of October 1989. This event drew thousands of people from throughout West Texas to Big Spring. It featured professional civilian air show performers, the Army's Golden Knights parachute team, and many military aircraft demonstrations.
The final air show was held October 1990. The first two air shows provided the organizers the expertise to produce a world class air show. This was confirmed by many of the 30,000 visitors,who said it was the best air show they had ever seen.
With the profits made from the air shows, from bake sales, T-shirt sales, and with the many generous donations from members of the community the Big Spring Vietnam Memorial became a possibility.
Construction began in late Fall of 1990 with the pouring of the foundation and in January of 1991 plaza construction completed and the memorial was assembled.
On May 27, 1991 a dream that was born four years earlier was fully realized when the community of Big Spring dedicated the Big Spring Vietnam Memorial.
Five years later in 1996, a UH-1 Huey was acquired from the U.S. Army to be placed on permanent display. Hundreds of hours were spent cosmetically restoring the Huey, and providing it a paint job that matched Vietnam era Medi-Evac helicopters. On Memorial Day, 1997 the Huey was dedicated.
The following year December 1997 an F-4E Phantom II (66-368) Phantom was acquired from the USAF. In in five short, but intense, months it was completely restored and mounted next to the Huey. It's dedication ceremonies were held Memorial Day 1998.
A chapel honoring Gold Sart families was funded through local contributions and dedecated. It currently contains photographs of Howard County's KIAs and POW/MIAs.
This memorial would not have been possible without the financial support and hard work of so many members of the Big Spring community they are to numerous to list, but not unappreciated.
The Big Spring Vietnam Memorial, and others like it throughout the country, will ensure those who sacrificed their lives, those who didn't return, and those who survived yet still carry scars, seen and unseen, will never be forgotten.
Thank you Big Spring for making it possible.
(+ Deceased)
