The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, June
2007 � Burt Cabañas, founder, chairman and CEO of Benchmark Hospitality
International, gathered with a group of Houston area Marines recently to
dedicate a monument honoring Marine Medal of Honor recipients who were
born or enlisted in Texas. This is the first monument of its kind
in Texas.
With their service in the Marine Corps as a common bond and after learning
no such memorial existed in Texas, Burt Cabañas and fellow former
Marines Tom Early, Jim O�Connor and Bill Leigh conceived the idea for the
monument. They quickly began fundraising initiatives and located
a site.
�These are the bravest of the brave,� said Mr. Cabañas.
�They went above and beyond the call of duty in service to the country,
many giving their lives in the process. This monument recognizes
their dedication and sacrifice.�
Designed by sculptor J. David Nunneley, the 10-foot high memorial rests
on a square base, dominated by a rectangular black granite block with each
Marine�s name, rank, age and battle etched in gold lettering. The
right and left sides incorporate 18� bronze medallions of the Seal of the
State of Texas as well as the Eagle, Globe and Anchor symbol of the Marine
Corps. The monument is topped with a large Bronze Marine Eagle, Globe
and Anchor symbol. All four sides at the top of its base have a bronze
replica of the Medal of Honor.
The memorial includes the names of five Texas Medal of Honor recipients
from World War II, five from the Korean War and seven from the Vietnam
War. With the exception of Hospitalman John Edward Kilmer from Houston,
all were Marines. Texas cities and towns represented by these heroes
include San Antonio (2), Claude, Ennis, Rio Grande City, El Paso (2), Indian
Gap, Waco, Fort Worth, Houston (2), Abilene, Amarillo, Edinburg, Corpus
Christi and Nacogdoches. All of these cities were encouraged to participate
in the dedication, as well as to engage in a cooperative effort to honor
their Marines locally. |
L to Right: Tom Early (former Marine), Wesley Fox
(Metal of Honor recipient), Burt Cabañas
(former Marine).
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