SAN ANGELO, TX — The San Angelo City Council unanimously approved a resolution on April 16 to utilize city property at Rio Concho Park for a new World War II memorial.
The site, located across from the McNease Convention Center along the Concho River, will feature a historical area and various tributes to local veterans.
“As we thought about the extraordinary generation that did so much to shape San Angelo, our nation, and the world, we felt the river was an excellent location to recognize WWII veterans from throughout the Concho Valley,” Volunteer Dr. Taylor Kingman said. “We are moving with haste, as there are very few surviving World War II veterans, and we would like them to see the fruition of this idea to commemorate them and their exceptional peers.”
He also said that after working with Veterans Affairs, it appears that 15,000 to 18,000 veterans have called the Concho Valley home over the years.
“An amazing number for a community our size,” Kingman said. ”Especially in 1940.”
He said that the plan is to list the names of all WWII veterans from the Concho Valley on the memorial.
The initiative, led by a local citizens' committee in collaboration with the San Angelo Area Foundation, aims to honor World War II veterans from the surrounding area.
The proposed design includes monument panels, dedication markers, plaques, and a bronze statue of a World War II Army Air Corps pilot.
Rendering of Bronze Sculpture
The development plan also incorporates parking improvements, pedestrian pathways, lighting, and limited landscaping to enhance visitor experiences.
The memorial's estimated cost is $400,000, funded entirely through community fundraising efforts facilitated by the committee.
In addition to financial support, the city will provide the land and assist with the proposal's implementation and ongoing maintenance.
The plans also suggest expanding the site to include memorials for veterans of other conflicts and service operations.
The link to the Foundation webpage for the WWII Veteran Memorial with images and addresses to donate is https://www.saafound.org/world-war-ii-veterans-memorial-fund
The San Angelo Gives profile page: https://www.sanangelogives.org/organization/WWII (This page is live through May 7th)
Proposed Location for WWII Memorial
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