Kerwin Stone (Secretary of VVA Texas State Council) has forwarded an urgent "Call to Action" email to all Texas VVA Chapters regarding the Texas Capital Vietnam Veterans Monument. See the complete Call-To-Action email story below. In a nutshell, a final-decision hearing is being held this Friday (9/20) in Austin which will decide the future fate of the monument, as it appears that the monument's current configuration is still being challenged and may be in jeopardy. A certain group of folks still want a figure of an ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) soldier on the very top of the monument. A hearing at the Capitol this Friday in Austin may be the deciding factor in the final decision and it is being requested (by the Texas VVA State Council) that as many Vietnam Veterans and supporters be present at the hearing so as to show support for the current monument's configuration. It appears the opposition to the current monument's configuration will be there in full force, thus the "Call to Action" email to all Texas VVA Chapters.
If you have any questions or have a desire to make the trip to Austin, please call our Chapter president. A group trip to Austin may be in order. Remember that our Chapter has already made a quite large monetary contribution ($1000) to the TCVVM monument fund (story here), with the intention of supporting the monument's current configuration (no ARVN soldier atop the monument).
From: "KerwinTX@aol.com"
Kerwin Stone
Secretary
VVA Texas State Council
From: paladin_jam@yahoo.com
To: kerwintx@aol.com
Sent: 9/14/2013 6:19:50 P.M. Central Daylight Time
Subj: Fw: URGENT: Call to Action for the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument
Kerwin: please distribute to VVA TSC Chapters. Friday is the day that will decide if
we have a Texas Monument for Texas Vietnam Veterans who served in this nation's military.
Thanks.
John
Action: please make every effort to attend this meeting. We need as many Texas Vietnam Veterans as possible to show support for a Texas Monument that honors Texans who served, and in 3417 cases, died while serving in this nation's military.
Please distribute to every veteran, friend, neighbor that you know. Friday 9/2013
will determine if this is a Texas Monument for Texans who served in this nation's
military. Our opposition will be there in force. Can you spare just one hour for one
day to keep this Monument a Texas Monument for Texans?
John
John A Miterko
Texas Capitol
Vietnam Veterans Monument
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Don Dorsey
Subject: Fwd: URGENT: Call to Action for the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument
Please pass this on to all your friends. We've worked 8 long years to bring this monument
to fruition. Only with your support can we accomplish our mission to finally honor the
Texans who served in our nation's armed forces during the Vietnam War. If you never
do anything else for veterans, it's imperative that you do this. Please attend. Body count
still matters.
semper fi!
Don
Date: September 14, 2013 2:12:00 PM CDT
Subject: URGENT: Call to Action for the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument - Please distribute.
What: State Preservation Board Approval of Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument
When: Friday 9/20/13 at 9:00 a.m.
Where: State Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, 1400 N. Congress Ave.
Plan of Action: Fill the room with Texas Vietnam Veterans and others who support the monument design
Arrival Time: No later than 0800 Friday 9/20/13
Uniform: Veteran "Colors"
Support: Bring friends, family and neighbors who support the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument design
Details: See Below
To: Texas Vietnam Veterans
On Friday, September 20, the State Preservation Board of Texas will meet to decide whether or not to give final approval to the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument. Though we have every reason to believe that the SPB will approve the design's compliance with the legislative intent of its authorization and its attention to historical accuracy, as you are probably aware, a small but vocal group has a history of protesting this monument to honor Texans who served in Vietnam.
It is essential that we have a strong showing of Texas Vietnam Veterans and supporters as the SPB conducts this final decision process.
Background: House Concurrent Resolution 36 (79th Legislature) authorizing the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument states that the monument should recognize "Texans who fought or otherwise served, and in many cases gave their lives, in the Vietnam War as part of this nation's armed forces." In compliance with this legislative intent, after receiving input from Texas Vietnam War veterans across the state, and with the recognition that the ethnic diversity of Texans of Asian American descent should be represented in the five infantry figures, the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument committee unanimously voted to amend the design of the monument to replace what had to that point been an ARVN (South Vietnamese) soldier with an Asian-American figure.
The opposition chooses to ignore the clear direction of HCR 36 and has made claims that the monument is meaningless and pro-Communist if an Asian Texan replaces the ARVN. These people have in the past petitioned the governor, made personal attacks on committee members, spread false allegations, and protested as we gathered as a state to honor our war dead during the Groundbreaking Ceremony. We need your presence to show the members of the State Preservation Board that Texas Vietnam Veterans stand shoulder to shoulder in support of our state monument.
NOTE: If there is an opportunity for public testimony, and you choose to make comments, please follow these tips:
Suggested attire: Business clothing or "veteran colors"
If you need a reminder of the monument design, Click here
If you need a reminder of the legislative intent for the monument, Click here
Thank you in advance for turning out to help us pass this final, critical milestone. See you Friday.