Veteran Falls Memorial – For America's Heroes

Veteran Falls is a memorial that is being constructed in Granbury, Texas, as a tribute to all American military Veterans and active-duty troops. It is being dedicated to those who have lost their lives in the war against terrorism. The waterfall is 290 ft. long and 70 ft. wide. The project is about 85% complete, with an anticipated spring 2010 unveiling. Once completed, it will become part of a planned 5-acre public park, Veteran Falls Memorial Park.

Most memorials are built years after the end of a war. Take the Vietnam War as an example. The last American troops left Vietnam in 1973. Anticipating the fall of Saigon in 1975, President Ford announced that, as far as the United States was concerned, the war in Vietnam was finished. In 1979, a group of Vietnam veterans formed a non-profit organization to raise funds for a memorial for their fellow patriots who died while fighting in Vietnam. They lobbied congress for a plot of land and in July of 1980, President Carter signed legislation to provide an area for the memorial. Construction began in March, 1982 and was completed in November, 1984.

We all know the fates of those brave men and women who returned home after fighting in Vietnam. They were ridiculed, rejected, spit on and then forgotten as Americans went about their day to day lives. For over 10 years, after our troops came home from Vietnam, there was no memorial, no public show of support. There was no place where veterans could go to honor those who were lost, where families could go to mourn, where healing could begin. We don’t want to wait 10 years to say thank you to these brave men and women who are fighting for us today.

People say we can’t compare the Vietnam Veterans with the Veterans of the War Against Terrorism. They say Vietnam was an unpopular war, that we had no business there, that there was no way we could really ever win. Aren’t they saying the same things about the war today? Let’s let the similarities stop there, and not let them bleed over into the way our troops are treated when they come home. Let’s show them respect, honor and support. Let’s welcome them home with open arms and show them the honor and respect our heroes deserve.

We want to give them a place where they can pay their respects to those they fought with who lost their lives in the war; to give families a place where they can visit and honor their sons and daughters, wives and husbands, mothers and fathers. Let’s give them a place where the healing can begin.

Veteran Falls is that place. The water flows and rushes over thousands of stones. It washes over the pain and smoothes the rough edges of feelings of loss. It ebbs and flows and takes visitors to a peaceful place.

Veteran Falls is for our heroes, the men and women who make all things possible in America. They give us the freedom to be the greatest country on Earth, and then fight to keep us, and our way of life, safe from harm. This project is being funded by sponsors and donors. The land was donated by a land developer. This memorial is being built by people who want to say thank you to our troops and to our veterans.

To learn more about the Veteran Falls Memorial, visit our website,  www.veteranfalls.com. Help us spread the word about Veteran Falls and about our need for support to complete this memorial.