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As Memorial Day Weekend approaches, perhaps an interesting trip to take with your young folks would be to one of the many war memorials here in Texas. Texas has played a huge part in every conflict the United States has been involved in since the Civil War. From being the site of the last Civil War battle, to sending troops to Cuba to fight Spain, chasing Pancho Villa throughout northern Mexico, being the site of America’s first Air Force Base, to providing training grounds for generations of troops, we here in Texas have proudly down our part.
Every County Courthouse, it seems, has a war memorial listing the men and women of the county who fell in battle during the Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and now Iraq and Afghanistan…but there are some dedicated memorials as well with a broader scope, and I’m going to list some below that you can visit.
USS TEXAS
The Battleship Texas, located near the San Jacinto Battleground east of Houston, is the last surviving dreadnaught battleship in existence. She fought proudly in both World Wars and is a testament to those generations of men who defended our freedom.
USS LEXINGTON
The Lexington is an Essex class WWII aircraft carrier built to replace the original carrier Lexington which was lost during the Battle of Coral Sea. She is located in Corpus Cristi and is a monument to the WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam generations during which conflicts she served.
Museum of The Pacific War
Formerly known as the Nimitz Museum, this world class museum in Fredericksburg TX is one of the best monuments to the men and women from all across the country who served in the Pacific.
These men and women who chose to serve, as well as those who were drafted, risked their futures to ensure ours…Memorial Day is more than hot dogs and parades, it’s about gratitude and remembrance.