Memorial Park, Houston’s green heart, is one of the 10 largest city parks in America. It is also the largest in the South.
But what many people don’t know is that it started out as a military training camp. It was then known as Camp Logan.
Peace Statue
The Peace Statue is a lovely monument located in memorial park, a place where you can pay your respects to the victims of war. It was sculpted by Franklin Simmons, a renowned American artist who died in 1913.
The statue resembles a child with one arm around their parent, and the other holding a trumpet of peace. A crescent moon completes the sculpture.
You can also see the Children’s Peace Monument, which was erected in memory of Sadako Sasaki, a young girl who died from leukemia due to radiation exposure from the atomic bomb. She believed that by folding 1,000 cranes, she would be cured based on traditional Japanese beliefs.
Another awe-inspiring site in the park is the Peace Clock Tower. This 20m-tower houses a clock that rings daily to encourage people to work towards world peace.
Submariners Monument
The Submariners Monument is one of many monuments in memorial park. It honors the men and women who served in the submarine service and lost their lives in World War II.
It was originally commissioned in 1996 and is located in the Liberty Station NTC Park. It is made up of a series of 52 markers.
Each marker is engraved with the names of all the submariners who died during WWII.
But over the years, the markers have been damaged by weather, vandalism and even their own construction.
This has led to an ongoing effort to repair and replace the markers. Douglas Smay, a former submariner and the sole remaining member of the 52 Boats Memorial Veterans group, is searching for help in this endeavor.
One Army Soldier Statue
Among the many statues that can be seen along the North Bend-Morse Bluff Veteran’s Memorial Park is one that depicts a kneeling soldier. This bronze sculpture is the work of local sculptor Jim Hoppe.
The statue stands in a cluster of three that depict members of the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force. It is surrounded by granite benches, flags and landscaping.
It was built to recognize the contributions of local servicemen and women who served in the military. It is also a place for families of fallen servicemen to pay their respects.
Blue Star Statue
The Blue Star Statue honors those who have served, are serving or will serve in the armed forces. It is one of two in the park that honors current service personnel in addition to those who have passed.
The newest monument in the park, the Gold Star Memorial, is a black granite structure designed by the Woody Williams Foundation to honor families who have lost a loved one to war. It features a void design that symbolizes the loss of someone who will never be remembered.
The Nebraska legislature designated Interstate 80 west of Gretna as a Blue Star Memorial Highway about 50 years ago. That means travelers can stop to rest and reflect on all those who have given their lives in service to their country, says Mary Carlson of the Federated Garden Club of Nebraska.
Vietnam War Monument
The Vietnam War Monument in memorial park is an impressive piece of architecture that honors the men and women who fought and died in the country’s most divisive war. It is also a powerful symbol of unity.
This black granite wall is etched with the names of 58,318 military personnel killed in the war or who are still missing. Visitors can see their reflection in the wall and it is a powerful way to remember those who gave their lives.
There is also a bronze sculpture called the Three Servicemen, which is located a short distance from the wall. The statue depicts two soldiers, one South Vietnamese and one American, standing together. They are surrounded by a flagpole representing the branches of the military.