As the name suggests, Memorial Park is a place of peace. It offers families a dignified and respectful atmosphere in which to remember their loved ones.
Its Advisory Board does a full-time job watching over it, frequently fighting to limit incursions. A new book tells its fascinating story.
A few highlights: A Gold Star Monument honoring New Jersey and Delaware families; and a Vietnam War Memorial.
The Park’s History
The land that is now Memorial Park was a wild place where native plants and animals thrived until the early 1900s, when it became a training base for World War I soldiers. Once the war ended, the land lay vacant again.
Today, Memorial Park is a recreational outdoor gem beloved by millions of Houstonians and visitors alike for social interaction, exercising, wildlife watching, or simply enjoying nature’s beauty in the heart of the city. The park is also the site of the nation’s first and only native animal zoo.
A variety of recreational activities occur throughout the park, from hiking and biking on its numerous trails to camping in the Tan Oak and Mt. Ellen Family Campgrounds to picnicking in one of its many picnic shelters. A popular sport is jogging along the nationally renowned Seymour Lieberman Trail, which is used by Houston’s professional athletes and even some celebrities. The Park’s newest monument, the Gold Star Monument, features a unique void design in honor of Service members missing in action in conflicts around the globe.
The Memorial Walls
A memorial wall honors the 2,977 people killed in the 9/11 attacks. The names on the walls are organized chronologically and begin at the point in time where the Twin Towers collapsed, thereby forming a circle, symbolizing that their lives were not cut short but ended at the place where they began.
The POW / MIA Reflection Pond is the largest POW memorial in the state of Ohio. Located within this area is our Gold Star Mother statue and the Memorial Wall.
The Memorial Wall was built through community philanthropy to provide an outdoor space for veterans, military personnel, and their families. This is a place to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice and celebrate their courage, selflessness, and perseverance. The memorial also pays tribute to the countless first responders who have fallen to 9/11-related illnesses and recognizes their sacrifice and suffering. In front of the Memorial Wall stands To Lift A Nation, a statue created by Stan Watts.
The Bald Eagle Statue
The Bald Eagle is a symbol of America and freedom. This beautiful bronze statue of our national bird is perfect for any memorial park. This piece is available to order from Pechmann Memorials.
Memorial parks have evolved from solemn ambiances into places for celebrating life and honoring the dead. They also have amenities that promote community and provide opportunities for exercise and social interaction. These fun activities help sustain a feeling of connection with the deceased and their loved ones.
This memorial park features a lovely walking path, beautiful lake with Lilly pads and croaking bull frogs, picnic areas, and a family camping area. It’s a great place to go for a walk or to visit the historic old-growth redwoods. It also has a picnic shelter and camp store for visitors to use. There are also a number of hiking trails that lead to the old-growth redwoods and other sites. It’s a wonderful place to spend the day with family and friends.
The Vietnam War Memorial
In the heart of the memorial park sits a Vietnam War-era B-52 bomber. The plane was restored thanks to public support from Project Welcome Home and has become a beloved symbol of the healing that takes place at the memorial park.
The most iconic feature in the park is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, also known as The Wall That Heals. The memorial is the most visited site in the National Mall and serves to honor the more than 58,000 men and women who lost their lives in the war. Visitors come to the memorial to search for a name on one of the black granite panels and to pay their respects to those who were killed or listed as missing in action.
Nearby the wall is a bronze statue called Three Servicemen, also known as the Three Soldiers statue. The sculpture depicts three soldiers and is meant to represent all American military servicemen and women.