Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument honors 3,417 fallen soldiers

Nestled amidst the Texas State Capitol, the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument stands proud. This striking monument is composed of five seven-foot-tall bronze sculptures, each a poignant nod to the fallen soldiers of Texas in the Vietnam War. Designed by New Mexico artist Duke Sundt, the monument serves as a tribute to the 3,417 Texans who died during the conflict.

Ground was broken on March 25, 2013, on the northeast side of the Capitol, and the monument was dedicated on March 29, 2014. The design features five seven-foot-tall bronze infantry figures, representing the diversity of Texas Vietnam Veterans: Hispanic-American, African-American, Asian, Native-American, and Caucasian. These figures are situated atop an eight-sided base. Entombed within the monument are 3,417 handcrafted dog tags, representing each of the Texas veterans who died in Vietnam.

The Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument was made possible by the generosity of individual donors, veteran organizations, and corporate partners. The Texas Historical Commission provided a $500,000 matching grant, helping the monument reach its estimated cost of $1.5 million. Lady Bird Johnson, the wife of former U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson, served as an honorary co-chair alongside Texas State Representative Wayne Smith, State Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, and other members of the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument Committee.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons