“Going Home”: A Brazos Valley Veterans Civil War Memorial

By Greg Cook

Dedicated to veterans who fought in this nation's wars, the Brazos Valley War Memorial at Veterans Memorial Park and Athletic Center is quite the spectacle. Opened in 2002 with President George H.W. Bush in attendance, the memorial spans 12 acres, with sections dedicated to each of the major wars and conflicts the United States has been involved in, from the Revolutionary War to the Global War on Terror. Nestled quietly in the northwest corner is the section for the American Civil War.  Officially opened on April 9, 2015, for the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. Surrounded by tall grass and silent trees, visitors will come upon an open field. Strategically placed around the field are two bronze statues and two split-wood rail fences that were common in the Civil War era. 

These bronze statues are works of art created by local artists and Texas native J. Payne Lara.  Lara’s theme for the memorial was “Going Home,” which the artist has meticulously captured in his work. These statues are of two Civil War soldiers, one Confederate and the other Union, both dressed in common Civil War-era uniforms that, if you look closely, tell a story. The Confederate soldier has his Springfield rifle in hand with a revolver tucked in his waistband. His trousers, coat, and hat all have tears in them, and he is glancing back over his shoulder, looking at the Union soldier. The Union soldier's uniform is in the same condition, torn and used, with his rifle slung over his shoulder. This detail Lara has captured shows that these men are no longer enemies; having survived the horrors of the Civil War, they are now going home. 

Along with the bronze statues are two interpretive panels.  The one closest to the Confederate soldier has pictures with brief descriptions of notable Confederate figures like Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, while the Union panel shows Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant; both have brief histories of the Civil War, its major battles, and the number of casualties, which shows just how deadly this war was. It also includes a memorial marker that explains the theme of “Going Home,” the scene the visitors are viewing, and the date the memorial was dedicated on the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War. Texas played a significant role in the Civil War, with Union and Confederate soldiers fighting on either side; their involvement in the war could have been lost to history if it were not for the many memorials across Texas. Memorials like the one just outside the state capital and in town squares like Anderson remember those who answered the call. The Brazos Valley Veteran Civil War Memorial, like the others, stands in recognition of those men and the price they paid during one of America's most turbulent times.