Cypress veterans group presses for monument
Bridgeland charity seeks plaza honoring fallen service members, hopes towork with Howard Hughes Corp. to begin construction
The image shows a grassy knoll surrounding a plaza with etched monuments to each of the service branches. In the center stands a large flagpole hosting Old Glory. Bridgeland-style benches provide a place to reflect on the sacrifice of those who gave their lives to defend the country.
The Veterans Memorial at Bridgeland remains a vision for a still-empty piece with the clock ticking formany veterans who long to see the monument completed. The idea started as a dispute after a veteran who served in the Army Special Forces was told he couldn’t fly a free-standing flag in his backyard. The Cypress-area homeowners association allows flags only in front of houses.
In response, a small group of veterans and volunteers organized and six years ago became a fullfledged charity with a 501(c)3 charter and called it The Bridgeland Community Supports Veterans, Inc., said Kay Burkhalter, publicity outreach coordinator for The Bridgeland Community Supports Veterans organization.
“We really saw that there was a need to instill in a community that was just forming, basic values of patriotism and education of what our great country has done to keep us free,” Burkhalter said. “We want our youth to knowthat peace isn’t always as easy as they might think it is.”
The group began organizing patriotic events around Memorial Day and Veterans Day to educate residents, Six years later, the group has grown immensely and hosts an annual fun run that raises about $42,000 for the memorial.
Thus far, the organization has raised close to $200,000. Organizers hope to work out a deal with the Howard Hughes Corporation for a piece of land, possibly along State Highway 99, to begin construction of the memorial.
“They’ve (Howard Hughes Corp.) been very supportive of us in donations and in-kind gifts,” she said.
Heath Melton, executive vice president for Howard Hughes, lives in Bridgeland himself and attends some of the meetings for the organization.
“We support our veterans 100 percent and have some plans,” he said.
Melton, who is a veteran himself, said one possibility was for when his company builds its next regional park in the next phase.
“We haven’t really decided the spot just yet. We want it to be visible and attract people to the area,” he said. He referenced the memorial in The Woodlands near the town center park area that has become an attraction and gathering area for locals.
Melton said he didn’t have a timeline on when it would occur and that the Howard Hughes Corp. has no formal agreement with the group, but supports them and their efforts.
To view a virtual walk through of the planned memorial, go to YouTube and search “Bridgeland Veteran Memorial.” For more information, visit facebook.com/the bridge land community supports veteran sinc.