One of the things that makes San Antonio so special is our history and role as Military City, USA.  A commitment to military service has always distinguished our community from many others, and that service cannot be underestimated.

As Mayor of San Antonio and a retired veteran of the Air Force, one of my priorities is paying tribute to those men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Their selflessness has allowed us to enjoy many freedoms in this great nation. I asked the City’s Veterans Affairs Commission to recommend a memorial that would honor those individuals who had been given the highest military decoration awarded in the United States – the Medal of Honor. The medal is given for “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty, in actual combat against an armed enemy force.”

The Medal of Honor Memorial will honor local soldiers who have received this prestigious award.  The Veterans Affairs Commission has recommended to City Council that this proposed memorial be located in the Veterans Memorial Plaza Historic District.

 

The Veterans Memorial Plaza is home to four other military memorials: the Municipal Auditorium, dedicated to American soldiers killed in WWI; the War Mothers Memorial honoring mothers whose sons also fought in WWI; a sculpture honoring Vietnam War Veterans; and a sculpture dedicated to Korean War Veterans.  All of these memorials are located across from Auditorium Circle at Jefferson and Martin Streets.

The City has selected Barbara Grygutis – a nationally renowned artist from Tucson, Arizona – to design and create the Medal of Honor memorial. As we embark on the development phase of the project, Ms. Grygutis will be conducting meetings with downtown stakeholders, veteran’s organizations and military groups, businesses, and Medal of Honor recipients and family members. The consultant will also conduct two public meetings throughout the year to hear the public’s thoughts and ideas and discuss planning and design possibilities (Please refer to calendar for schedule of events).