The Veterans Memorial, located behind the Veterans Park Event Center, consists of five granite-clad columns that represent each branch of the U.S. military. The columns are engraved with the names, rank and date of death of the 51 Grand Prairie veterans lost during military service. Construction began in October of 2004 with the final inspection being completed May 6. Designed by city staff and Schrickel, Rollins & Associates, the project was funded by the Grand Prairie Sports Development Corporation, the Grand Prairie Rotary Club, the Grand Prairie Metro Rotary Club, the city and citizens, who also supplied many volunteer hours.
About the Dedication
About 450 people gathered at a dedication service on Memorial Day 2005 to honor the city’s veterans and to celebrate the completion of Grand Prairie’s Veterans Memorial. The service included a 21-gun salute and an F-16 flyover by the 457 th Fighter Squadron of the Air Force Reserve Command to pay tribute to those who lost their lives serving in the armed forces.
“I’m really pleased that the city is doing something to recognize the veterans,” said Darin Wilson, a Grand Prairie resident who served in the military from 1979 to 1985. “I think that so many times in the past the veterans haven’t had the recognition of the sacrifices that they’ve made.”
The Veterans Memorial is located behind the Veterans Park Event Center – 925 Conover, Grand Prairie, TX 75051