Historical Marker - WW II Veterans - Blooming Grove

World War II veterans memorial in the downtown park at Blooming Grove. It is a HUGE granite marker with the names of all Blooming Grove war veterans engraved on it. Sen Martin Frost spoke at the ceremony in place of Gov. Bush who was suppose to be there. I was surprised by the large number of names on the marker. It listed them by name, rank, and service branch and designated the men and women who died in the war. It even listed the names of two dogs from the K-9 Corp. It would be very interesting for all Navarro Co. researchers.
-Jim Hollingsworth

Location: Downtown park at Blooming Grove, Texas

Blooming Grove Korean and Vietnam War Memorial committee member Ron Hollingsworth is collecting names of Blooming Grove veterans who served in Korea and Vietnam to be placed on memorials to be added to the existing monument at Doc Garrison park in Blooming Grove. DAILY SUN photo/KIRK SIDES

7/30/2003 Blooming Grove looking to expand war memorial listing

By DEANNA PAWLOWSKI/Daily Sun Staff

Ron Hollingsworth just got back from Seattle. He attended his battalion reunion, where he ran into old friend "Doc" Ballard of the 3 BN, 4th Marines, Vietnam, who is a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor. Hollingsworth and Ballard served together in the Vietnam War.

And he asked him for a favor.

Hollingsworth is spearheading a movement to add the names of veterans of the Korean and Vietnam Wars to the Blooming Grove War Monument, located in Doc Garrison Park on Fordyce.

"Doc" Ballard, being a Medal of Honor recipient, is booked up three years out for speaking engagements," Hollingsworth said. "I got him to say he would be here in March or April, so he can speak at a fundraiser for the war monument.

"A man with a Medal of Honor salutes no one -- even the president must salute you," Hollingsworth said. "Doc threw himself on a grenade -- it turned out to be a dud, but he didn't know that when he did it."

"Most men who receive one are already dead," said Tim Easley, also of the Blooming Grove Korean and Vietnam War Memorial Committee.

World War II veterans have been honored with their names on the monument. Now the committee, comprised of Hollingsworth, Easley and Wanda Gillen, is looking for Blooming Grove veterans with tours of duty in Korea or Vietnam to add to the monument.

"The names will be on Georgia gray granite, and will be done by the same guy out of Waxahachie that did the original part," Hollingsworth said.

Criteria for the Korean War Memorial is that service must have been within Korea or territorial waters of Korea between June 1950 and Jan. 1955, and must have attended Blooming Grove Independent School District prior to 1953, or must have resided in Blooming Grove Independent School District between June 1950 and Jan. 1955. Applicants must submit a copy of their DD 214. If an applicant has attended another school, but been a resident of BGISD for more than 25 years as of Jan. 1, 2003 and still resides in BGISD, they may have their name listed for a fee of $50.

The Vietnam War Memorial criteria states that service must have been within the Republic of South Vietnam or territorial waters between Jan.1, 1964 and April 30, 1975. Furthermore, they must have attended Blooming Grove Independent School District prior to 1975, or must have resided in BGISD between Jan. 1, 1964 and April 30, 1975. Eligible veterans who attended another school, but have been residents of BGISD for more than 25 years as of Jan.1, 2003 and still reside in BGISD may have their name added for $50. All applicants must submit a copy of their DD-214.

"Similar to the Navarro County War Memorial, we will probably sell bricks for veterans who served, but not in combat in Korea or Vietnam," Hollingsworth said. "These bricks will more than likely comprise a walkway around the monument."

The committee members would like members of the community to help offset the cost for honoring these men and women by making donations. These can be made at the First State Bank, 109 Fordyce, Blooming Grove, TX 76626.

4/22/2004 Blooming Grove to add to war memorial

By STEPHEN FARRIS/Daily Sun Staff

Blooming Grove will have a new member added to the existing memorials that stand in the city park May 31.

The new monument will have the names of veteran's from the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and will be unveiled in a Memorial Day ceremony starting at 11 a.m.

A brick pathway around the monuments should be in place by Memorial Day just in time for the unveiling. The bricks will display names of veterans also.

After the ceremonies, BBQ sandwiches will be available for sale, and a live band will provide entertainment for everyone.

"There have been a lot of men who have served their country from the Blooming Grove area," Ron Hollingsworth said.

Hollingsworth is a member of the Blooming Grove Korean and Vietnam veterans committee.
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Stephen Farris may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected]

5/21/2004 BUILDING IT OF STONE: Blooming Grove gets started on war memorial

Workers with Giles Monument Company from Waxahachie worked Thursday to unload memorial bricks to be laid in Blooming Grove City Park, along with the new part of the war memorial, honoring soldiers from the Korean War and Vietnam War. Daily Sun photo/DEANNA PAWLOWSKI

By DEANNA PAWLOWSKI/Daily Sun Staff

After almost a year in the planning, the first pieces of the Blooming Grove Korean/Vietnam War Memorial were unloaded Thursday.

The tablets bearing the names of the fallen war heroes will be delivered Monday. Giles Monument Company from Waxahachie delivered the base of the monument and the bricks bearing names of veterans.

"The bricks will be set in a checkerboard pattern," said Ron Hollingsworth, of the War Memorial Committee. "Every other brick will have a name."

The bricks will be laid starting today.

"The center part with the flat stone will be a special recognition area," he said.

Names on that part of the walk are Phillip Barham, killed in action in Korea, and Jon L. Grimmett and Gary Watkins, both of whom were KIA in Vietnam.
Veterans recognized are from World War I, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, the Indian War, Korean War and Vietnam War.

While the names on the memorials are reserved for those who served in actual wars, the bricks have a different criteria.

"The bricks are for anyone in the service," Hollingsworth said.

A special dedication ceremony will be held May 31 at 11 a.m. in the Blooming Grove City Park. A barbecue sandwich lunch will be served, with lunches being $5 each. Due South, the musical group, will perform until 2 p.m. The public is invited to bring their lawn chairs and celebrate Memorial Day in the Blooming Grove City Park.

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Deanna Pawlowski may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected]

6/1/2004 Monument unveiled at Blooming Grove ceremony

The Korean and Vietnam War Memorial is shown to the public for the first time
at the Memorial Day ceremonies held in City Park at Blooming Grove.
Daily Sun photo/STEPHEN FARRIS

By STEPHEN FARRIS/Daily Sun Staff

Blooming Grove -- On a warm humid morning, over 250 people gathered for the unveiling of the Korean and Vietnam Veterans Memorial in a Memorial Day ceremony held at City Park.

David Haden opened the ceremonies with a prayer, followed by introductions and welcome by Dr. Roland Haden.

The posting of the colors was presented by the Navarro County Sheriff Department's Color Guard and Evelyn Nelson sang the "Star Spangled Banner."

Guest speaker Lt. Col. Rick Starkey, of the 4th Calvary Division thanked the City of Blooming Grove for inviting him to speak at the ceremony.

Starkey talked about some of his fellow soldiers who gave their lives in the recent campaign in Iraq.

"Our soldiers are heroes," Starkey said, in reference to all soldiers who have served their country or given their lives for freedom.
"We live in the greatest nation on God's green earth," Starkey said.

After his speech, Starkey shook hands with all of the veterans seated behind him in the stage area.

Sandra McClure Mahood read a poem written by an unknown 19-year-old Marine, who was killed in action in the Vietnam War.

The poem was about the soldiers last talk with God.

Les Grayson played Taps, and a twenty-one-gun salute was sounded by the NCSD Honor Guard.

Stan Dugan gave the benediction.

Members of the Honor Guard unveiled the new monument in closing of the ceremonies.

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Stephen Farris may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected]

A PATRIOTIC FAMILY SERVING
Listing members of the Lane Family Serving in the Military