City unveils Burleson Veterans History Project

Burleson Mayor Ken Shetter announces the launching of the Burleson Veterans History Project at the Burleson Veterans Ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 10, at Renfro Square.

What better way to learn about history than to hear it from the ones who lived it. That’s why the City of Burleson is laying the groundwork for the Burleson Veterans History Project, which will be linked with the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project.

Four years ago, local military veterans and members of the Burleson Heritage Foundation started compiling an oral history by interviewing veterans and recording those conversations on videotape. More than 14 interviews have been delivered to the Burleson Public Library to start the Burleson Veterans History Project.

Burleson Mayor Ken Shetter announced the launching of the Burleson Veterans History Project on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007 at the Burleson Veterans Ceremony at Renfro Square. Veterans and their families picked up a field kit explaining the project, a registration form, and a copy of the questions that will be asked during an interview. Actual interview times are being scheduled through the Burleson Public Library.

The Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project was created in 2000 to record the memories of veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War, and the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The web site for that project is www.loc.gov/vets.

Once the local oral histories are recorded they will be available for viewing at the library and, eventually, on a web site. Copies of the interview will also be sent to the Library of Congress.

Library hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Friday; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday; and closed on Sunday.

For more information, call the Burleson Public Library at 817-426-9210 or e-mail ghawyard@burlesontx.com.

Hundreds honored veterans at Renfro Square Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house Saturday afternoon.

Burleson Mayor Ken Shetter had to pause several times as he talked about the military service of his father, an uncle, and his grandfather. The audience was a crowd of more than 200 people, veterans and their families, at what will become an annual event . . . a ceremony to honor United States military veterans at Renfro Square.

The mayor told the crowd that when he was 15 years old he sat with his grandfather and recorded his grandfather’s memories of World War II. That experience meant so much to him that the mayor announced the launching of the Burleson Veterans History Project, which is being coordinated by the Burleson Public Library, to record the histories of all Burleson military veterans.

The emotions of the moment got the best of Congressman Chet Edwards, who told of a wounded veteran he met at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The soldier had promised his daughter that he would come home from the conflict. The congressman was at Walter Reed when the man’s daughter walked in the room to see her father, “who kept his promise.”

Soulful Sounds, a choral group from First United Methodist Church of Burleson gave a stirring tribute to the veterans through “Salute to the Armed Forces.” The musical medley included “The Caisson Song,” “Semper Paratus,” “The Marine Hymn,” “The U.S. Air Force song,” and “Anchors Aweigh.” The veterans, some of whom were Purple Heart recipients from World War II, stood and sang along.

David McDowell, from the City’s parks and recreation department, read the poem, “I Am A Veteran” and Burleson High School band student Lonnie Kitts ended the tribute by playing “Taps” on his trumpet. The ceremony was emceed by Burleson City Council member Matt Powell.

The memorial to U.S. military veterans started as a fountain with room for 200 bricks to be inlaid in the sidewalk. Rocky Bransom, one of the developers for Renfro Square, at the corner of Renfro Street and I-35W, thought 200 was a low figure for the number of people who would be interested in buying a brick, so he made room for 900.

Thanks to the perseverance of community volunteer Betty Shelton, who helped spearhead the memorial and the ceremony, more than 900 bricks had been ordered before Saturday’s ceremony began. Orders continue to pour in. Bransom and his partner, Jim Garrett, are planning to tear up the sidewalk to make room for even more bricks that will be dedicated to the veterans.

More than 200 people gathered at Renfro Square Saturday to honor U.S. military veterans. Purple Heart recipients had front row seats.

The City of Burleson added to the memorial to the veterans by ordering the seals from each branch of service... U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marines Corp, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Coast Guard. Three of the five seals were displayed Saturday. The seals will be mounted on the ledge of the fountain.

The brick memorial is an ongoing project. To order a brick, call the Burleson Public Library at 817-426-9210 or visit the Library website at www.burlesonlibrary.com, and click on the "Bricks for Veterans" link at the top of the page. Please provide the name of the veteran, branch of service, and the name of the conflict the veteran served in. Veterans immortalized at the fountain should have a Burleson connection.