The Garland Senior Center's Veteran's Tribute Garden was officially dedicated on 18 Nov 2006, during a visit by the Moving Wall Vietnam Veteran's Memorial and Liberty Bell. See: (
visit link)
I was there that day making a speech as the elected City Council member from Garland District 2 (where the Senior Center is located). I am also a Navy veteran of the Persian Gulf War.
As part of the fundraising efforts for this beautiful and respectful tribute garden, I bought a bench. In my remarks to the folks at the dedication, I invited everyone to sit on my bench, which honors the service of two generations of my family and my husband's family.
The bench reads as follows:
PROUDLY SERVED
"Leslie F Perkins LTC USAR
Berlin Crisis
49th Armored Div
Luther E. (Lee) Cox Jr.
LTC USAF
Vietnam/Persian Gulf
Stephen M. Cox
LT CEC USNR
Persian Gulf War
Laura K. Perkins Cox
LT JAGC USNR
Persian Gulf War"
A little about us:
Me (Mama Blaster) -- I served as a Lieutenant, Judge Advocate General's Corps, US Navy, Persian Gulf War -- 6 yrs active duty, 2 reserve
My husband Steve Cox (Daddy Blaster) -- served as a Lieutenant, Civil Engineer Corps, US Navy, Persian Gulf War -- 6 yrs active duty, 2 reserve
My Dad Frank Perkins -- Retired as a Lieutenant Colonel, US Army Reserve, Cold War, Berlin Crisis, Vietnam-era -- 5 yrs active, 15 reserve
My Husband's Dad Lee Cox -- Retired as a Colonel (rose to rank of Tech Sergeant before earning a commission), US Air Force, Cold War, Vietnam-era, Persian Gulf -- 33 yrs active duty
2023 Update: In 2021 the Garland Senior Activity Center was on schedule to be renovated after receiving $4 million dollars in 2019 bond funding, but inspections revealed the building was riddled with mold and water damage, sustaining structural damage far beyond what was expected or what could be fixed. Ultimately, the Garland City Council decided that the building could not be renovated and needed to be replaced.
The building was razed in February 2023. Prior to being razed, every memorial located in the Veterans Memory Garden, all memorial benches, plaques, and stand-alone monuments were respectfully removed and placed in storage at the Lou Huff complex. The current council is discussing over the next few weeks where a suitable place for the Garland Veterans Memorial could be.
The process of replacing, relocating, and re-opening the Garland Veterans Memorial Garden could take up to 5 years.