New kiosk unveiled at Rockwall Veterans Memorial

Flag Day dedication ceremony includes 21 gun salute

veterans1_family — Jimmy and Nancy Strohmeyer and family unveil the new kiosk. Photo by Blue Ribbon News.

(Rockwall County) June 14, 2013 – Judge Jerry Hogan and the Rockwall County Commissioners Court welcomed dozens of guests this morning to the unveiling of a new, all-weather, database kiosk installed at the Rockwall County Veterans Memorial, located at 1111 Yellow Jacket Lane.

The gift was made possible thanks to a $10,000 donation by Jimmy Strohmeyer, consulting architect for the Veterans Memorial and longtime Rockwall resident.

Among those in attendance were veterans and representative Lee Gilbert of the American Legion, county officials, current and former mayors and city council members, memorial designer Dan Fletcher, the Veterans Memorial Advisory Committee, the Veterans Memorial Design Jury, representatives from Rockwall and Royse City ISD, the Chamber of Commerce, Rockwall Economic Development Corporation, Manhattan Construction Company, and members of the press.

The Tri-County Veterans Honor Guard posted the colors, and Ray Walker, American Legion Chaplain, gave the blessing.

“I’m honored to be able to be a part of this,” said Strohmeyer, whose wife and children accompanied him for the unveiling of the kiosk. “My dad served in World War II; he would have been 98 last month. Unfortunately he passed away before my kids were born.”

Strohmeyer explained that he and his wife were touched by the idea of having a database kiosk at the memorial site.

“I remember the stories my dad told me before he passed. My kids would ask questions about their grandfather, and I’d pull a box and show a picture here or there. I love the idea of a database to collect these memories, so our future generations – our kids – can go and look up their grandfathers, their grandfathers – and it’s there. They can be proud of it and it attracts them to learn more about it.”

When visiting the kiosk, located adjacent to the memorial entrance, patrons are able to learn about the memorial design, symbolism, and meaning. In addition, there is general information about our country’s military branches, specific information about Rockwall County veterans, videos, photographs, etc – greatly enhancing the visitor’s experience.

Contributors included Jimmy and Nancy Strohmeyer, Manhattan Construction, JMEG Electrical Contractors, Dan Fletcher, Les Cooks Rockwall County IT Department, Brian Crenshaw and Jim Knickerbocker, Lee Gilbert, Judge Brian Williams, Rockwall BAR Association, Debbie Hamon, and Martha Johnson.