City of Fort Worth
Granite benches representing each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces encircle the memorial, which also honors the names of fallen Vietnam-era servicemembers.
Next week, the Fort Worth City Council will consider taking a step forward in a project that resonates deeply with our community’s heart: the creation of a memorial to honor the Tarrant County servicemembers who died in the Vietnam War.
This isn’t just another monument. It’s a chance to connect with the stories, the lives, and the sacrifice of more than 220 local soldiers whose names we’ve never fully known — until now. Proposed by the Tarrant County Vietnam Memorial Foundation back in 2020, this memorial will sit in Veterans Memorial Park on Camp Bowie Blvd. It’s set to feature a striking piece of artwork by local artist Michael Pavlovsky, offering an intimate connection to Fort Worth’s own history.
The goal of this memorial is both simple and profound: to honor those who fell in the war, and those who later lost their lives to the lingering effects of it. This space will serve as a living tribute — a place for reflection and education, a chance for future generations to understand the weight of what came before.
Veterans Memorial Park at 4120 Camp Bowie Blvd, already a cornerstone of our city’s history, has served as a place of remembrance since 1950. It’s where we honor the Texas 36th Division, where statues and monuments dedicated to heroes who served in Flanders Field and World War II stand tall, where the sacrifices of Medal of Honor recipients are etched into stone. It’s where the Navy anchor commemorates the commissioning of the USS Fort Worth. Adding a Vietnam War memorial to this site feels like a natural progression — this space is built on memory, and it’s time to remember those who gave all during the Vietnam conflict.
The first ceremonial groundbreaking took place in November 2020, and the vision has been slowly taking shape ever since. In 2021, the Fort Worth Art Commission gave the green light to the sculpture component, solidifying its place within the park. The Fort Worth Park & Recreation Department (PARD) has worked hand-in-hand with the foundation, not just as a city partner, but as a steward of what this space can mean to the public.
The memorial, projected to cost $335,000, will be a space that balances the gravity of war with a sense of peace. The granite monument will list the names of the fallen, organized by year — a simple yet powerful way to honor their lives. The centerpiece is a bronze sculpture, shaped like a tree and a sword, embodying both life and sacrifice in a single, timeless piece of art. The surrounding area will feature brick pavers and granite benches, each honoring a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, providing a peaceful place for reflection.
A major component of the funding is the potential $200,000 pledge from the City’s Future Community Partnerships Fund. If the City Council approves it, the project will be well on its way, with construction slated for May to October 2026, according to the city's website. The culmination will be a dedication event on Veterans Day of 2026 — a moment for our community to come together and remember.
With the recent unveiling of Arlington’s National Medal of Honor Museum, the time feels ripe for Fort Worth to take its own stand in honoring veterans who have often been overlooked, particularly those who served in Vietnam. The Vietnam War veterans returned to a nation that didn’t always know how to welcome them back — greeted not with gratitude but with harsh criticism.
This is about more than just stone and bronze; this is about making sure the stories of our fallen soldiers aren’t forgotten. It’s a chance to acknowledge the unspoken grief, to heal, to learn, and to honor the sacrifices made by our neighbors. The Vietnam War may be a chapter in history, but the lives it affected are still part of Fort Worth’s very fabric. This memorial is for them. And for us.
