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Friday
March 19, 2010 Since 1922 |
Memorial dedicated for local soldier
By Austin Kinghorn
Baytown Sun Published November 12, 2005 BEACH CITY— The memory of Beach City resident and fallen soldier Pfc. Wesley Riggs became a permanent fixture of the small town’s landscape at a Veterans Day memorial dedication Friday.
A mixture of elected officials, family members, veterans and area residents were among the roughly 75 people who turned out for the event, which took place at the Beach City Community Building.
“This memorial pays tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom,” said Beach City Mayor Guido Persiani. “Wesley and all veterans lifted millions of lives and made our country more secure.”
State Rep. Craig Eiland, who represents Chambers County in the state legislature, said the memorial was an appropriate tribute to Riggs and all those who have served in the armed forces.
“It’s good that we have a permanent marker so that as everybody drives by they think of him and those like him that sacrificed for freedom,” Eiland said. “It has become too commonplace that our soldiers die and just because a number. We can’t forget they were someone’s son and schoolmate.”
Eiland’s office donated the Texas flag that flies at the monument after having flown it over the Texas Capitol while U.S. Rep. Ron Paul’s office donated a flag that has been flown over the U.S. Capitol. Two active duty Army soldiers from Beach City, Private Michael Eggleston and Specialist Brandon Young raised the flags up the 30-foot pole for the first time.
At the bottom of the flagpole rests a red granite memorial that reads “In honor of our fallen hero, PFC Wesley Robert Riggs.”
The crowd lifted up prayers led by Precinct 4 Commissioner Bill Wallace and Fr. Andrew Moore of Holy Catholic Trinity Church and joined together in singing “God Bless America.”
Fighting back years, Riggs’ father said he was overwhelmed by the presentation.
“We’re so proud of him and we just miss him so much,” Daniel Riggs said. “For the city to do this is just incredible. It’s beautiful how this has caused everyone to come together.”
Riggs said his son would have said the ceremony was making “too big a deal” over him.
“He’d say he was just doing his job, doing what everyone else is doing.”
The memorial was donated by Navarre Funeral Home while the Chambers County Parks Department installed the new flagpole and added landscaping. Area residents pitched in to provide refreshments inside the community building at the conclusion of the dedication.
“There were so many people in the community who really wanted to do something,” said Alderwoman and Mayor Pro Tem Rita Standridge. “Perhaps they didn’t know them personally but this was a way for the community to say we sure appreciate your son and appreciate y’all.”
After Eiland spoke, Persiani read a resolution passed by Beach City council and presented plaques to Riggs’ parents.
Persiani, himself an Army veteran, said the memorial had already had an impact on the city’s residents. While driving by the memorial Thursday night, he said his wife saw a pickup truck with its lights shinning on the memorial and a man kneeling at the marker.
“This is bringing out a different part of us,” Persiani said. “It has stirred up our love of freedom as well as the pain you have to suffer to maintain that freedom.”
Riggs was 19 when he was killed in May near Tikrit, Iraq, when a roadside bomb exploded near his patrol. He joined the U.S. Army in February 2004 after graduating from Barbers Hill High School. He was a member of the 2nd Platoon, D Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division of the U.S. Army based out of Ft. Stewart, Ga.
Baytown Sun Published November 12, 2005 BEACH CITY— The memory of Beach City resident and fallen soldier Pfc. Wesley Riggs became a permanent fixture of the small town’s landscape at a Veterans Day memorial dedication Friday.
A mixture of elected officials, family members, veterans and area residents were among the roughly 75 people who turned out for the event, which took place at the Beach City Community Building.
“This memorial pays tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom,” said Beach City Mayor Guido Persiani. “Wesley and all veterans lifted millions of lives and made our country more secure.”
State Rep. Craig Eiland, who represents Chambers County in the state legislature, said the memorial was an appropriate tribute to Riggs and all those who have served in the armed forces.
“It’s good that we have a permanent marker so that as everybody drives by they think of him and those like him that sacrificed for freedom,” Eiland said. “It has become too commonplace that our soldiers die and just because a number. We can’t forget they were someone’s son and schoolmate.”
Eiland’s office donated the Texas flag that flies at the monument after having flown it over the Texas Capitol while U.S. Rep. Ron Paul’s office donated a flag that has been flown over the U.S. Capitol. Two active duty Army soldiers from Beach City, Private Michael Eggleston and Specialist Brandon Young raised the flags up the 30-foot pole for the first time.
At the bottom of the flagpole rests a red granite memorial that reads “In honor of our fallen hero, PFC Wesley Robert Riggs.”
The crowd lifted up prayers led by Precinct 4 Commissioner Bill Wallace and Fr. Andrew Moore of Holy Catholic Trinity Church and joined together in singing “God Bless America.”
Fighting back years, Riggs’ father said he was overwhelmed by the presentation.
“We’re so proud of him and we just miss him so much,” Daniel Riggs said. “For the city to do this is just incredible. It’s beautiful how this has caused everyone to come together.”
Riggs said his son would have said the ceremony was making “too big a deal” over him.
“He’d say he was just doing his job, doing what everyone else is doing.”
The memorial was donated by Navarre Funeral Home while the Chambers County Parks Department installed the new flagpole and added landscaping. Area residents pitched in to provide refreshments inside the community building at the conclusion of the dedication.
“There were so many people in the community who really wanted to do something,” said Alderwoman and Mayor Pro Tem Rita Standridge. “Perhaps they didn’t know them personally but this was a way for the community to say we sure appreciate your son and appreciate y’all.”
After Eiland spoke, Persiani read a resolution passed by Beach City council and presented plaques to Riggs’ parents.
Persiani, himself an Army veteran, said the memorial had already had an impact on the city’s residents. While driving by the memorial Thursday night, he said his wife saw a pickup truck with its lights shinning on the memorial and a man kneeling at the marker.
“This is bringing out a different part of us,” Persiani said. “It has stirred up our love of freedom as well as the pain you have to suffer to maintain that freedom.”
Riggs was 19 when he was killed in May near Tikrit, Iraq, when a roadside bomb exploded near his patrol. He joined the U.S. Army in February 2004 after graduating from Barbers Hill High School. He was a member of the 2nd Platoon, D Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division of the U.S. Army based out of Ft. Stewart, Ga.