Although Hays County’s annual Memorial Day ceremony moved online due to COVID-19, people gathered at the Hays County Veterans Memorial to celebrate and pay respects to those who lost their lives serving the country.
The Hays County Veterans Memorial was built in 2000 after Vietnam veteran Richard V. Cruz and WWII veteran Toby Tobias proposed the idea to the City of San Marcos. Texas State professor Nancy Granato was asked to help design the memorial and enlisted the aid from her students to create the memorial.
The memorial consists of a center monument with the names of Hays County residents who died in combat in WWI, WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraq Freedom. Surrounding the monument is an arc of plaques with over 1,000 names of Hays County residents who serve or have served in the military.
After a day full of scattered storms and sunshine, memorabilia was left at the memorial in remembrance of U.S. veterans.
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The flags at the Hays County Veterans Memorial fly at half-staff in honor of Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2020, on the corner of Hopkins Street and Riverside Drive in San Marcos.
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A wreath that reads “In Loving Memory,” is set at the front of the Hays County Veterans Memorial, Monday, May 25, 2020, on the corner of Hopkins Street and Riverside Drive in San Marcos.
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The monument at the Hays County Veterans Memorial lists the names of Hays County residents who died in combat, Monday, May 25, 2020, on the corner of Hopkins Street and Riverside Drive in San Marcos.
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A rosary is left on the Hays County Veterans Memorial, Monday, May 25, 2020, on the corner of Hopkins Street and Riverside Drive in San Marcos.
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A bouquet of flowers is left in the rain at the monument at the Hays County Veterans Memorial, Monday, May 25, 2020, on the corner of Hopkins Street and Riverside Drive in San Marcos.
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Over 1,000 plaques with the names of Hays County residents who served in the military circle the Hays County Veterans Memorial, Monday, May 25, 2020, on the corner of Hopkins Street and Riverside Drive in San Marcos.
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A bouquet of flowers is placed at the front of the Hays County Veterans Memorial, Monday, May 25, 2020, on the corner of Hopkins Street and Riverside Drive in San Marcos. The monument at the front of the memorial contains the names of Hays County residents who died in combat in WWI, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, Desert Storm,
Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraq Freedom.
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The front of the Hays County Veterans Memorial is decorated with a wreath and U.S. flags, Monday, May 25, 2020, on the corner of Hopkins Street and Riverside Drive in San Marcos.
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A trio of U.S. flags stand in the grass at the Hays County Veterans Memorial, Monday, May 25, 2020, on the corner of Hopkins Street and Riverside Drive in San Marcos.
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Plaques recognizing the contributions made to the memorial are presented at the Hays County Veterans Memorial, Monday, May 25, 2020, in San Marcos. The plaques are one of the first pieces visitors see when walking around the memorial.
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Residents visit the Hays County Veterans Memorial, Monday, May 25, 2020, on the corner of Hopkins Street and Riverside Drive in San Marcos. The memorial was established in 2000 after WWII veteran Toby Tobias and Vietnam veteran Richard V. Cruz brought the idea.
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