A committee to honor Vietnam War veterans will host a luncheon today to raise funds for a monument at the Capitol.
John Miterko, Vietnam Veterans of America committee member, said the monument will be erected in memory of fallen Vietnam soldiers and honor surviving veterans.
"The monument will show the cultural and ethnic diversity of people from Texas who participated in the Vietnam War," Miterko said.
A scale model of the monument illustrates an African-American medic, an American Indian radioman, a Hispanic sniper, a Caucasian infantryman and a South Vietnamese ranger, sitting on top of a square base.
The base's panels represent the state of Texas, the culture and geography of Vietnam and departments of the U.S. military.
The committee, consisting exclusively of Vietnam veterans, hired Duke Sundt of New Mexico to design and sculpt the memorial. Miterko said the committee hired Sundt for his ability to capture historical accuracy.
"Every single article on the monument, including the clothing, will be factual," Miterko said. "Years from now, children will be able to reflect on the monument and get an accurate representation of that time period."
According to state laws, the government may not provide funds for monuments displayed on Capitol grounds. All funding for the $1.3 million project must come from private investors.
The luncheon will also celebrate the 40th anniversary of the 1968 Vietnam Tet Offensive and will be hosted at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum. Guest speakers include Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, Speaker Tom Craddick, Luci Baines Johnson and many other elected officials and leaders.
The official unveiling of the 10-foot-high monument will take place on May 5, 2010, the 35th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.
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