9-27-21 Regular Meeting of the La Porte Development Corporation Board

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Tournament, which will be held on May 17, 2021 at the Bay Forest Golf Course in La Porte. The Hershel “Woody” Williams Medal of Honor Foundation is a charitable 501c3 non- profit organization that pursues the vision of Medal of Honor recipient Hershel “Woody” Williams to establish Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments in communities throughout the country, sponsor Gold Star Family outreach programs, provide Living Legacy scholarships to eligible Gold Star Children, and to advocate for educational benefits for all Gold Star Family members. The impact of the Foundation’s work helps raise public awareness about Gold Star Families’ enduring sacrifice and the ultimate sacrifice made by their Loved One. The Foundation wishes to educate the community about these sacrifices, reminding us all that freedom has not been and is not free. The mission statement of the Foundation is “to honor, recognize, and serve Gold Star Families and the legacy of their Loved Ones who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.” Initially the Foundation’s goal was to establish a Gold Star Families Memorial Monument in founder Woody William’s home state of West Virginia. Once that monument was complete, a new mission became clear to Woody and those at the Hershel “Woody” Williams Medal of Honor Foundation to establish these monuments in as many communities as possible in all 50 states and US territories. The Guyon family, along with the local monument committee comprised of Steve Deardorff and Jeff Martin has approached the City of La Porte for permission to construct a Gold Star Families Memorial Monument at Five Points Park, which is located at the intersection of Main Street and Broadway Street in downtown La Porte. This monument would be two-sided tribute made of black granite. One side would bear the words “Gold Star Families Memorial Monument a tribute to Gold Star Families and Relatives who sacrificed a Loved One for our Freedom.” The other side would tell a story through four (4) granite panels: Homeland, Family, Patriot, and Sacrifice. The scenes on each panel would be a reflection of each community’s Gold Star Families and their fallen Heroes. At the center of the tribute would be a silhouette of the Loved One who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the name of Freedom. Staff has provided a photo as well as engineering diagrams of the monument for City Council to better understand the layout of the memorial monument. Staff has researched the area at Five Points and believe the ideal location of the construction of the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument would be in the circle area at the far southwestern portion of the park. Staff has provided photos and an aerial map to better familiarize the Council as to where the monument could be located. ACTION REQUIRED BY CITY COUNCIL Approve or deny the access to Five Points Park as the site location for construction and/or placement of the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument as a tribute to Gold Star Families and Relatives who sacrificed a Loved One for our Freedom.