Here's what's planned for Sherill Veterans Memorial Park

A pair of new monuments paying tribute to Corpus Christi’s deeply ingrained military history are coming to Sherrill Veterans Memorial Park.

Within the next year, installations of the main sail of a submarine that shares the city’s name – the U.S.S. City of Corpus Christi – as well as a U.S. Army UH-1 Bell Huey helicopter are anticipated to come to the park, according to city officials.

The two structures are intended to recognize the service of U.S. Navy submariners and Corpus Christi Army Depot and Naval Air Station-Corpus Christi personnel, records show.

The park – accounting for about 2.7 acres of the larger Water’s Edge Park – is the traditional venue for military ceremonies and remembrances such as those held for Veterans Day and Memorial Day.

Both of those projects are in the design phase, Robert Dodd, the city’s parks and recreation director, recently told the Caller-Times.

The aircraft and the vessel will join the existing 11 memorials at the park, named after 21-year-old Warren Joseph Sherrill, who was killed in the Pearl Harbor attack and represents the first Corpus Christi casualty of World War II.

The proposed improvements are part of a comprehensive master plan for the area, approved by the City Council in the spring. Here are some of the upcoming plans.

Proposed projects

While the main sail would be a new concept, the park has before had a helicopter on display in the bayfront area of McCaughan Park.

However, there has not been one since 2004, when the existing helicopter was removed for repairs. It’s unclear why it didn’t return to its spot.

A formal agreement is pending for acquisition of the main sail, Dodd said, while the helicopter has been secured and is currently being painted.

Because the adopted master plan essentially operates as the framework in guiding proposed improvements, it doesn’t necessarily act as a mirror reflection of future development.

The city is taking a phased approach, and the remainder of the plans aren’t yet in a design phase, Dodd said.

That means there could be changes later from what are currently considered conceptual plans.

At present, what’s proposed includes larger shade structures, seating similar to an amphitheater and improved organization of the existing 11 memorials – which include recognitions of Sherrill, World War I, World War II, the Global War on Terrorism, Prisoners of War, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Korean War, Pearl Harbor survivors, Vietnam veterans and Birmingham, as well as a bench dedicated to all veterans, according to city records.

Also among the plans are additional memorials, such as suggestions to erect six flags that would represent each branch of military service with its respective emblem.

There aren’t memorials recognizing the wars in Afghanistan or Iraq, noted conceptual designer Philip Ramirez, president of Turner Ramirez Architects, when addressing the City Council in March.

City records show past public input recommendations of additional memorials such as one for the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars, Women of War, fallen and missing in action soldiers and Purple Heart and Medals of Honor.

City officials plan to return to stakeholder groups as the plans continue to develop for additional public input, Dodd said.

There isn’t currently an estimate on what it would cost to implement the master plan in its entirety or for the two installations, he added.

What some veterans said

Ram Chavez, a U.S. Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War, has directed the Veterans Band of Corpus for nearly 40 years –  each year playing at multiple ceremonies in Sherrill Veterans Memorial Park.

There’s been interest in increased shade and more seating, he said, and described as good ideas installing the flags representing the six branches of the armed forces, as well as replacing the helicopter monument.

The park serves a role in remembrance and “people need to understand the real meaning of Sherrill Veterans Memorial Park,” he said.

As a city, Corpus Christi is among the most supportive of the military, Chavez said, but sometimes citizens forget.

“People need to realize that… Veterans Day is Nov. 11,” he said. “But for veterans, it’s every day.”

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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Here's what's planned for Sherill Veterans Memorial Park