'The Way Home' veterans memorial monument a work-in-progress

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- As donations trickle in, progress on "The Way Home" veterans memorial monument, continues to evolve. So has the process for casting the bronze monument. Pictured in the photo, the smaller ‘maquette’ has been imaged using a 3-D scanner to produce an enlarged version of the sculpture, laser-cut out of dense styrofoam.

Sculptor, Edd Hayes, is currently covering the styrofoam with wax-based clay in order to add the finer details.

“The Way Home” project has had far-reaching effects, touching many outside of The Woodlands community. One such individual is William Daniels, who expressed his sentiments in a letter to the Greater Woodlands Public Art Foundation…

My name is William Daniels, formerly SFC Daniels, US Army. I am from La Porte, Texas, and my children live in Crosby. I currently live in Yukon, OK, but I plan on moving to Austin after I finish my degree.

I wanted to first of al,l thank you for bringing this project to life. This project is amazing. Zachary Endsley deserves this! When do you think it will finally be completed? Also, are there any plaques that I can still donate money for?

I was deployed in Endsley's platoon as a team leader in a different squad in Afghanistan and was with him in his final moments. On 23 July 2007, on our last patrol, our platoon was split in half by enemy fire. After our platoon was separated and my vehicle was the only one left in the area, I ordered my truck to be placed in front of enemy fire so that we could recover the dead and injured and take them to the HLZ. I took charge of the recovery of his body, regaining fire superiority, and ensuring no man was left behind.There is not a day that goes by that I do not think about that day. This memorial is the most amazing thing for all of us that were there to have. The guys that were in my platoon have struggled with everyday life from that deployment and that day. Some of them being from Houston like myself, would benefit greatly from this. It will ensure us that he did not die in vain, and that we truly were protecting our country's freedom and way of life. The Army gave me a Bronze Star with valor, and Purple Heart for that day, but I plan on placing them on the feet of the memorial when it is unveiled. Thank you sir, and have a great rest of your day.

Very respectfully,

William Daniels

Upon completion, it’s the hope of the Greater Woodlands Public Art Foundation that military personnel like William Daniels, and the loved ones of those memorialized on the granite plaques providing the backdrop for the lifesize bronze, will travel to The Woodlands for the dedication, and for future generations to pay their respects.

The memorial will not only pay tribute to the two south Montgomery County natives depicted in the monument, Cory Kosters and Zachary Endsley, who were both killed in the line of duty just months apart in 2007, but to those who have served, are currently serving, and will serve, in all branches of military service in all military conflicts.

To continue the casting process, donations are still needed. To bring the memorial to fruition, all 2000 tiles need to be sold.

“Six hundred of the granite tiles have been sold, but we still have plenty more to sell, ” said Tony Motto, The Woodlands self-proclaimed goodwill ambassador for its outdoor sculpture collection. “Everyone knows someone who has served, or is currently serving in a military branch of the service. I can’t think of a better way to honor them and thank them for their service.”

To download a form for a granite tile, click on Granite Tile Donation Form