Honoring General Bernardo de Gálvez at the Veterans War Memorial of Texas

Marcy Carter-Lovick, Texas State Regent

April 18, 2024

The National Society has commissioned a bronze statue of General Bernardo de Gálvez, and this stunning work was dedicated March 26 during a ceremony at the Veterans War Memorial of Texas in McAllen. Please enjoy this blog post by Texas State Regent Marcy Carter-Lovick recapping the event. Col. Frank Plummer (Ret.), a great friend of DAR, is the visionary behind the memorial, which includes the Texas DAR Plaza of Liberty dedicated to the Revolutionary War. If you find yourself in the Rio Grande Valley, you should visit this can’t-miss commemorative site.

-Pamela Wright, President General

Texas Daughters assembled March 26 at the Veterans War Memorial of Texas in McAllen to unveil a bronze statue of Gen. Bernardo de Gálvez. The sculpture was commissioned by the National Society to commemorate Spain’s contribution to our nation’s fight for independence from Great Britain and funded by the President General’s Project for major initiatives in conjunction with America 250! celebrations. The sculpture is the first likeness of Gálvez in Texas and the work of local artist and sculptor Douglas Clark. Gálvez led Spanish efforts to aid the Americans during the Revolution—not only smuggling supplies to the Americans but also leading a military campaign against the British that included capturing Pensacola, West Florida, by land and by sea.

The sunshine and a light breeze provided the perfect setting for a memorable tribute. Emcee Jesse Rodriguez of the Veterans War Memorial Committee opened the ceremony, and the McAllen Fire Department’s Honor Guard and Pipe and Drum Core presented the colors. Aaron Magana of the McAllen Fire Department performed a beautiful rendition of the national anthem. Cheyanne Zink, TXDAR State Chair DAR Plaza of Liberty, led the Pledge of Allegiance, and Jill Brooks, NSDAR National Vice Chair Commemorative Event–Gálvez, led the Salute to the Texas Flag. A moving invocation was given by TXDAR State Chaplain GeorgiAnne Uribe Brochstein. Commissioner Pepe Cabeza de Vaca gave the city’s official welcome on behalf of Mayor Javier Villalobos. A tribute to Gálvez and the role of Spain in the Revolutionary War was presented by Anthony Startz, NSDAR Specialty Research National Chair. TXDAR State Regent Marcy Carter-Lovick gave the history of the TXDAR Plaza of Liberty.

After Lovick dedicated the statue and the accompanying informational panel, Rodriguez unveiled both. The ceremony concluded with the McAllen Fire Department playing “Amazing Grace” on bagpipes, a three-volley salute by the McAllen Police Department Honor Guard and taps played by Bugler-Officer Daniel Garcia.

The ceremony was attended by members of TXDAR from across the state and members of the Granaderos y Damas de Gálvez from Laredo, San Antonio and Houston. The latter organization was founded during the Bicentennial to promote the role of Gálvez and Spain during the American Revolution.

Special thanks are extended to the members of the Rio Grande Chapter, NSDAR, in McAllen for their hospitality and to the Texas National Guard for installing camouflage netting to protect guests from the sun.

The sculpture is the first statue of Bernardo de Gálvez in Texas. Other statues of Gálvez can be found in Spain; Washington, D.C.; New Orleans; Mobile, Alabama; and Pensacola, Florida. The War Memorial of Texas was the vision of Colonel Frank S. Plummer U.S. Army [retired], who was an honored guest at the event. The Texas Society has placed additional information panels and sculptures of notable Revolutionary War figures at the Veterans War Memorial in the dedicated TXDAR Plaza of Liberty. If you find yourself in the Rio Grande Valley, please make time to visit this special commemorative site.

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