TEXAS HONORS CHILDREN AND MAKES HISTORY WITH "TRIBUTE TO TEXAS CHILDREN" MONUMENT
AUSTIN - The hard work and dedication of thousands of Texas school children was rewarded on Tuesday, June 9, with a special monument that honors and celebrates the state's youth. The "Tribute to Texas Children"monument is the first statue to be placed on the state's Capitol grounds since 1951 and is the first of its kind in the United States. Children from over 600 Texas schools held car washes, bake sales, recycling drives, and even went door-to-door raising $190,000 for the unique monument.
Created by world-renowned sculptor Lawrence Ludtke, the "Tribute to Texas Children" is a life-size bronze monument that depicts six children on a field trip to the Texas Capitol. In 1992, an Austin elementary school teacher came up with the idea for the monument. The project continued during the 73rd Legislative Session with the passage of Senate Concurrent Resolution 62 sponsored by Senator Bill Ratliff of Mount Pleasant which directed the State Preservation Board to create a permanent exhibit or monument in tribute to children. The "Tribute to Texas Children" monument is the result of a five-year project coordinated by the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association and the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals.
Tuesday's dedication ceremony was sponsored by Senator Teel Bivins of Amarillo, Chair of the Senate Education Committee, and Representative Paul Sadler, Chair of the House Public Education Committee. Senator Tom Haywood of Wichita Falls joined students, parents, educators, and project members in the historical unveiling celebration. Showing their support for the important project was Commissioner of Education, Mike Moses, and Chair of the State Board of Education, Jack Christie.
The "Tribute to Texas Children" monument can be found on the North side the Texas State Capitol.
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