On Tuesday morning, Bedford city leaders, public‑safety personnel and community members gathered at Harris Ryals Park to dedicate the city’s newly constructed Veterans Memorial. The ceremony coincided with Veterans Day, underscoring the town’s gratitude for those who have served the United States and Texas.
Memorial features
The memorial includes two granite walls set with inlaid bronze plaques that list the names of local veterans. Seating areas provide a place for reflection, while three flagpoles display the United States, Texas and POW‑MIA flags. The park itself is named for Harris Ryals, a World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War Army veteran who later worked for the Bedford Parks and Recreation Department. Ryals passed away in 2010 at the age of 88.
Community leadership
Former City Council Member Rich Steves, a Navy veteran, played a key role in bringing the project to life. Steves recalled seeing a trio of weathered plaques on the City Hall lawn that honored prisoners of war and missing‑in‑action service members. “Over the years, the plaques had become weathered and neglected. I felt they deserved a more visible and respectful recognition,” he said.
Steves approached the mayor and council in the spring of 2024, proposing to relocate the plaques. The council’s response, he explained, went beyond a simple move and embraced the idea of creating a larger, more meaningful memorial. The concept was approved in 2025 and funded with roughly $220,000 in interest earnings from the 2019 General Obligation Taxable Bond, according to city financial reports.
Dedication remarks
During the dedication, Steves described the memorial as Bedford’s way of saying thank you to all veterans—past, present and future. “It is a lasting expression of our community’s gratitude for your courage, commitment and willingness to sacrifice in service of our country,” he added, extending the thanks to families who have stood beside service members.
City officials offered remarks, a local grade‑school band and choir performed patriotic music, and the American Legion Honor Guard fired a rifle volley and played taps, adding a solemn tone to the celebration.
Looking ahead
The new Veterans Memorial provides a permanent place for Bedford residents to remember and teach future generations about the sacrifices made in service to the nation. It also reinforces the city’s commitment to honoring those who have defended liberty and upheld the values that define our community.
Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.
