Milam County Historical Commission
Milam County, Texas
Milam County, Texas
All Credit for this article
goes to Jay Ermis
and the
Temple Daily Telegram
goes to Jay Ermis
and the
Temple Daily Telegram
Cahill's Memorial Sculpture on View at Cameron Bistro
by Jay Ermis - Telegram Staff Writer
Temple Daily Telegram - December 15, 2013
CAMERON — Cameron residents received a firsthand look at personalized bronze sculptures created by Salado sculptor Troy Kelley to honor the 13 people killed during the Nov. 5, 2009, shooting spree at Fort Hood.
Kelley designed and formulated the symbolism for the sculptures depicting each victim’s interest from information he received from family members.
Sculptures and photographs of the victims were displayed at Beverly Angell’s Mercantile Bistro in early December. It was the first chance for the public to view all of the sculptures outside Killeen.
Her restaurant was selected because Michael Cahill of Cameron, the only civilian to die in the shooting, frequented her business and they became close friends through their community theater work. Kelley visited the business several months ago and saw it as a possible location to hold the exhibit.
The physician assistant’s sculpture consisted of a coffee cup he was seldom without, three of his favorite books because he was a voracious reader and a stethoscope draped around the books. “These are three of the things that meant the most to him,” said Joleen Cahill, Mike’s wife.
Cahill is a hero of the event since he was the first to try to take out the shooter with a chair and he received a medal for his bravery, Kelley said.
The Vietnam veteran considers the sculptures the heart of the Fort Hood memorial he designed. The open-air pavilion will be constructed in Killeen on W.S. Young between the Shilo Hotel and Killeen Conference and Civic Center. Names of the 32 people who were wounded that day will be included in the memorial.
Construction on the memorial is scheduled to start in late 2014. “The SPJST has been a driving force behind it and has been supportive of it,” Kelley said. “The memorial will be open 24 hours a day to the public.”
The memorial will cost an estimated $420,000 with $165,000 raised.
“The idea for establishing a memorial garden was conceived by Harker Heights resident and SPJST employee Hiram Dixon. Mr. Dixon served in the U.S. Army from 1969 until 1972, during which time he completed a tour of duty in Vietnam,” said SPJST President Brian Vanicek.
“The original idea was for simple gazebo and memorial garden to honor the victims and provide a historic record of the tragedy. During the first press conference to introduce the project to the community, Troy Kelly stepped up to the plate with his incredibly moving design for the memorial,” said Vanicek.
The SPJST gave organizers enough funding to complete the garden and gazebo. But, when news spread of the idea, the significance of the event was underscored by the outpouring of support. That, with Kelly’s sculptures, made it clear that the original plan needed to be expanded.
”Working as partners with the City of Killeen, Killeen Civic and Conference Center Special Events Committee and and Killeen Volunteers, Inc., the SPJST was honored to spear-head efforts in the public and private sector to build the memorial,” said Vanicek.
After doing some research, Kelley said, “I don’t think there has been a memorial like this, where they have used individual objects to honor them, as the design of this memorial does. I have a strong affection for the military. I am a Vietnam vet, serving in 1967-68. It has been a labor of love. We only pay the foundry the cost of the bronze. We’re trying to make people aware of the memorial, especially since it happened in 2009.”
Through the sculpting and the objects he received, Kelley said he had a chance to get to know the individuals. “It’s horrific what happened there.”
“This is a very unique memorial because of the way we’ve handled these objects,” said Kelley, who has sculpted since 1984.
“It has really been inspirational to see him do something like this and interact with the families,” said Vickie Kelley, Troy’s wife and also his assistant. “He is so honored to be a part of this. She said the project required patience to see a piece of clay evolve into art.
“I had a few suggestions,” she said. “The families gave us ideas. ”
She said Troy had his own creative vision for the project, but was careful to incorporate what the families wanted in each piece.”
“I think they are amazing,” said Cahill of the sculptures, including the one of her husband, Mike. “There is a lot of heart and soul in them. I think Troy is one of the few people who could have done these and done them with that much emotion in them.”
“I took each object as being a representation of that person,” Troy said. “I made a deep connection with each person through the objects,” Troy said. “This is so important to me, I considered it an honor. I was hoping to do a good job for the families.”
Contributions can be made to November 5, 2009 Fort Hood Memorial, Killeen Volunteers Inc., P.O. Box 1329, Killeen, Texas 76540.
by Jay Ermis - Telegram Staff Writer
Temple Daily Telegram - December 15, 2013
CAMERON — Cameron residents received a firsthand look at personalized bronze sculptures created by Salado sculptor Troy Kelley to honor the 13 people killed during the Nov. 5, 2009, shooting spree at Fort Hood.
Kelley designed and formulated the symbolism for the sculptures depicting each victim’s interest from information he received from family members.
Sculptures and photographs of the victims were displayed at Beverly Angell’s Mercantile Bistro in early December. It was the first chance for the public to view all of the sculptures outside Killeen.
Her restaurant was selected because Michael Cahill of Cameron, the only civilian to die in the shooting, frequented her business and they became close friends through their community theater work. Kelley visited the business several months ago and saw it as a possible location to hold the exhibit.
The physician assistant’s sculpture consisted of a coffee cup he was seldom without, three of his favorite books because he was a voracious reader and a stethoscope draped around the books. “These are three of the things that meant the most to him,” said Joleen Cahill, Mike’s wife.
Cahill is a hero of the event since he was the first to try to take out the shooter with a chair and he received a medal for his bravery, Kelley said.
The Vietnam veteran considers the sculptures the heart of the Fort Hood memorial he designed. The open-air pavilion will be constructed in Killeen on W.S. Young between the Shilo Hotel and Killeen Conference and Civic Center. Names of the 32 people who were wounded that day will be included in the memorial.
Construction on the memorial is scheduled to start in late 2014. “The SPJST has been a driving force behind it and has been supportive of it,” Kelley said. “The memorial will be open 24 hours a day to the public.”
The memorial will cost an estimated $420,000 with $165,000 raised.
“The idea for establishing a memorial garden was conceived by Harker Heights resident and SPJST employee Hiram Dixon. Mr. Dixon served in the U.S. Army from 1969 until 1972, during which time he completed a tour of duty in Vietnam,” said SPJST President Brian Vanicek.
“The original idea was for simple gazebo and memorial garden to honor the victims and provide a historic record of the tragedy. During the first press conference to introduce the project to the community, Troy Kelly stepped up to the plate with his incredibly moving design for the memorial,” said Vanicek.
The SPJST gave organizers enough funding to complete the garden and gazebo. But, when news spread of the idea, the significance of the event was underscored by the outpouring of support. That, with Kelly’s sculptures, made it clear that the original plan needed to be expanded.
”Working as partners with the City of Killeen, Killeen Civic and Conference Center Special Events Committee and and Killeen Volunteers, Inc., the SPJST was honored to spear-head efforts in the public and private sector to build the memorial,” said Vanicek.
After doing some research, Kelley said, “I don’t think there has been a memorial like this, where they have used individual objects to honor them, as the design of this memorial does. I have a strong affection for the military. I am a Vietnam vet, serving in 1967-68. It has been a labor of love. We only pay the foundry the cost of the bronze. We’re trying to make people aware of the memorial, especially since it happened in 2009.”
Through the sculpting and the objects he received, Kelley said he had a chance to get to know the individuals. “It’s horrific what happened there.”
“This is a very unique memorial because of the way we’ve handled these objects,” said Kelley, who has sculpted since 1984.
“It has really been inspirational to see him do something like this and interact with the families,” said Vickie Kelley, Troy’s wife and also his assistant. “He is so honored to be a part of this. She said the project required patience to see a piece of clay evolve into art.
“I had a few suggestions,” she said. “The families gave us ideas. ”
She said Troy had his own creative vision for the project, but was careful to incorporate what the families wanted in each piece.”
“I think they are amazing,” said Cahill of the sculptures, including the one of her husband, Mike. “There is a lot of heart and soul in them. I think Troy is one of the few people who could have done these and done them with that much emotion in them.”
“I took each object as being a representation of that person,” Troy said. “I made a deep connection with each person through the objects,” Troy said. “This is so important to me, I considered it an honor. I was hoping to do a good job for the families.”
Contributions can be made to November 5, 2009 Fort Hood Memorial, Killeen Volunteers Inc., P.O. Box 1329, Killeen, Texas 76540.
Saledo Sculpter Troy Kelley, left, Joleen Cahill, and Vicki Kelley near a photo of Mike Cahill. Kelley holds a sculpture of a coffee cup, three of Cahill's favorite books, and a stethoscope displayed at the Mercantile Bistro in Cameron. The sculpture was one of twelve displayed during a recent visit by the Kelleys.
Photo by Jay Ermis
Photo by Jay Ermis
.