Drivers through some areas of the Upper Valley will have an unusual sight as a part of their late commutes Thursday, August 21. That morning, two, very large statues will begin their trek from a sculptor’s workshop in Edinburg to Tom Landry Stadium in Mission. One statue is an eagle, representing Mission High School (MHS). The other is a patriot, representing Veterans Memorial High School (VMHS).
A pep-rally style welcome is planned as the statues arrive at the stadium at about 10:00 a.m. This is not an exact time. Timing will depend on several factors, including traffic. Anyone interested in getting a first look at the statues is welcome to attend. The bands, drill teams, and cheerleaders from MHS and VMHS will be on hand to help everyone celebrate.
Once they are on site, the new eagle and patriot will be hoisted will be hoisted onto concrete pillars by a crane, and secured into place.
When standing on the pillars, both statues will top off at a height of about 26 feet. The wingspan of the eagle is about 27 feet from tip to tip.
This will be the first time Tom Landry Stadium has had a statue representing VMHS. For many years, the stadium has had an eagle statue. The statue was removed earlier this summer. The original plan was to refurbish the old eagle statue. However, once it was down and inspected, officials discovered that the years had not been kind to the eagle and it was not feasible to refurbish it. Instead, the original eagle was used as a mold to create a new eagle statue. This was done to keep the popular look and size of the original eagle that stood guard for so many years. The original eagle sculptor was also consulted throughout the process.
The arrival of the new statues comes on the heels of the completion of a turf and track replacement project at Tom Landry Stadium, and continues the efforts of the Mission CISD (Consolidated Independent School District) Board of Trustees to make the stadium a true “home field” for both its athletic programs.
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