Spc. Ernest W. Dallas Jr. Veterans Memorial Park
Spc. Ernest “Ernie” W. Dallas Jr. (1983-2005)
Ernest W. Dallas Jr. was born October 15, 1983. A Denton native, he aspired to become a Denton Police Officer at a young age. He would often ask questions of the officers that frequented the Lone Star Car Wash on Dallas Drive where his father worked, wanting to know what being a police officer was all about.
In 1999, Dallas joined the Denton Police Department’s Citizen Youth Academy which allowed high school students to learn about police work. Under the auspices of this program he would ride along with Denton Police Officers after school until the end of their shift at midnight and would often call his parents to ask to stay a little longer. Many times, that little bit longer would extend to 6 am. The frequency with which police cars would bring him home led his mother to joke that the neighbors must have thought he was always getting in trouble.
Ernie Dallas graduated from Fred Moore High School in 2003 and subsequently enlisted in the United States Army that same year, inspired by the attacks on September 11, 2001 and knowing that military service would provide him with the skills and resources to fulfill his dream of becoming a Denton Police Officer. He was assigned to Troop K, 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment as a Cavalry Scout.
On July 24, 2005, Spc. Ernest W. Dallas Jr., Staff Sgt. Jason Montefering, Sgt. Milton Monzon and Pfc. Ramon Villatoro were killed in action when an improvised explosive device detonated near their Bradley Fighting Vehicle in Baghdad, Iraq. Spc. Dallas served honorably and was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III and the Purple Heart. His other awards and decorations include: Combat Action Badge, The Army Commendation Medal, The Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.
Spc. Dallas was the first Denton resident killed in action during the Iraq War (OIF III). He is buried at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery and was the first honoree by the Honor Guard of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 920 of Denton which provided full military honors.
In August 2005, the 79th Texas Legislature unanimously adopted House Resolution 140 which paid tribute to the memory of Spc. Ernest W. Dallas Jr. and declared, through “…his unwavering dedication to duty, honor and this country, Ernest Dallas Jr., embodied the highest ideals of the armed services, and the blessing of his life will be forever treasured by those who were privileged to share in the warmth of his love and friendship…” The following month U.S. Representative Michael Burgess issued remarks on the floor of the United States House of Representatives honoring the sacrifice of Spc. Dallas and his family.
The idea to name a park after Spc. Ernest W. Dallas Jr. was first pitched by Monty Slough, founder of the Denton County Fallen Soldiers Memorial. On March 1, 2010 the Park Board unanimously denied Slough’s request due in part to a fear that setting such a precedent might lead to an abundance of requests for similar honors from families of future soldiers killed in combat. However, failure to solicit public comment during the March 1 vote, including from Slough and Spc. Dallas’ family, invalidated that result and another vote was scheduled.
On April 5, 2010 with Monty Slough, the Dallas family and many other community members in attendance, the Park Board unanimously approved the naming of the park as Spc. Ernest W. Dallas Jr. Veterans Memorial Park. That same year the Denton Police Department held a ceremony for the installation of a memorial plaque which still hangs in the halls of the Denton Public Safety Training Center next to a photo of Spc. Dallas’ Youth Academy class.
The park was dedicated on Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2011 in a ceremony that featured a flyover of an UH-1 Iroquois (Huey) helicopter, a vehicle display, a display of the Denton County Fallen Soldiers Memorial and the Denton Fire Bagpipe and Drum Corps. Honor and Remember flags were presented to the families of Spc. Ernest W. Dallas Jr. and Cpl. Peter J. Courcy of Frisco who was killed in Afghanistan in 2009.
The park features memorial plaques for veterans of every war since World War I and war dogs. Its primary feature is a Walk of Honor with plaques for 23 Denton County soldiers and marines killed as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
On March 6, 2018 Mayor Chris Watts issued a proclamation declaring the City of Denton “A Purple Heart City.” With that declaration Denton became a part of the Purple Heart Trail as established by the Military Order of the Purple Heart in 1992 and which originates at a monument at Mt. Vernon, Virginia.
Sources:
- H.R. No. 140. 79th Texas Legislature, 2nd Called Session. August 8, 2005.
- Haag, Matthew. “Denton soldier killed in Iraq Army specialist’s vehicle drove over land mine.” Denton Record-Chronicle. July 28, 2005.
- Rep. Burgess, Michael C. “In Memory of Specialist Ernest Dallas, Jr.” 80th Texas Legislature, Floor Statements. September 7, 2005.
- Brown, Lowell. “Board nixes park name Officials to meet again to further discuss memorial.” Denton Record-Chronicle. March 29, 2010.
- “Editorial.” Denton Record-Chronicle. April 7, 2010.
- Silos, Daisy. “Denton Veterans Day Celebrations.” North Texas Daily. November 11, 2011.
- Brown, Lowell. “City dedicates memorial park.” Denton Record-Chronicle. November 12, 2011.
- Harvey, Holly. “City to establish tribute for fallen area soldiers.” North Texas Daily. April 25, 2012.
- Heinkel-Wolfe, Peggy. “Vietnam veterans, war dogs added to walk of honor.” Denton Record-Chronicle. November 12, 2013.
- “Denton honors veterans.” Denton Record-Chronicle. November 11, 2017.
- “A Purple Heart City.” Proclamation by the Mayor of the City of Denton, Texas. March 6, 2018.
- “Denton named Purple Heart City; plaque displayed at Ernie Dallas Park.” Denton Record-Chronicle. May 21, 2018.
- “Denton earns Purple Heart City designation.” Denton Record-Chronicle. May 23, 2018.
- Assistant Police Chief Bobby Smith, Denton Police Department.
- Captain Orlando Hinojosa, Denton County Sherriff's Department.
- Dennis Boots, Vietnam Veteran's of America Chapter 920, Denton, TX.
- Charlene Sauseda, Gold Star Mother.