Statue honors two young men who gave their lives for love of country

THE WOODLANDS, TX (KTRK) -- Standing 12 feet tall, two soldiers represent the honor and sacrifice of all who have served. On the left of the statue is Zachary Endsley, and on the right, pointing the way home, is Corey Kosters. They were killed in Afghanistan and Iraq just months apart in 2007. Both of them are from The Woodlands.

Melinda Endlsey, Zach's mother, remembers his love of the military and family. He was also a fan of metal music.

"He was musically talented," she said. "He was witty. Just quite a guy." The monument bearing his likeness she says is a privilege, as is Veterans Day. "It has a deep meaning now. I appreciate all of the veterans who serve our country, risk their lives, who lose their lives for our country."

Senta and Marlon Kosters are Corey's parents. His father still remembers his son's first day of kindergarten like it was yesterday. "Corey was a young man of 19 years old when he died," he said. "He was a good kid all his life. He really was."

"Even though he was quiet and reserved to those who didn't know him," added his mother. "He was just larger than life to those who did."

Larger than life and representing now the men and women of all branches of service in a monument a more than a decade in the making. A bronze monument to what we require for freedom, whether we always knew it or not.

The project is funded through private donations and coordinated by the efforts of a volunteer board of directors. Bill Wingo is the leader of the board. He was moved to be involved with bringing the monument to The Woodlands after attending Corey Koster's funeral and seeing the outpouring of support for veterans.

"Even though war is unpopular, veterans are not," he said. "And they were at one time, even though they've served unselfishly."

There is pain in their gift to the nation, but for the Endsley's and the Kosters there is also a deep, abiding faith,

"God has been good. We know where our son is, and we are anxious to see him one day," Senta Kosters said.

He is, after all, pointing the way home.

The monument will be dedicated Memorial Day 2015.