[Press Conference: "Houston Vietnam Veterans Memorial Unveiling"]
[00:00:19]
TODAY WE ARE ON, WE ARE HERE TO HONOR THE MANY MEN AND WOMEN FROM THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA WHO SERVED OUR COUNTRY DURING THE VIETNAM WAR.IF YOU ASK MANY OF THE VETERANS HERE TODAY HOW THEY FELT WHEN THEY HAD TO RETURN HOME, WHEN AMERICAN SOIL, YOU'LL PROBABLY HEAR DIFFERENT ACCOUNTS, BUT ONE THING THAT'S LIKELY TO BE CONSISTENT IS THE FEELING OF NOT HAVING A PROPER WELCOME HOME.
MY FATHER IS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE HE SERVED HONORABLY IN THE VIETNAM WAR AS A MARINE DAD, RAISE YOUR HAND.
SO, MY FATHER TOLD ME YEARS AGO THAT THERE WAS NO MEMORIAL IN HOUSTON THAT TRULY DEPICTED THE SACRIFICE IN THE SERVICE OF THOSE WHO WERE IN THE VIETNAM WAR, WHAT THEY EXPERIENCED FROM A HOUSTON PERSPECTIVE.
HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT WHEN HE CAME BACK FROM THE WAR, HE WASN'T GRADED, GREETED WITH APPRECIATION OR RESPECT THAT HE THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO RECEIVE.
AND MANY OF HIS SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN HAD TO GO THROUGH THE SAME THING.
BUT MY FATHER, WHO WAS ENROLLED AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, TOOK A SEMESTER OFF BECAUSE HE SAID HE WANTED TO WORK TO EARN MONEY FOR A CAR.
THAT SEMESTER OFF, HE GOT DRAFTED AND HIS LIFE WAS FOREVER CHANGED.
AFTER THAT, HE WENT ON TO BE A SUCCESSFUL SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, BUT HE ALWAYS STRESSED, UH, THE IMPORTANCE OF SERVICE, THE IMPORTANCE OF COUNTRY, AND THIS DEDICATION AND THIS MONUMENT STARTED WITH THE DISCUSSION THAT I HAD WITH MY FATHER.
WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT THIS MONUMENT IS THAT HOUSTON AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS ARE THE FOCUS.
IT ALSO RECOGNIZES THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF WOMEN, MINORITIES, POWS, AND OUR VIETNAMESE ALLIES.
THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO HELP MAKE THIS DAY IN THIS MONUMENT POSSIBLE.
AND I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE EACH OF THEM.
WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE STAND FOR A BRIEF MOMENT SO YOU CAN BE RECOGNIZED.
MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER FOR HIS SUPPORT AND HIS EFFORTS.
I TALKED TO THE MAYOR ABOUT THREE YEARS ABOUT THIS PROJECT, AND IT WAS A LOFTY GOAL.
UH, BUT HE WAS FULLY SUPPORTIVE THE ENTIRE WAY THROUGH.
UH, HE CONTINUED TO GIVE OUR OFFICE ENCOURAGEMENT.
AND, UH, I WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF VETERANS AFFAIRS DIRECTOR, DEMO DEPUTY DIRECTOR JONES.
THEIR LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN INVALUABLE IN PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
WE'VE WORKED TIRELESSLY OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, ESPECIALLY VINCE, DIRECTOR, SUSAN CHRISTIAN, PROJECT MANAGER, LEANNE MCITY, AND THE REST OF HER STAFF.
EVERYTHING YOU SEE HERE, UH, WAS BECAUSE OF THEIR HARD WORK.
WE, UH, CAME TO THEM, UH, IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS AND KIND OF WANTED TO PUT TOGETHER THIS PROGRAM IN A SPECIAL WAY FOR YOU ALL.
THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, LED BY DIRECTOR KENNETH ALLEN AND HIS TEAM.
A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE TS 20 BOARD, THEIR BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIRED BY MR. WELCOME WILSON JR.
AND THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY OF HAWES HILL AND ASSOCIATES.
IF YOU ALL WOULD PLEASE STAND, I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO THE TURS 20 BOARD.
WE APPROACHED THEM SEVERAL YEARS AGO WITH THIS PROJECT.
THEY'RE OUR MAIN PARTNER IN THIS, THE MAIN FUNDING SOURCE.
UH, THEY COLLABORATED WITH US, UH, IN MANY WAYS TO HELP MAKE TODAY HAPPEN.
I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO DON HUMMEL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, SIR.
I KNOW WE'VE BEEN ON THE PHONE FOR MUCH OF THIS, AND IT COULDN'T BE WITHOUT THE TURS 20 LEADERSHIP, UH, WITH, WITHOUT THE CHURCH 20 LEADERSHIP, WE WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK VICKI AND TROY KELLY, THE DESIGNER AND SCULPTOR OF THE MONUMENT.
[00:05:03]
SO I REACHED OUT TO TROY ON A RANDOM EMAIL, PHONE, UH, COLD CALL BASICALLY THREE YEARS AGO.I WAS LOOKING UP DIFFERENT VIETNAM VETERAN MEMORIALS AROUND THE COUNTRY, TRYING TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT I WANTED TO BRING HERE TO HOUSTON.
SAW WHAT HE HAD CONSTRUCTED AND SCULPTED IN KILLEEN, THE STATE CEMETERY.
AND I SAID, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE FITTING FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
WE DIDN'T KNOW EACH OTHER AT ALL.
I APPRECIATE YOU EVEN RETURNING THE EMAIL TO SOMEONE THAT YOU DIDN'T EVEN KNOW.
UH, BUT WE PUT IN A LOT OF WORK AND A LOT OF CREDIT OF THIS GOES TO YOU ALL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THE SWA GROUP FOR THE DESIGN OF THE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION AND THE GROUND SURROUNDED.
WALTER P. MOORE FOR ENGINEERING AND MILLER DEVELOPMENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION.
IF YOU ALL ARE HERE, THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE.
ALSO, WANNA THANK MY FAMILY WHO IS HERE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL, MY BROTHER DON, WHO'S ALSO IN ATTENDANCE WITH ME.
UM, THE SACRIFICE THAT THEY MAKE FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO BE OUT AND ABOUT ON A DAILY BASIS, UH, TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY STAFF, MY DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS, MISTY STARKS, MY DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF, DAVID ZU, MY DISTRICT COORDINATOR, FRANCIS ELLIS, AND MY FIELD COORDINATOR, BURT LEVINE.
THEY WORKED TIRELESS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS TO HELP MAKE THIS HAPPEN BEHIND THE SCENES.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WANT TO THANK MY CHIEF OF STAFF, MR. PAUL YOUNG.
PAUL YOUNG HAS BEEN A PART OF THIS PROJECT FROM DAY ONE.
HE TOOK THE LEAD ON EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE SEEN HERE.
EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT WE'VE RECOGNIZED THUS FAR, PAUL HAS MET WITH THAT PERSON, TALKED TO THAT PERSON, COORDINATED WITH THAT PERSON.
HIS FINGERPRINTS ARE ON EVERY SINGLE ASPECT OF THIS MONUMENT.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU, PAUL, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK.
THANK YOU FOR, UM, ENCOURAGING ME AND FOLLOWING A VISION THAT I HAVE AND ACTUALLY BRINGING INTO LIFE.
BUT PAUL YOUNG IS REALLY, UH, SOMEONE THAT WE REALLY NEED TO GIVE OUR, UH, APPRECIATION TO.
YOU WILL NOW HEAR FROM EMMANUEL, OUTSPOKEN BEING WHO IS THE HOUSTON POET LAUREATE, FOLLOWED BY MR. WELCOME WILSON JR.
WHO IS THET 20 CHAIR, WHO WILL GIVE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.
HOW ARE YOU? YEAH, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, MAKE A QUICK CORRECTION.
I'M NO LONGER THE CURRENT POET LAUREATE AND I, UM, THAT THAT HONOR BELONGS TO, UH, ARIS KANE.
AND I DO WANNA ALSO BE HONEST WITH YOU, IF THE MAYOR WASN'T RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, I WOULD'VE JUST KEPT THAT
UM, I AM TOO, UH, UM, I'M NOT A VETERAN, BUT, UM, I'M A MILITARY BRAT.
MY MOTHER IS A LIEUTENANT COLONEL, UM, AND RETIRED.
AND MY DAD RETIRED, UH, FROM THE ARMY.
AND, UM, AND WHEN I WAS ASKED TO BE A PART OF THIS, I JUMPED, I JUMPED AT IT BECAUSE IT'S, UH, IT'S A LOT OF GRATITUDE AND HONOR THAT I GIVE TO OUR SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN AND, UM, TO BE ABLE TO DO SO.
UM, I THOUGHT THIS PIECE WOULD BE FITTING.
SO IF Y'ALL WOULD LIKE TO HEAR SOME POETRY, HERE WE GO.
UM, THERE IS A HONORING THAT'S HELD, BUT IT IS NOT TANGIBLE TO SALUTE.
HEROES WILL NEVER BE AS MUCH AS A MATCH, NOR AS AMICABLE.
WE OWE OUR DEBTS TO PEOPLE IN UNIFORM LIVES, LAID ON THE LINES, LINES DRAWN WITH THEIR BODIES.
AND EVERYBODY THAT SERVED KNEW THAT THEIR PURPOSE WAS NOT GOING TO BE A SWERVING OF A GUESS.
BUT IT WILL ALSO BE LEAVING A CURSE THAT WE WILL INHERIT AS SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
COULD WE NOT BE SEEN AS CURTAINS? THIS IS THE EXISTENCE THAT'S BEYOND THE MEDALS AND THE AWARDS WE LEAVE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
A MANTRA OF LIVES SAVED ALSO BECAME ONE OF SOME LIVES THAT WERE LOST.
THIS IS AN EXTENSION OF HOUSTON'S HEARTS PROVING THAT OUR STRENGTH FOR
[00:10:01]
THE FOUR, FOR THE 543 SOLDIERS WHO FOUGHT ON OUR BEHALF OF OUR NATION FOR PEOPLE THAT THEY WOULD NEVER HAVE A CHANCE TO MEET.OUR GRATITUDE IS HELD, BUT IT IS NOT TANGIBLE.
BUT FOR OUR MEMORIAL, I HOPE THIS GRATITUDE IS MOST DEFINITELY FELT.
I MAY HAVE TO TAPE THIS MIC TO MY ARM, BUT, UH, WE'LL, WE'LL DO THE BEST WE CAN.
CHAIRMAN OF THE SOUTHWEST REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND TOURS 20.
I AM HONORED ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD TO WELCOME YOU TO THIS SPECIAL MOMENT ON A SPECIAL WEEKEND AND A SPECIAL TIME FOR HOUSTON AND OUR NATION.
UH, I IF TAKE JUST A BRIEF MOMENT AND ASK MY BOARD TO STAND, IF YOU WOULD.
UH, WE'RE A VOLUNTEER BOARD APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR.
UH, IF, UH, MEMBERS OF THET 20 BOARD, PLEASE STAND.
UH, SO MAYOR, UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE CONFUSE ED AND I AT A DISTANCE 'CAUSE WE HAVE A SIMILAR PHYSIQUE.
UM, WHAT DO, WHAT DO YOU THINK? VERY CLOSE.
WE HONOR AND REMEMBER ALL THE US ARMED SERVICE MEMBERS WHO SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES TO PROTECT OUR FREEDOM.
BUT WHILE MEMORIAL DAY COMES ONCE A YEAR, THE PHYSICAL MEMORIAL WE ARE SHARING TODAY WILL BE A CONSTANT AND PERMANENT EXAMPLE OF THE SACRIFICE.
THE GOVERNMENT ENTITY I REPRESENT IS HONORED TO SERVE ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE PARTS OF OUR UNIQUE AND DIVERSE CITY.
SO WE ARE HAPPY THAT THE MEMORIAL WILL IN TURN SOME OF OUR THOUGHTS TO OUR NEIGHBORS, UH, WHO CAME HERE TO HOUSTON, FROM VIETNAM, AS WELL AS THEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.
HOUSTON IS A BETTER PLACE BECAUSE OF THE VIETNAMESE AMERICAN COMMUNITY, AND WE HOPE YOU WILL SHARE IN MEANING OF THIS, IN THIS MEMORIAL.
UH, BUT THAT'S NOT ALL AT A TIME WHEN WE ALL SEEM TO EXPERIENCE, UH, VARIOUS, UH, DIVISIVENESS IN GOVERNMENT.
UH, THIS REGION, THIS CITY IS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF HOW GOVERNMENTS WORK TOGETHER.
UH, THIS, UH, IS, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S AMAZING HOW MANY, UH, PARTNERS WE HAVE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, UH, TO PULL THIS TOGETHER.
AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT COMMUNITY AND CITIZENSHIP AND CITIES, UH, SHOULD BE.
SO I'M VERY PROUD MAYOR OF OUR CITY AND SOUTHWEST HOUSTON FOR, UH, DOING THIS.
UH, AS ED MENTIONED, OUR, OUR PARTNERS IN THIS PROJECT, UH, MAYOR TURNER, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, UH, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF VETERAN AND MILITARY AFFAIRS, AND THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT HAVE ALL COME TOGETHER TO PRODUCE WHAT YOU SEE HERE TODAY, ALL SERVANT LEADERS.
SO, CAN WE HAVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THAT EFFORT? UH, WE HAVE A FEW ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE TODAY, WHICH I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE.
FIRST, OBVIOUSLY, MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER.
COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN, UH, HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER LESLIE BRIANIS.
UH, SENATOR TED CRUZ, REPRESENTATIVE, UH, KELLY WATERMAN.
UH, WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM, UH, TIFFANY THOMAS', DISTRICT F IF YOU WOULD STAND.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE ARE HONORED, UH, TO HAVE THE PRESENCE OF OUR GREAT CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THIS IS PART OF THIS PROJECT IS PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.
UH, PERS 20 IS PROUD TO HAVE SUPPLIED 1.3 MILLION, UH, OF SUPPORT FOR THIS, UH, MONUMENT.
UH, IN ADDITION TO THE $13 MILLION THAT WE PROVIDED FOR THIS, UH, HARRIS COUNTY,
[00:15:01]
CITY OF HOUSTON FLOOD PROJECT MAYOR, ALONG WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.UH, AND SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH, EVERYONE FEEL FREE TO WALK AROUND, UH, BUT WE HOPE TO DO MORE OF THIS KIND OF WORK IN THE FUTURE.
AND, UH, AND AGAIN, THANK YOU ED AND, AND YOUR DAD, UH, FOR THE INSPIRATION.
I'M GONNA PUT HER ON THE SPOT.
BUT REPRESENTING OUR COUNTRY IN THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP FOR BRIEF REMARKS, OUR CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE.
THE MAIN THING I CAN SAY IS THAT I'M HUMBLED TO BE HERE TODAY AND TO THANK COUNCILMAN POLLARD, HIS FAMILY, HIS FATHER, WHO, IF YOU COULD SEE HIM, IS ADORNED WITH THE MANY ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND MEDALS THAT YOU RECEIVED TO YOUR BROTHER, TO ALL OF THE VIETNAM VETS, AND CERTAINLY TO THE SCULPTURIST AND DESIGNER OF THIS MAGNIFICENT EFFORT TO OUR MAYOR, AND TO ALL OF THE REALLY STALWARTS OF SOUTHWEST HOUSTON.
I KNOW THAT WHEN YOU SPEAK OF NEIGHBORHOODS, SOUTHWEST WILL STAND UP AND SAY, OH, IT'S HOUSTON.
BUT WE'RE IN SOUTHWEST HOUSTON AND TO ALL OF THE BRANCHES, UH, THAT ARE HERE AS WE GO INTO THIS WEEKEND, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR BEING A MAYOR OF THE RESPECT FOR BOTH THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN AND THE VETERANS TO YOUR DYNAMIC TEAM, UH, THAT NIMBLE.
AND, UH, YOUR OFFICE IS SUPERB FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR VETERANS.
I WAS EXCITED WHEN YOU SAID THE TEARS, BECAUSE I'M IN LOVE WITH THEM FOR WHAT THEY DO TO ENHANCE OUR COMMUNITY TO ALL OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS.
YOU ARE MY FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES.
LET ME SIMPLY SAY, AS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL, A FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER MYSELF, WERE THE FIRST TO PUT AN MIA FLAG, WHICH I THINK STILL STANDS AT CITY HALL.
AND IN MY OFFICE IN WASHINGTON, OUTSIDE IS A FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES, A-P-O-W-M-I-A FLAG AS WELL OUTSIDE OF THE OFFICE, HAVING GONE TO VIETNAM AND TO MY WONDERFUL VIETNAM COMMUNITY AND ASIAN PACIFIC COMMUNITY IN THIS MONTH, UH, THAT WE HONOR THE GREAT LEADERSHIP OF ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDERS.
IT IS AN IMPORTANT STATEMENT TO MAKE.
AND AS I WENT TO VIETNAM AND I WENT TO THE HANOI HOTEL AND SAW JOHN MCCAIN'S UNIFORM, I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING BUT EXPRESS AND RECOGNIZED THE VALUE, THE BLOODSHED AND THE PATRIOTISM OF VIETNAM VETS.
THEY STAND ALONG THE SHOULDERS OF THE FIGHTERS IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR IN EVERY WAR SENSE.
AND SO TODAY, IT IS BEFITTING THAT YOU HAVE COME TO GIVE US A SPACE TO COME AND SHOW HONOR.
WE HONOR YOU FOR THAT VISION AND LEADERSHIP THAT WE NOW CAN COME IN THE QUIET MOMENTS OF OUR LIFE HERE IN HOUSTON.
AND JUST TAKE, WHETHER IT IS ON MEMORIAL DAY OR ANY OTHER DAY, TAKE A MOMENT TO BOW IN RESPECT.
WE ARE A COUNTRY OF DEMOCRACY BECAUSE WE ARE UNITED UNDER THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, NO MATTER WHERE WE CAME FROM.
AND OUR FREEDOM IS INVESTED IN THE UNSELFISH WEARING OF THE UNIFORM OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY TRIBUTE TO ALL OF YOU.
GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU, AND GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
NOW, AS WE'VE RECOGNIZED ALL OF THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, THE LEADERSHIP OF THE TURS OF THE MANY DIFFERENT CIVIC AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE HAVE HERE, NOTHING CAN MOVE WITHOUT THE SAY SO OF THE MAYOR.
HE GIVES THE FINAL APPROVAL ON EACH AND EVERY DEPARTMENT.
HE GIVES THE FINAL APPROVAL ON THE DOLLARS THAT ARE ALLOCATED.
HE GIVES THE FINAL APPROVAL ON THE DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP AND WHAT THEY WILL PRIORITIZE.
NOTHING HERE, UH, COULD HAPPEN WITHOUT HIS VISION, HIS ENCOURAGEMENT, HIS LEADERSHIP.
SO I WANT TO BRING UP THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THE HONORABLE SYLVESTER TURNER
[00:20:05]
COUNCIL MEMBER.P*****K GIVES THE MAYOR WAY TOO MUCH CREDIT,
UH, BUT LET ME, LET ME START OFF AND SAY WHAT A GREAT DAY THIS IS, UH, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
COMMISSIONER BROWN IS IN HARRIS COUNTY.
UM, AND I DO WANT TO GIVE, UM, CREDIT TO WHERE CREDIT IS DUE.
COMMISSIONER POLL DID, COMMISSIONER COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD DID COME TO ME, UM, THREE YEARS AGO, UH, ABOUT THIS VIETNAM, UM, MEMORIAL.
UM, HIS IDEA, UM, HE PUSHED IT, UH, WANTED IT TO TAKE PLACE.
UH, SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE HIS LEADERSHIP, UM, FOR HELPING TO BRING THIS DAY TO EXISTENCE.
AND AT THE SAME TIME IN LISTENING TO HIM, UH, IN HONORING HIS FATHER AND SO MANY OTHER MEN AND WOMEN, UH, WHO FOUGHT, UH, IN THE VIETNAM WAR.
UM, SO WHAT A FITTING TRIBUTE, NOT TO JUST HIS FATHER, BUT TO SO MANY OTHERS.
PLEASE GIVE IT UP AGAIN TO COUNCIL MEMBER EDWARD P*****K.
I'M NOT GONNA REPEAT ALL OF THE NAMES, UH, 'CAUSE WE'VE THANKED PEOPLE, UH, OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
UM, I WILL BE REMISS NOT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AGAIN, THOUGH TAR 20, UH, WELCOME WILSON JR.
UM, MANY TIMES PEOPLE WILL QUESTION, UM, THE NEED FOR TURS.
UM, BUT I WILL SAY TO YOU, IN THE ABSENCE OF THESE TURS, UH, TODAY WOULD NOT BE HAPPENING.
UH, WHEN TURS DO THEIR JOB AND THEY DO IT RIGHT, THEN THE ENTIRE CITY BENEFITS.
SO TO TURS 20, TOTS 20, UH, LET ME THANK, LET ME THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
LET ME THANK YOU FOR THE CONTRIBUTION YOU HAVE MADE OF $1.3 MILLION, UH, ALL OF THE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS YOU'VE MADE FOR OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, FOR THE LEADERSHIP THAT'S BEEN DEMONSTRATED.
PLEASE GIVE IT UP AGAIN FOR TERRA 20.
NOW, THE, THE, UH, THE MAYOR'S DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH.
UH, IT IS NOT A DEPARTMENT WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE.
UH, BUT ONE THING I KNOW ABOUT VETERANS, THEY CAN TAKE A LITTLE AND DO A WHOLE LOT WITH.
AND WHAT THEY DO, THEY DO WELL.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, IF YOU WANT SOMETHING DONE, WELL TURN IT OVER TO A VETERAN AND THAT VETERAN WILL GET IT DONE.
AND SO, UM, I WANT TO GIVE A GREAT DEAL OF CREDIT.
I WANT TO GIVE A GREAT DEAL OF CREDIT TO DIRECTOR DEBO AND TO DR. JONES.
THANK YOU ALL SO VERY, VERY MUCH, UH, FOR WHAT YOU DO.
DOESN'T HE LOOK GOOD IN THAT WHITE? I TOLD HIM I'M GONNA HAVE TO GO BACK TO GET ME ONE OF THOSE UNIFORMS.
AND THEN OF COURSE, UH, TO JUDGE MARSHALL WITH MUNICIPAL COURT.
CHIEF PENA, WHO'S A VETERAN HIMSELF IS ALSO HERE WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR KENNY ALLEN AND PARKS AND REC.
I WANT TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO PARKS AND REC.
THEY ARE ALWAYS ON THE SPOT AND TO A GROUP THAT REALLY DOESN'T GET ENOUGH CREDIT, BUT DESERVES A GREAT DEAL OF CREDIT TO SPECIAL EVENTS.
SUSAN CHRISTIAN AND HER, HER ENTIRE TEAM, LEANNE, THE WHOLE TEAM, THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO.
ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THIS IS A GREAT DAY IS THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT DISTRICT J UH, THE DISTRICT, THAT COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD LEADS IS ONE OF, IF NOT THE MOST DIVERSE, UH, DISTRICT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, QUITE FRANKLY, MAY BE ONE OF THE DIVERSE COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES.
AND THIS DAY BECOMES EVEN MORE IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THE DIVERSITY OF OUR CITY.
WE ARE THE MOST DIVERSE CITY IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND WHAT MAKES THIS DAY EVEN MORE POIGNANT IS THAT IN THIS DISTRICT, AS WE UNVEIL SHOWCASE, UH, THE VIETNAM WAR MEMORIAL, UM, IS THE FACT THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF VIETNAMESE AMERICANS WHO ARE LIVING IN OUR CITY, WHO, ALONG WITH AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN WHO DIED VIETNAMESE, WHO DIED ALONG WITH THEM, AND WHO FLED THEIR COUNTRY TO BE RIGHT HERE AND WHO HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH TO THIS CITY.
AND IT RECOGNIZES THAT WE CAN BE DIVERSE, BUT BEING DIVERSE AND STOPPING THERE IS NOT ENOUGH.
[00:25:01]
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE AT THE SAME TIME.AND WHEN I LOOK OUT INTO THIS AUDIENCE, WHEN I LOOK OUT INTO THE AUDIENCE, THE SACRIFICE OF MEN AND WOMEN DURING THE VIETNAM WAR IS SHOWING THE FRUITS OF THOSE SACRIFICES BY THE DIVERSITY AND THE INCLUSIVITY THAT EXISTS AND LIVE IN OUR CITY, IN OUR RESTAURANTS, OUR BUSINESSES, OUR COLLEGES, AND OUR UNIVERSITIES ALL THROUGHOUT OUR CITY, YOU WILL SEE FOLK WHO FLED THEIR COUNTRY, WHO ARE HERE WORKING RIGHT ALONGSIDE WITH EVERYBODY WHO WERE NATIVE OF HOUSTONIANS.
THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF OUR CITY.
AND THAT'S WHAT'S SO A POIGNANT ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
IT'S AN HONOR TO BE A PART OF THE FIRST MEMORIAL DEDICATED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND ON THIS DAY, WE HONOR 543 SERVICE MEMBERS FROM THE HOUSTON AND SURROUNDING AREAS WHO WERE KILLED IN ACTION DURING THE VIETNAM CONFLICT.
AND THE COUNCIL MEMBER WAS RIGHT WHEN THESE VETERANS CAME BACK HOME.
THEY WERE NOT GREETED WITH PARADES AND BANNERS AND, UH, UH, WITH ALL OF THE ACCOLADES THAT ONE WOULD EXPECT, BUT A GRATEFUL COUNTRY RECOGNIZES WHERE IT WENT WRONG.
AND A GRATEFUL COUNTRY DOES EVERYTHING ITSELF TO CORRECT WHAT IT SHOULD HAVE DONE YEARS AGO.
AND TODAY IN THIS CITY, WE LIFT UP EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT SACRIFICED WAS IN VIETNAM, WHETHER THEY CAME BACK OR NOT.
WE LIFT THEM UP AND WE SAY THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERYONE.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
THE NAMES, THE NAMES ETCHED IN THIS VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL REMIND US OF OUR LOVED ONES WHO GAVE THEIR ALL AND NEVER CAME HOME TO THE FAMILIES AND SURVIVORS.
OF THE 543 SERVICE MEMBERS FROM HOUSTON AND THE SEVERAL SURROUNDING COUNTIES WHOSE NAMES ARE MEMORIALIZED IN THESE MARBLE UPRIGHT SLABS, WE PLEDGED TO NEVER FORGET THE ETERNAL SACRIFICE OF YOUR LOVED ONES AND WHAT YOU HAVE SACRIFICED FOR OUR NATION.
AS OF JANUARY 24TH, 2023, 1,550, SERVICE MEMBERS ARE STILL CONSIDERED MISSING IN ACTION.
AND AS THEIR FAMILIES AWAIT WORD OF THEIR FAITH, THIS NATION CONTINUES ITS DILIGENT WORK TO FULFILL ITS PROMISE TO BRING THEM HOME TO THE VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS HERE REPRESENTING THE UNITED STATES ARMY, THE MARINES, THE NAVY, AIR FORCE, COAST GUARD, AND SPACE FORCE.
THANK YOU FOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND ANSWERING THE CALL TO GIVE UP THE COMFORTS OF CIVILIAN LIFE.
DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO KEEP US SAFE AND GO WHEREVER YOU ARE NEEDED TO TODAY.
WE HONOR YOU AND BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE, PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF AND OTHERS CAN GO TO CITY HALL.
WE HAVE THE FREEDOMS THAT WE ENJOY TODAY.
AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF JUST WHAT WE DID, BUT IT'S BECAUSE OF THE SACRIFICES OF SO MANY OTHERS AND MANY WHO PAID THE ALTMAN SACRIFICE THROUGH THIS COMMEMORATION.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON JOINS WITH ALL CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT CITY TO HONOR AND REMEMBER OUR VIETNAM VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR THEIR SERVICE, THEIR SACRIFICE, AND THEIR V FOR ME, AND ALMOST EIGHT YEARS OF SERVICE, A COUNCIL MEMBER.
THIS WAS A VERY SPECIAL DAY BECAUSE, UM, IN OUR CITY, WE LIFT UP EVERYONE.
WE STRIVE EVERY DAY TO BE INCLUSIVE.
BUT WE NEVER REACHED A POINT WHERE WE SAY, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED BECAUSE MISSION IS NOT ACCOMPLISHED.
UNTIL WE RECOGNIZE THOSE WHO PAVED THE WAY TO BRING US WHERE WE ARE TO THIS DAY, AND BECAUSE OF THEM, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A GREATER FUTURE
[00:30:02]
IF WE NOW DO OUR PART.THAT'S HOW WE HONOR THOSE WHO PAY THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR THE REST OF US TO DO OUR PART AS WE MOVE INTO THE FUTURE.
SO THE COUNCIL MEMBER TO YOUR LOVELY WIFE, VANESSA, TO YOUR SON, LET ME THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
LEADERSHIP MATTERS EVEN WHEN YOU HAVE A WEAK MAYOR.
WHAT YOU WILL SEE HERE TODAY WILL BE A MONUMENT THAT TRULY TELLS THE HOUSTON STORY.
OKAY? YOU WILL SEE A MONUMENT THAT PAYS HONOR AND RESPECT TO THOSE THAT WE LOST.
YOU ALSO SEE A MONUMENT THAT SPEAKS ABOUT THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME, WHO DID NOT GET A PROPER THANK YOU, WHO DID NOT GET A PROPER.
WE DID NOT GET A PROPER, WE LOVE YOU AND WE VALUE YOU, AND WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE PROVIDE YOU EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO BE A SUCCESS BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU DID FOR THIS COUNTRY.
MYSELF, MY OFFICE, ALONG WITH THE TURS 20 BOARD, AND A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO DAVID HAWES AND HIS LEADERSHIP, MY FATHER, MY GODFATHER, RONNIE EVANS, WHO WAS HERE, WHO SERVED IN THE ARMY IN THE VIETNAM WAR.
THIS IS A INSPIRATION THAT THEY PUT FORTH, THAT NOW WE'RE ABLE TO NOT ONLY SHOW HOUSTON, BUT IT WILL BE A SYMBOL TO ALL PEOPLE WHO COME AND VISIT OUR GREAT CITY THAT WE RESPECT.
WE PAY TRIBUTE AND WE GIVE HONOR TO ALL THOSE WHO SERVE IN THE VIETNAM WAR.
AND WE ALSO WANT TO GIVE TRIBUTE TO THE VIETNAMESE COMMUNITY.
THOSE WHO STOOD BY OUR SIDE, THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ALLIES THROUGH THIS ENTIRE FIGHT, THOSE WHO MADE THEIR WAY TO HOUSTON, THOSE WHO THEN STARTED A LIFE HERE IN HOUSTON.
THEIR STORY, THEIR SACRIFICE, THEIR PRIDE, AND THEIR AMERICAN'S DREAM IS GONNA BE ALSO REALIZED IN THIS MONUMENT.
SO WE'RE GETTING TOWARDS THE END OF THIS PROGRAM.
WE DEFINITELY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AND UNVEIL THIS MEMORIAL, BUT BEFORE WE DO, WE WILL HAVE A 21 GUN SALUTE PRESENTED BY THE AMERICAN LEGION, HARRISBURG POST 4 72 HONOR GUARD, FOLLOWED BY TAPS, PLAYED BY SENIOR AIRMAN, ANGELA HAWKS JOHNSON.
AND WE'LL ALSO HAVE MY CHIEF OF STAFF, PAUL YOUNG, WHO WILL COME AND GIVE DIRECTIONS ON HOW WE WILL CONVENE AND MAKE OUR WAY TO THE MONUMENT.
I WANNA THANK THE MAYOR FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE CITY COUNCILMAN AND HIS CHIEF OF STAFF FOR REACHING OUT TO OUR OFFICE.
I JUST WANNA SHARE ONE EXPERIENCE.
IN MY OTHER YEARS IN, IN THE NAVY, I RECEIVED A ORDER, MY ORDERS TO NEXT, UH, DUTY STATION.
AND THEY HAD SPECIAL TRAINING IN MY ORDERS.
I THOUGHT THEY MADE A MISTAKE, BUT THEY DIDN'T.
I WENT THROUGH MY SPECIAL TRAINING, THEN I REPORTED BOARD, BOARD TO MY NEXT COMMAND.
AND ONCE I REPORT A BOARD IN TWO WEEKS, WE WENT OUT THERE IN THE WOODS, UH, JUNGLE WELFARE TYPE THINGS.
BUT I MUST SAY, I CAN IMAGINE MY CONRAD OUT THERE IN VIETNAM, IN THE WOODS FOR YEARS, AND I JUST WALKED OUT THERE FOR, FOR ONE MONTH.
I JUST TO SAY ONE THING, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
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RECOGNIZE YOU, YOU, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS TO THE HEART.AND NOW I'D LIKE TO REC, UH, RECOGNIZE ALL THE VETERANS FROM VIETNAM ERA.
STAND ON BOTH SIDE OF THE HALL.
I'M WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF VETERAN AND MILITARY AFFAIRS.
SO TODAY IS A SPECIAL DAY FOR OUR OFFICE.
AND AS THE MAYOR SAID, THERE'S ONLY TWO OF US IN OUR OFFICE, BUT WE DO OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON PROUD.
HOUSTON HAS THE SECOND LARGEST NUMBER OF VETERANS IN THE COUNTRY, HOUSTON.
SO IN 2017, CONGRESS DECIDED TO SET ASIDE A DAY EVERY YEAR WHERE WE TAKE A MOMENT TO HONOR THOSE WHO WENT TO VIETNAM.
SOME RETURNED, SOME DIDN'T, AND SOME ARE STILL THERE MENTALLY.
SO MARCH 29TH, EVERY YEAR YOU CAN COUNT ON THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO HAVE A CEREMONY TO HONOR THOSE WHO SERVE IN VIETNAM.
SO AGAIN, FOR THE VIETNAM VETERANS, THANK YOU ALL, UM, FOR, FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND FOR THE FAMILY MEMBERS, JUDGE MARSHALL, I REMEMBER HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH YOU WHEN I FIRST MET YOU, AND YOU SAID THAT YOU WOULD WRITE LETTERS TO YOUR DAD, AND YOU REMEMBER HIS A PO NUMBER, HIS A PO ADDRESS IN 2023.
AND SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR, YOUR FATHER'S SERVICE.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE IN YOUR, IN YOUR, UH, DAD'S HONOR AND TO OUR PURPLE HEART VETERANS, I CANNOT GO FURTHER WITHOUT SAYING TO OUR PURPLE HEART VETERANS, YOU DID ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMEONE BESIDE YOU MADE IT TO SAFETY.
SO OUR PURPLE HEART VETERANS, IF YOU CAN WAVE YOUR HANDS, PURPLE HEART, VIETNAM VETERANS, AND TO A POPULATION OF PEOPLE THAT WE DON'T ALWAYS THINK ABOUT OUR WOMEN VETERANS, WERE IN VIETNAM AS WELL.
IF YOU'RE A WOMAN VETERAN AND YOU SERVED IN VIETNAM, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR, FOR, UH, JUST BEING HERE AND SUPPORTING THESE VIETNAM VETERANS.
SO AGAIN, EVERY YEAR, MARCH 29TH, YOU CAN JUST COUNT ON US TO HAVE A PROGRAM FOR OUR VIETNAM VETERANS.
I THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE, AND THANK YOU FOR SERVING THIS COUNTRY.
SO BEFORE WE GO TO THE 21 GUN SALUTE, AS WELL AS TAPS, I DO WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE, AND THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT.
A LOT OF THIS COORDINATION FOR THIS EVENT, THE TRANSPORTATION, THE LOGISTICS, UH, A, A GREAT DEAL OF CREDIT GOES TO THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT AND OUR HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.