* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:16] IT IS TEXAS WOMEN VETERANS DAY. I LITERALLY WOKE UP LAST NIGHT ABOUT 1202, LIKE IT WAS CHRISTMAS EVE. THIS IS TEXAS WOMEN VETERANS DAY. SO WE WANT TO HEAR A LOT OF CHEERING, A LOT OF CLAPPING BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME LIVING LEGENDS IN THE ROOM THAT WE'RE GONNA HONOR TODAY. ALL RIGHT, SO I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND TURN, OH, LET ME INTRODUCE MYSELF. MY NAME IS DR. LASANDRA JONES. I'M HERE WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, MAYOR'S OFFICE OF VETERAN AND MILITARY AFFAIRS, AND MY DIRECTOR, DIRECTOR DEMO. WAVE YOUR HAND. SO HE'S NAVY. I'M MARINE, SO WE WORK WELL TOGETHER. OKAY. SO I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND TURN IT OVER TO, UM, SPIKE GARCIA, OUR MC OF THE DAY. WOO. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS SPIKE GARCIA. I'M A RETIRED SENIOR MASTER SERGEANT FOR AIR NATIONAL GUARD, AND I WILL SERVE AS YOUR MC THIS AFTERNOON. THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF VETERAN AFFAIRS WELCOMES YOU TO THE TEXAN WOMEN'S VETERAN DAY, CELEBRATING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF WOMEN ARMED SERVICES INTEGRATION ACT. FOR THOSE WHO ARE PHYSICALLY ABLE, PLEASE STAND FOR THE PRESENTATION OF COLORS AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AND THE INVOCATION COLOR. READY CUT. BEFORE MARK LEFT, LEFT, LEFT, LEFT TIME MARK LEFT, LEFT. COLOR THREE. THAT COLOR OH, SAY, CAN YOU SEE BY THE DAWNS EARLY LIGHT, WHAT'S SO PROUD, THE LAST GLEAMING, WHO'S BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS THROUGH THE FIGHT OR THE RAM PARTS WE WATCHED WERE SO STREAMING AND THE PALMS BURST IN AIR THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE. OH, SAY THAT. STAR SPAN THE LAND OF THE BREAD. JERRY COLORS. READY, CUT. LEFT TURN. MARCH LEFT, LEFT FOUR MARCH LEFT, LEFT. COLOR GUARD, PULL ORDER, COLOR CUT, ROLL OUT. GOOD AFTERNOON. WILL YOU PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS FOR A WORD OF PRAYER? ALMIGHTY GOD. TODAY WE REMEMBER THE MANY WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED IN OUR ARMED FORCES AND THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE LOVED THEM, MISSED THEIR PRESENCE, INTERCEDED IN PRAYER FOR THEM AND REJOICED IN THEIR RETURN. WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT MANY FAMILIES DID NOT SEE THEIR LOVED ONES RETURN BECAUSE THEY GAVE THEIR LIVES IN DEFENSE OF FREEDOM. [00:05:01] AND THIS LAND THAT WE LOVE. MAY WE NEVER FORGET THE SACRIFICES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY THESE COURAGEOUS WOMEN. LORD, FOR EVERY WOMAN WHO HAS FAITHFULLY SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES GRANT THAT YOU WOULD BLESS THEM FOR THEIR HARDSHIPS THAT THEY FACED, THE SACRIFICES THAT THEY MADE, AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS THAT THEY MADE IN SERVICE TO THIS GREAT NATION. AND LASTLY, PLEASE PROVIDE PROTECTION AND SPIRITUAL STRENGTH TO THE WOMEN WHO ARE CURRENTLY SERVING THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. AND WE ASK THIS IN YOUR HOLY NAME. OH MAN, PLEASE BE SEATED. I'D LIKE TO THANK THE TEXAS CITY HIGH SCHOOL, MARINE JUNIOR LTC, FOR PRESENTATION AND COLORS. LET'S HAVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THEM. I ALSO WANNA THANK SENIOR MASTER SERGEANT PROMISE HARRIS SIGNED TO 1 47 TAC WING FOR AMAZING RENDITION OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. LUNA, AND THANK YOU CHAPLAIN. AND LUNA RETIRED US AIR FORCE VETERAN FOR THE INVOCATION. IT IS MY PLEASURE INTRODUCE THE MAYOR OF HOUSTON, THE HONORABLE SYLVESTER TURNER WHO WILL MAKE A PRES, UH, MAKE A PROCLAMATION. MAYOR TURNER, THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH, AND GOOD AFTERNOON TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. UH, IT CERTAINLY IS AN HONOR TO JOIN, UH, YOU AND TO STAND WITH MY OFFICE OF VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO CELEBRATE TEXAS WOMEN VETERANS DAY AND ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF THE WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED AND SACRIFICED FOR OUR COUNTRY. GIVE IT UP TO ALL THE WOMEN. AND JOINING ME TODAY ARE, UH, SEVERAL MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. UH, LET ME ACKNOWLEDGE THEM. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS AND COUNCIL MEMBER CO. CISNEROS. AND I DON'T THINK, AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE RON REYNOLDS IS ALSO, IS ALSO PRESENT. I TELL YOU, WE HAVE MORE WOMEN SERVING ON CITY COUNCIL TODAY THAN WE HAVE EVER HAD. SO, UM, THROUGHOUT OUR NATION'S HISTORY, WOMEN HAVE SERVED HONORABLY AND COURAGEOUSLY BOTH ON AND OFF THE BATTLEFIELD. WOMEN WERE FIRST ALLOWED TO SERVE THE NATION DURING WARTIME IN LIMITED AND TRADITIONAL GENDER ROLES, SUCH AS NURSES, COOKS, AND OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE ROLES. BUT THAT WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH WITH AS MANY AS 1000 WOMEN GOING AS FAR AS TO DISGUISE THEMSELVES AS MEN JUST TO BE ABLE TO FIGHT FOR THEIR COUNTRY. THEN DURING WORLD WAR I, WOMEN WERE ALLOWED TO ENLIST IN THE NAVY AS Y YEOMAN AND THE MARINE CORPS AND RE RESERVISTS TO SERVE ON THE HOME FRONT, FILLING IN FOR MEN WHO WERE DEPLOYED IN EUROPE DURING WORLD WAR II. THE FORMATION OF SPECIAL UNITS INCLUDED THE WOMEN'S ACCEPTED FOR VOLUNTEERS, EMERGENCY SERVICE WAVES, WOMEN ARMY CORPS WAX, THE COAST GUARD WOMEN RESERVES, SPARS WOMEN, AIR FORCE SERVICE PILOTS, WASP AND THE MARINE CORPS WOMEN'S RESERVE WS ALLOWING WOMEN TO BEGIN SERVING IN THE POSITIONS PREVIOUSLY RESERVED FOR MEN. THANKFULLY, ON JUNE 12TH, 1948, THE WOMEN'S ARMED SERVICES INTEGRATION ACT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW BY PRESIDENT HARRY S TRUMAN THIS YEAR, THIS YEAR MARKS THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY. THE ACT ACKNOWLEDGED THE GREAT CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY WOMEN IN THE MILITARY AND FINALLY ENABLED THEM TO SERVE AS REGULAR MEM MEMBERS OF THE US ARMED FORCES AND RESERVES IN TIMES OF BOTH PEACE AND WAR. IN 2017, A BILL WAS FILED IN THE TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE VICTORIA NEEVA TO DESIGNATE JUNE 12TH AS TEXAS WOMEN VETERANS DAY, AND WAS SIGNED INTO LAW THE SAME YEAR BY GOVERNOR ABBOTT. SINCE THE PASSING OF THIS LEGISLATION, WOMEN VETERANS ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS HAVE GATHERED TOGETHER EACH JUNE 12TH TO VALIDATE, COMMEMORATE, AND CELEBRATE THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF WOMEN IN THE ARMED FORCES. PAST AND PRESENT, I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCIL MEMBER EDWARD POLLARD FROM DISTRICT J. OUR WOMEN VETERANS HAVE SERVED IN EVERY BRANCH OF THE MILITARY [00:10:01] AND IN EVERY ERA DURING PEACE AND DURING WAR, THEY CONTRIBUTE TO OUR COMMUNITY AT EVERY LEVEL, SUCH AS IN LARGE AND SMALL BUSINESSES, GOVERNMENT SERVICES, NONPROFIT, LEADERSHIPS, COURTROOMS, FIRST RESPONDERS, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND MANY OTHER CAREERS. JUNE 12TH IS A DAY TO HONOR WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED AND REFLECT ON THEIR DEDICATION TO OUR NATION. THEY ARE OUR GRANDMOTHERS, MOTHERS, DAUGHTERS, NEIGHBORS, AND COWORKERS. THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS CONTINUES TO HAVE THE LARGEST POPULATION OF WOMEN VETERANS IN THE COUNTRY AT APPROXIMATELY 200,000. TODAY, WOMEN ARE SERVING IN GREATER NUMBERS IN COMBAT AND LEADERSHIP ROLES IN THE NATION AND AROUND THE WORLD. NO LONGER USING THE SLOGAN FREE A MAN TO FIGHT. AND SO LET'S SHOW OUR APPRECIATION BY THANKING THEM FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS WHILE SERVING IN THE ARMY, THE NAVY, MARINES, AIR FORCE, SPACE FORCE, AND COAST GUARD HAPPY WOMEN'S VETERANS DAY. WHERE DID DR. WHERE DID DR. JONES GO? WHY DON'T YOU COME FORTH AND IF MY, IF MY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD JUST COME AND STAND RIGHT HERE FOR A MOMENT. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECOGNIZES THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ONE OF THE WOMEN ARMED SERVICE INTEGRATION ACT, SIGNED BY PRESIDENT HARRY AS TRUMAN ON JUNE 12TH, 1948, ALLOWING WOMEN TO BECOME MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES, THE STATE OF TEXAS DURING THE 85TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION PASSED SENATE BILL 8 0 5, WHICH WAS LATER, AND DR. JONES AND DIRECTOR BILL STAN , WHICH WAS LATER SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR, RECOGNIZING JUNE 12 AS TEXAS WOMEN VETERANS DAY. AND WHEREAS TEXAS HAS THE LARGEST POPULATION OF WOMEN VETERANS IN THE UNITED STATES AND ITS TERRITORIES, WE'RE CLOSE TO 200,000 WOMEN VETERANS ON THIS DAY, JUNE 12TH, 2023. WE TAKE THIS DESIGNATED TIME TO HONOR AND ACKNOWLEDGE ALL WOMEN VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVED IN OUR NATION'S ARMED FORCES. THOUGH WOMEN HAVE ALWAYS FOUND A WAY TO SERVE THIS GREAT NATION TODAY, IT IS WITH GREAT RESPECT. WE PAY TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO RAISE THEIR RIGHT HAND TO PROTECT THE VERY FREEDOMS WE APPRECIATE TODAY WITH TEXAS LEADING THE WAY AS THE FIRST STATE TO CREATE A DAY TO RECOGNIZE WOMEN, VETERANS, OTHER STATES HAVE FOLLOWED SUIT, ALSO RECOGNIZING JUNE 12 AS WOMEN VETERANS DAY. AND WHEREAS TODAY IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON IDENTIFIES AND THANKS THE BRAVE WOMEN WHO HAVE CHOSEN TO ANSWER THE NATION'S CALL TO SERVE, DEFEND, AND PROTECT. WE VALUE YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WOULD LIKE TO SHARE YOUR COURAGEOUS STORIES. YOUR STORIES EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATION OF WOMEN WHO ARE LOOKING TO YOU FOR ENCOURAGEMENT. YOU HAVE PAVED THE WAY IN YOUR STORIES. LEAVE A LEGACY. THERE IS NOT ONE WHO HAS RAISED THEIR RIGHT HAND TO SERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND, WHO IS NOT WORTHY OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, NO MATTER THE SIZE OF THE SACRIFICE, ALL WHO HAVE ACCEPTED THE CALL OF DUTY DESERVE THE UTMOST GRATITUDE AND WE SALUTE YOU FOR YOUR MILITARY SERVICE. SO THEREFORE, I SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, DO HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM JUNE 12TH, 2023 AS WOMEN'S VETERANS DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND ENCOURAGE THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON TO WELCOME ALL WOMEN VETERANS AND THANK THEM FOR MAKING THE SACRIFICE FOR OUR COUNTRY TO ENSURE THE FREEDOM AND LIBERTIES WE ENJOY AS AMERICANS TODAY. THANK ALL THE WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY WELL. WILL ALL THE WOMEN VETERANS? ALL THE WOMEN VETERANS? IF YOU DON'T MIND, IF YOU CAN, IF YOU'LL JUST STAND ALL THE WOMEN VETERANS, IF YOU DON'T MIND. IF YOU CAN'T, WHAT AN AMAZING, WHAT, WHAT IS AN AMAZING, AMAZING DAY, WHICH ALSO SIGNIFIES JUST HOW FAR THIS COUNTRY HAS COME. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. PLEASE BE PLEASE BE SEATED, [00:15:05] MR. GARCIA. I'LL GIVE IT BACK TO YOU. THANK YOU, MARY TURNER. NEXT ALL I'D LIKE TO DO IS I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF INTRODUCING TO OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER. I GOT TO KNOW HER OVER THE LAST YEAR. SHE HAS INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENTS, UH, THROUGH IN, IN THE MARINE CORPS THAT HAS BEEN GROUNDBREAKING. PLEASE WELCOME MARQUIS, NO SPEAKER, MAJOR KATIE HIGGINS COOK, US MARINE CORPS RESERVE. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING ME TODAY. I FOUND OUT LAST WEEK THAT THIS EVENT WAS, HAD ACTUALLY REACHED CAPACITY AND THERE WERE OTHERS STILL CALLING TO ATTEND. AND THAT'S JUST A TESTAMENT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND ITS SUPPORT TO THE VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS HERE IN THE COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. BEFORE I GET STARTED, I WANTED TO EXTEND A SPECIAL WELCOME TO MAYOR TURNER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE, AND OF COURSE OUR HONORED FEMALE VETERANS IN ATTENDANCE TODAY. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. NOW, SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE READ MY BIO SPIKE GAVE ME AND, AND, UH, DR. JONES GAVE ME LIKE A WHOLE PAGE. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT SHOUT OUT. BUT I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING IN THE MARINE CORPS FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS WITH ONE OF MY MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS, BEING THE FIRST WOMAN TO FLY WITH THE ILLUSTRIOUS BLUE ANGELS. WOO, I GET COMMENTS ALL THE TIME, LIKE IT MUST HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT OR A LOT OF EFFORT TO BE THE FIRST. AND I'M NOT GOING TO LIE AND SAY IT WAS ALL RAINBOWS AND BUTTERFLIES. I OFTEN SAY THAT YOU DON'T BREAK A GLASS CEILING WITHOUT GETTING CUT UP ALONG THE WAY. I WOULD'VE, BUT I WOULD'VE NEVER HAD THESE EXPERIENCES I'VE HAD, HAD THE CAREER THAT I'VE HAD LIVED, THE LIFE THAT I HAVE TODAY WITHOUT THE SACRIFICE AND EFFORTS OF THE FEMALE VETERANS THAT CAME BEFORE ME. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, AS THE MAYOR EXPLAINED TODAY, JUNE 12TH MARKS THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PASSING OF THE WOMEN'S ARMED SERVICE INTEGRATION ACT, WHICH ENABLED WOMEN TO SERVE AS A PERMANENT REGULAR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES. PRIOR TO ITS PASSAGE, WOMEN WERE ONLY PERMITTED TO SERVE IN TIMES OF WAR. THIS ACT IS THE FOUNDATIONAL UNDERPINNING FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES AFFORDED TO WOMEN IN THE SERVICE TODAY. BUT I CANNOT OVEREMPHASIZE THIS ENOUGH. THE LAST 75 YEARS WAS NOT A PRIMROSE PATH FOR THOSE LADIES JOINING US TODAY AND ALL OTHERS WHO HAVE SERVED. IT WAS A KNOCKDOWN DRAG OUT FIGHT FOR EXISTENCE. THIS FIGHT WAS EVEN MORE CHALLENGING FOR WOMEN OF COLOR AND THOSE IN THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY. AFTER THE PASSAGE OF THE WOMEN'S ARMED SERVICES INTEGRATION ACT, IT TOOK 30 YEARS FOR WOMEN TO BE PERMITTED TO ATTEND SERVICE ACADEMIES. IT TOOK A, TOOK 50 YEARS FOR WOMEN TO SERVE ON SHIPS OR IN AIRCRAFT IN COMBAT. AND IT WASN'T UNTIL 2013, JUST 10 YEARS AGO, WHERE WOMEN WERE PERMITTED TO SERVE IN EVERY ROLE IN THE MILITARY. SO HOW DID WE GET HERE? EVERY STEP ALONG THE WAY WAS A WOMAN OR GROUP OF WOMEN WILLING TO TAKE UP SPACE AND SHOUT FROM THE ROOFTOPS THAT THEY DESERVE TO BE HERE. WHEN THEY WEREN'T GIVEN A SEAT AT THE TABLE, THEY WOULD GRAB THAT EXTRA CHAIR AND PULL IT UP TO THE TABLE THEMSELVES. IT WOULD'VE BEEN EASY TO STAY QUIET TO ACCEPT THINGS AS THEY WERE AND SIMPLY MOVE ON. BUT THAT IS NOT WHO THESE WOMEN ARE. THEY ARE WARRIORS. THEY RAISE THEIR RIGHT HAND AND SWORE TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY. DO YOU THINK SOMEONE LIKE THAT WOULD SIMPLY BACK DOWN WHEN THEIR SISTERS OF ARMS WERE FACED WITH ADVERSITY? ABSOLUTELY NOT. EVERY CHALLENGE TO THE STATUS QUO OVER THE LAST 75 YEARS, MOVED FEMALE SERVICE MEMBERS CLOSER AND CLOSER TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY. THE CHANGES IN PROGRESS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE ARMED FORCES FOR WOMEN WERE NOT BECAUSE SOME POLITICIANS GOT TOGETHER AND PASSED SOME LEGISLATION, NO OFFENSE, MAYOR TURNER . IT WAS BECAUSE OF THEM. I AND SO MANY OTHER SERVICE MEMBERS STAND ON THEIR SHOULDERS. IN FACT, WE'VE HAD SOME HISTORIC STRIDES IN THE LAST 10 YEARS WITH SEVERAL FIRSTS, INCLUDING MYSELF AS THE FIRST FEMALE TO FLY WITH THE BLUE ANGELS. AND 2015, THE FIRST WOMEN GRADUATED FROM ARMY RANGER SCHOOL. IN 2018, THE FIRST WOMAN MARINE LED AN INFANTRY PLATOON. AND IN 2022, WE HAD THE FIRST NUCLEAR POWERED CARRIER DEPLOY UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF A FEMALE COMMANDING OFFICER. [00:20:02] BUT WE WOULD'VE NEVER HAD THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO BREAK THE PROVERBIAL GLASS CEILING WITHOUT THOSE WHO MADE THE ROCKS FOR US TO THROW. BUT WE ARE NOT DONE IN THE ARMED SERVICES. WOMEN ARE STILL UNDERREPRESENTED IN LEADERSHIP AND REFORMS CAN STILL BE MADE WITH REGARDS TO CHILDCARE POLICY, FITNESS STANDARDS, PARENTAL LEAVE, AND MUCH MORE. AND SO MY PROMISE FOR THE LADIES HERE TODAY AND THOSE WHO CARVED THE PATH FOR ME, I WILL KEEP FIGHTING. I WILL USE YOUR EXAMPLE TO TAKE UP SPACE. I WILL MAKE PROGRESS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION. AND I ASK THAT ALL OF YOU HERE TODAY, WHETHER YOU'RE A VETERAN OR NOT, WHETHER YOU'RE A WOMAN OR NOT, TO JOIN ME IN THAT CHALLENGE, INEQUALITY CAN BE SEEN ACROSS OUR SOCIETY. USE THESE WOMEN AS AN EXAMPLE TO CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO, TAKE UP SPACE, BE LOUD, FIGHT FOR A SEAT AT THE TABLE, BECAUSE TOGETHER WE CAN, EVEN THE PLAYING FIELD FOR ALL THE MARINES LIKE TO USE THE TAGLINE AS THE FEW IN THE PROUD AND IN TRUE WOMANLY FASHION, FEMALE MARINES HAVE TAKEN IT, IMPROVED IT, AND REBRANDED OURSELVES AS THE FEWER AND THE PROUDER TO THE TEXAS FEMALE VETERANS IN ATTENDANCE TODAY, I AM SO PROUD TO BE AN EXTENSION OF YOUR LADIES LEGACY, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SACRIFICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MAJOR COOK. AT THIS TIME WE'D LIKE TO DO IS, YOU KNOW, THE PASSION OF THE NEXT TWO PEOPLE. I'M GONNA BE CALLING UP, UH, FOR IN THE VETERAN AND ALSO IN THE MILITARY SPACE FROM THE OFFICE OF VETERAN AFFAIRS, EXCUSE ME, FROM THE OFFICE OF VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS, CITY OF HOUSTON, MR. UH, DEBO DIRECTOR, NAVY VETERAN, AND ALSO, UH, DR. JONES, DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARINE CORPS. UM, SO WE'RE GONNA GET TO ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PART, WELL, ACTUALLY THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE PROGRAM, WHICH IS A PRESENTATION OF OUR HONOREES. BUT FIRST, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A VIDEO THAT WAS MADE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. SO WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE THIS VIDEO. AND ONE THING I DO WANNA SAY IS WE DID THIS IN 2018. THERE WERE SIX HONOREES. UM, FIVE OF THEM, FOUR OF THEM, I'M SORRY, HAVE PASSED AWAY. SO WE WANNA DO THIS IN THEIR HONOR, UM, TODAY. SO WE THINK ABOUT THEM, THOSE SAME WOMEN WHO WERE HERE IN 2018, THEY SERVED THEIR COUNTRY AND THEY GOT THEIR FLOWERS JUST IN TIME. SO WE'RE GONNA SHOW A QUICK VIDEO, UH, IN RECOGNITION OF OUR TODAY'S HONOREES. TEXAS WOMEN VETERANS DAY IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DAYS, UM, THAT HONORS WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED JUNE 12TH, UH, IS A DAY EVERY YEAR THAT WE WILL HONOR OUR WOMEN VETERANS, NOT ONLY IN THIS STATE, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND THIS YEAR ALSO IS THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WOMEN ARMED SERVICES INTEGRATION ACT, WHICH WAS THE ACT THAT ALLOWED WOMEN TO BE A PERMANENT PART OF THE ARMED FORCES. AND THIS YEAR HERE AT CITY HALL, WE'RE GONNA BE HONORING THESE WOMEN WHOSE, UH, WHO ARE TRAILBLAZERS, WHOSE SHOULDERS THAT WE STAND ON TODAY. OH, I JOINED THE ARMY BECAUSE, UM, WELL, IT WAS WAR TIME. EVERYBODY WAS INVOLVED IN THE WAR. IT'S NOT LIKE THE WARS THAT THEY'VE HAD SINCE WORLD WAR II. I GUESS THE MOST MEMORABLE IS IN APRIL OF 1945 WHEN PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT DIED. I WAS A STILL AT FORT OGLES OR GEORGIA. AND OF COURSE WE HAD A, A PARADE IN HIS HONOR. AND, UH, I WAS IN THE HONOR GUARD OF THE, OF OUR REGIMENT. AND WHEN WE WENT FRONT AND CENTER, UH, THEY PUT BLACK RIBBONS ON THE NATIONAL FLAG AND THEN WE PASSED AND REVIEW TO THE BEAT OF A DRUM WITH NO MARSHALL MUSIC. AND, UH, IT WAS A VERY SOMBER OCCASION. THELMA WILLIAMS, I SERVED, MY NAME IS RHONDA DOULA. I SERVED 20 YEARS AIR FORCE, FIVE YEARS ARMY. I SERVED IN 1968 THROUGH 1993. VIETNAM WAR WAS GOING ON AT THE TIME. UH, A LOT OF THINGS WERE GOING ON WITH THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. UM, A LOT OF, UH, DISTRESS ON THE CAMPUSES OF, OF OUR COLLEGES AND IN UNIVERSITIES. UM, I WAS CHOSEN AS ONE OF THE FACES TO [00:25:01] BE REPRESENTED, UH, AS ONE, ONE OF THE WOMEN IN THE VIETNAM MEMORIAL. WE GOT TOGETHER AND WE DECIDED, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THE HISTORY OF WHAT HAPPENED DURING VIETNAM AND HOW WE PRESENTED OURSELVES AS DOCTORS AND HAS SOME NURSES. AND WE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF THE WOMEN'S VIETNAM MEMORIAL. NO ONE GAVE US THE RESOURCES. WE WORKED HARD IN MAKING SURE THAT HISTORY WAS REPRESENTED IN THE WAY THAT WE CAN REPRESENT WOMEN IN THE PAST, THE PRESENT, AND THE FUTURE. MY NAME IS DR. RHONDA DOULA, AND I SERVED, OKAY. I SERVED IN THE ARMY AND THE REASON FOR SERVING IS BECAUSE OF MY COMPASSION, MY DESIRE TO HELP. I CAME TO THIS COUNTRY. I'M ORIGINALLY FROM PANAMA, REPUBLIC OF PANAMA, AND I CAME, UH, COMPLETED MY NURSING EDUCATION, UH, AN RN AND BACHELOR'S, AND THEN A MASTER'S IN PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTRATION. AND AFTER I COMPLETED THAT, I JOINED THE ARMY, THE US ARMY RESERVE, THE EIGHT OH FIRST IN CHICAGO IN 1986. AS A WOMAN, WE KNOW HOW WE ARE. WE ARE RESILIENT, WE'RE STRONG. AND MY DESIRE TO BE A COMPASSION, THE CAMARADERIE THAT WE HAD AS THE WOMEN THAT SERVED TOGETHER REALLY WAS, UM, KEPT US STRONG. MY NAME IS CLAUDETTE JORDAN, AND I SERVED, I JOINED THE MARINE CORPS BECAUSE I HAD A LOT OF ANCESTORS THAT HAVE FOUGHT IN EVERY WAR WE'VE EVER HAD. I AM, UH, VERY MUCH A PATRIOT, SO I FIGURED IT WAS MY TURN TO SERVE MY COUNTRY. I THINK IT'S GREAT TO CELEBRATE. I THINK WE SHOULD BE HONORED FOR OUR SERVICE. UM, I THINK THAT WE AS WELL AS A LOT OF MEN HAVE, UM, SERVED OUR COUNTRY WELL AND STILL SERVING. MY NAME IS PEGGY MUNDY. I SERVED, I JOINED THE ARMED FORCES BECAUSE I WAS DATING THIS GUY. IN FACT, I WAS THE FIRST ENLISTED HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT TO RECRUIT OFFICERS IN FOR THE NAVY. AND MY THEME WAS, UH, USE THE MILITARY. DON'T LET THEM USE YOU. GET ALL YOU CAN PUT ASIDE MONEY BECAUSE EVERY PENNY YOU PUT ASIDE, UNCLE SAM WOULD PUT TWO. MY NAME IS BENNY BLAKE AND I SERVED TEXAS WOMEN. VETERANS DAY IS, I THINK IT'S A DAY TO CELEBRATE WOMEN VETERANS WHO USUALLY DON'T CELEBRATE THEMSELVES. IT'S, IT'S REALLY EXCITING. SO EVERY YEAR I LOOK FORWARD TO, I LOOK FORWARD TO PAYING HOMAGE TO THOSE WOMEN WHO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN THAT DOOR AND BREAK DOWN BARRIERS TO ME TO SERVE. MY NAME IS LAJA MURPHY AND I SERVED MARINE CORPS. I, UM, MET A CONNECTICUT YANKEE AND I GOT, UM, SOME REALLY INTERESTING CAT CALLS. . UM, ONE OF THEIR FAVORITES WAS, BAM. FOR THE WOMEN MARINES, IT WAS BROAD AS MARINE, SO WE KIND OF GOT BACK AT 'EM WITH HAM. HALF TRY TO DENIGRATE YOU, WHO TRY TO PUSH YOU DOWN, TRY TO MAKE YOU FEEL UNWORTHY, IGNORE THEM IF YOU GO INTO THE SERVICE, YOU ARE ONE TERRIFIC LADY. AND YOU BETTER BE PROUD OF EVERYWHERE YOU GO, NO MATTER WHICH SERVICE YOU GO INTO. BE PROUD, BE STRONG. IGNORE THE VICIOUSNESS THAT CAN BE THERE, BUT JUST KEEP GOING. AND ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER AND YOU JUST DON'T GIVE UP. MY NAME IS MARY LILLIAN MORGAN COLE. I SERVED. AMEN. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS PAULA JOHNSON. I'M RETIRED SERGEANT MAJOR. AND I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE FIRST SERGEANT THELMA WILLIAMS. MS. THELMA WILLIAMS WAS BORN SEPTEMBER 16TH, 1918 IN LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA. SHE WAS A LOGISTICIAN, STATIONED IN VARIOUS DUTY STATIONS, INCLUDING GEORGIA, [00:30:01] GERMANY, AND JAPAN. MS. WILLIAMS IS STILL ACTIVE WITHIN HER COMMUNITY AND IS CURRENTLY A MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 1 64 IN KATY, TEXAS. OUR NEXT HONOREE ACTUALLY JUST MET HER ON THIS PAST FRIDAY. MS. SHIRLEY RIEGER, AGE 102 YEARS OLD, WAS BORN IN FRANKLIN, NORTH CAROLINA. AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, SHE DECIDED SHE WAS GONNA GO BECAUSE THE WAR WAS PENDING. SHE BEGAN WORKING AT TIMKIN ROLLER BEARING FACTORY IN AKRON, OHIO. AND IN 1943, SHE FOUND OUT THAT HER BROTHER WAS ABOUT TO BE DEPLOYED DURING THE INVASION OF SICILY. AFTER BEATING HER BROTHER FAIRWELL, I THINK SHE GOT A LITTLE ITCH. SHE DECIDED SHE WANTED TO GO FIGHT FOR HER COUNTRY. UPON HER RETURN HOME, SHE DECIDED TO ENLIST IN THE COAST GUARD AND SHE TRAINED INS AS A LOGISTICIAN ALONG THE FLORIDA ATLANTIC COASTLINE. ONE VIVID MEMORY, SHE BOARDED A CAPTURE ITALIAN SUBMARINE TO TAKE INVENTORY AND A WREAKED OF GARLIC AND SWEAT . HER LAST ASSIGNMENT WAS IN WASHINGTON DC AND SHE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN THE YEAR OF 1946. OUR NEXT HONOREE IS SHIRLEY REGER. OUR NEXT HONOREE. OUR NEXT HONOREE. IF YOU LADIES WANNA HAVE A SEAT, THAT'S FINE. WE DON'T WANNA KEEP YOU STANDING IF YOU DON'T WANT TO, BUT I TELL YOU WHAT, BEFORE THEY OKAY, LEMME CHANGE. OKAY. BEFORE THEY TAKE A SEAT. 'CAUSE I KNOW THEY NEED TO TAKE A SEAT. YEAH. LOOK, UH, THESE ARE SOME JUST, UM, OUTSTANDING WOMEN VETERANS. UH, PLEASE RISE AND SALUTE ALL OF THEM. OUR NEXT HONOR. YOU GUYS CAN BE SEATED. OUR NEXT HONOREE PRIVATE FIRST CLASS, PEGGY BOWEN. MONDAY, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS. MS. PEGGY WAS BORN IN EMORY, TEXAS. IN 1933, MS. BUN JOINED THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS. AT THE AGE OF 20, SHE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE PUBLIC RELATIONS DURING THE KOREAN CONFLICT. AND AFTER HER PHOTO FROM THE MARINE CORPS WENT PUBLIC, SHE BECAME KNOWN AS MS. BEACHHEAD . AFTER OWNING HER OWN BUSINESS FOR YEARS, SHE RETIRED AND BEGAN SERVING HER CHURCH AND HER VETERAN COMMUNITY. PLEASE GIVE IT UP FOR OUR HONOREE, MS. PEGGY BOWEN MU. OUR NEXT HONOREE, MISS PRIVATE FIRST CLASS MARIAN MARY LILLIAN MORGAN COLE, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS. MS. MION COLE WAS BORN IN DEWITT, ARKANSAS IN 1934 AND WAS THE ELDEST OF THREE SIBLINGS. AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, SHE DECIDED TO JOIN THE MILITARY BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO SEE THE WORLD AND EXPERIENCE SOMETHING DIFFERENT. SHE LIKED THE IDEA OF BEING MARINE ARMY AIR FORCE WAS OKAY, BUT SHE WANTED TO BE MARINE . SHE ENJOYED HER SERVICE AND CONTINUES TO MAKE HERSELF AVAILABLE FOR VARIOUS MILITARY EVENTS THROUGHOUT HOUSTON. AND THEN ENSURE OF SUPPORT OF HER VETERAN COMMUNITY. PLEASE GIVE IT UP FOR MS. MARY LILLIAN MORGAN COLE. I HAVE THE HONOR OF INTRODUCING AND, UM, CELEBRATING MY FELLOW ERRAND LIEUTENANT COLONEL RHONDA DOULA. DR. DOULA SERVED IN THE AIR FORCE FROM 1968 TO 1988, AND THEN IN THE ARMY FROM 1988 TO 1993. SHE WAS BORN IN MIAMI, FLORIDA AND RECRUITED FROM UCLA MEDICAL COLLEGE. DURING HER FIFTH YEAR OF MEDICAL SCHOOL, FIRST LIEUTENANT DOULA WAS ASSIGNED TO THE WOMEN'S AIR FORCE VIETNAM COMBAT SUPPORT HOSPITAL AS A COMBAT NURSE HELPING WOUNDED TROOPS DURING THEATER OPERATIONS. LATER IN HER CAREER, SHE BEGAN TO CAMPAIGN THE CAUSE FOR THE RECOGNITION OF WOMEN IN MILITARY SERVICE, THUS BECOMING INSTRUMENTAL IN THE CREATION OF THE VIETNAM WOMEN MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON DC THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. DOULA FOR YOUR SERVICE. ALL RIGHT, OUR NEXT HONOREE, LIEUTENANT COLONEL BENNY BLAKE, UNITED STATES NAVY. MR. BLAKE WAS BORN IN OCTOBER 22ND, 1946, RIGHT HERE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS AS A RESIDENT, AS A RESIDENT OF FIFTH WARD. SHE ATTENDED PHILIS WHEATLEY HIGH SCHOOL AND WENT ON TO ENROLL IN PAUL QUINN COLLEGE AND TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. MS. BLAKE EARNED HER ASSOCIATES OF NURSING AND ELICITED IN A SIX MONTH DELAY PROGRAM FOR THE UNITED STATES NAVY. [00:35:01] SHE BEGAN HER MILITARY CAREER AS A HOSPITAL CORPSMAN IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, AND LATER DEPLOYED OVERSEAS IN HELPING WITH TRANSPORTATION. SHE ALSO WENT TO JAPAN, TURKEY, PHILIPPINES, AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT PLACES. UH, AFTER THE NAVY, SHE DECIDED SHE WAS GONNA GO INTO THE ARMY AND SERVE HER COUNTRY IN THE ARMY. SHE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM THE NAVY IN 1982 AND WAS LATER COMMISSIONED IN THE ARMY UNTIL 2008. CURRENTLY, SHE'S CONTINUING TO SERVE HER, SERVE HER COMMUNITY. HER REFLECTION IS NO MATTER THE RANK, IT WAS THE RESPECT AMONGST EACH OTHER THAT WE HAD WITH EACH OTHER'S BACK. PLEASE GIVE IT UP FOR LIEUTENANT COLONEL BENNY BLAKE. LIEUTENANT COLONEL CLAUDE. IF JORDAN, MS. JORDAN WAS BORN IN PANAMA, THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA. SHE MIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES TO FURTHER HER EDUCATION AND ACHIEVE HER DREAM OF BECOMING A NURSE. SHE CREDITS HER GREAT AUNT AS ONE OF HER ROLE MODELS, WHICH WAS A PIONEER THAT SERVED IN THE WOMEN'S ARMY ARMY CORPS. WE GOT ANY WAX IN HERE? ANY WAX? I KNOW WE HAD A COUPLE EARLIER, RIGHT? BECAUSE SHE WAS BILINGUAL, SHE USED HER SKILLS AND HER MEDICAL READINESS TO ACCOMPLISH HER MISSIONS. HER REFLECTION, THE MILITARY HAS GIVEN ME A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO USE MY KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO CONTINUE MY PASSION OF CARING FOR OTHERS. PLEASE GIVE IT UP FOR MS. LIEUTENANT COLONEL CLAUDE OF JORDAN. ALRIGHT, WE'RE GONNA GET A QUICK PICTURE. SO, AS I SAID EARLIER, WE DO HAVE TWO LIVING LEGENDS IN HERE, OUR 100 AND 4-YEAR-OLD AND OUR 102 YEAR OLD COAST GUARD SERVICE WOMAN. SO GIVE IT UP FOR THESE WOMEN. WE'RE GONNA TAKE A PICTURE. WE'RE GONNA TAKE A PICTURE OF OUR HONOREES AND THE MAYOR. I'M GONNA COUNT DOWN FOR EVERYBODY. SEVEN, SIX. AGAIN, LET'S GIVE IT UP TO THE LADIES, ESPECIALLY OUR GREATEST GENERATION. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INDUCE OUR NEXT SPEAKER WHO HAS BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR REFORM IN THE WAY OF THE MILITARY, THE WAY THE MILITARY HANDLES SEXUAL, UH, ASSAULT AND HARASSMENT. PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME SPECIAL GUEST, MARA GILLIAN, SISTER OF VANESSA GILLIAN. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. UM, I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU LADIES FOR, UH, TODAY WE HONOR YOU, UH, YOUR BRAVE SERVICE. AND I COMMEND YOU FOR TAKING AN OATH TO SERVE AND PROTECT OUR COUNTRY, UH, WHICH IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MY SISTER REALLY WANTED TO DO. ME, SHE REST IN PEACE. IT'S BEEN A LITTLE OVER THREE YEARS SINCE VANESSA PASSED AND, UM, WE'RE STILL HERE TODAY ADVOCATING AND ASKING FOR CHANGE, UM, WHICH IS RIGHTFULLY WHAT YOU DESERVE. AND, UH, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE THAT SERVED AND WEREN'T, UM, ABLE TO REPORT WHEN ANYTHING WAS WRONG, UH, IN THE PAST, UH, I HOPE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'VE BEEN HEARD BECAUSE YOUR VOICES, UH, THEY COUNT AND THEY COUNT A LOT TOWARDS THIS CHANGE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE. I'VE NEVER SERVED A DAY IN MY LIFE, BUT, UM, EVERYTHING I DO IS IN HONOR OF MY SISTER AND IN HONOR OF, UH, EACH AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU LADIES THAT HAS SERVED AND CONTINUES TO SERVE HONORABLY AND WITH RESPECT. SO, I HOPE THAT, UM, YOU ENJOY YOUR DAY. IT'S, IT'S FOR YOU. IT'S SPECIAL. AND, UM, ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU DR. JONES, FOR ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, UH, [00:40:01] HAVING ME SPEAK AT THESE EVENTS. AND, UH, I GET VERY EMOTIONAL BECAUSE, UM, I'D GIVE ANYTHING TO HAPPEN AS A BACK. BUT SHE FOUGHT A BATTLE WITHIN, UH, WITHIN HER OWN. SHE DIDN'T GET TO GO TO COMBAT, BUT IT'S WELL DESERVED. AND SHE OPENED THE DOORS FOR JUSTICE FOR MANY WOMEN WHO WERE SERVING. AND, UM, UNFORTUNATELY HAD TO GO THROUGH CIRCUMSTANCES THAT THEY DID NOT SIGN UP FOR BECAUSE AGAIN, SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND ASSAULT IS NOT INCIDENT TO SERVICE. SO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR GALLIAN FOR THOSE WORDS. ALSO, AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, CHIEF OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, CHIEF PENA, AS WELL AS TO SAY IS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FOR BEING HERE AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME TO ELIZA HILL, TO THE STATES, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. HAPPY WOMEN. VETERANS DAY. I SAY WHO I HAD TO, I HAD TO GO THERE. I HAD TO GO THERE. THERE ARE MANY BRANCHES OUT THERE, BUT I'M GONNA SAY, WHO GIVING ON HONOR? GOD, MY LORD, AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. AMEN. AMEN TO ANY CLERGY THAT ARE IN THE ROOM TODAY. CHAPLAINS, MINISTERS LIKE MAYOR TURNER, THE ENTIRE CITY OF HOUSTON TO ALL OF OUR CITY OFFICIALS AND TO THE COMMITTEE THAT MADE THIS EVENT HAPPEN. A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO DR. LASANDRA JONES, WHO DR. JONES IS SO QUICK TO GIVE EVERYONE THEIR FLOWERS, Y'ALL, SHE DOES NOT MISS A BEAT. AND SHE'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE'RE HERE TODAY. AND I KNOW SHE WOULDN'T WANT THIS MOMENT TO HAPPEN, BUT IT WAS DR. JONES THAT LED THE CHARGE IN ENSURING THAT TEXAS WOMEN'S VETERANS DAY WOULD GET PASSED IN LEGISLATION. SHE RALLIED WOMEN VETERANS TOGETHER. SHE CALLED AND TEXT AND REMIND US TO MAKE THOSE PHONE CALLS, TO BUILD THOSE LISTS. AND TO THIS DAY, SHE PERSONALLY CHECKS ON EVERYBODY, INCLUDING SOME OF US THAT WE KIND OF FEEL LIKE WE'RE THE STRONG ONES AND DON'T ALWAYS NEED EVERYONE, WHICH IS WHY I'M, I'M HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY. I AM NO MINISTER. I AM JUST A, A CHILD OF GOD AND OFTEN FIND MYSELF IN PLACES LIKE THIS WITH AFFORDED SUCH A GREAT HONOR TO, UM, JUST SAY A PRAYER. BECAUSE SOMETIMES, UH, WE CANNOT DO IT ON OUR OWN. AND, UH, WE'RE NOT ALWAYS THE FIRST TO WANNA LEAN ON EACH OTHER OR LEAN ON OTHERS. UM, BUT THERE IS A HIGHER BEING THAT WE CAN LEAN ON. AND, UH, SO I JUST ASK THAT YOU JOIN ME IN A, IN A QUICK PRAYER FOR OUR FEMALE WARRIORS THAT ARE HERE TODAY AND THOSE THAT COULDN'T BE HERE AS WELL. FATHER GOD, IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WE JUST THANK YOU LORD FOR THIS DAY THAT WE ARE ABLE TO GATHER TODAY, FATHER GOD, AND JUST HONOR YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE. LORD GOD, WE THANK YOU FATHER FOR EVERY WOMAN WARRIOR THAT IS HERE, FATHER GOD, AND THOSE THAT ARE NO LONGER HERE FOR THE ONES THAT PAVE THE WAY FATHER AND THE ONES THAT WOULD LIKE TO BE HERE BUT COULD NOT BE HERE. FATHER GOD, I ASK YOU FATHER GOD RIGHT NOW TO GIVE EVERYONE AN ACTING FAITH, FATHER GOD, FOR WE KNOW THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON MAY BE BATTLING SOMETHING, LORD GOD, THAT MAY NOT BE SEEN, LORD GOD. AND THEY MAY BE HAVING A HARD TIME ASKING FOR HELP, LORD GOD. SO WE JUST ASK LORD GOD, THAT YOU GIVE THEM THE COURAGE, LORD TO EMPOWER FATHER GOD, WE THANK YOU LORD GOD FOR WOMEN VETERANS DAY. LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE ONES THAT PAVED THE WAY FOR US TO BE HERE, LORD GOD THAT CONTINUE TO OPEN UP DOORS WHERE THE DOORS WERE SHUT. FATHER GOD, WE THANK YOU LORD GOD, THAT EVERY DAY WE ARE GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER WITH THE COMFORT AND BEING OUR AUTHENTIC SELVES, LORD GOD. AND WE THANK YOU THOSE THAT HAVE CONTINUED TO BE THEMSELVES, THAT ARE BREAKING BARRIERS AND OPENING NEW DOORS FOR WOMEN, VETERANS AND WOMEN ALIKE ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, LORD. BUT FATHER, MOST IMPORTANTLY, LORD GOD, WE KNOW THAT WOMEN ARE VERY UNIQUE. AND OUR WOMEN VETERANS ARE ONE OF THE STRONGEST HUMAN BEINGS THAT STEP FOOT ON YOUR EARTH OR GOD. BUT WE ARE OFTENTIMES THE LAST TO ASK FOR HELP. FATHER GOD, WE ARE OFTENTIMES THE LAST TO HELP OURSELVES, LORD GOD. SO I JUST ASK RIGHT NOW THAT EVERY PERSON IN THIS ROOM TO REMAIN SILENT, TO KEEP YOUR HEAD BOWED. BUT IF YOU CAN JUST TAKE ONE HAND AND OFFER YOUR PALM UP, IF YOU ARE ABLE TO LIFT IT, PLEASE PLACE IN YOUR PALM RIGHT NOW. ANY AILMENT, FATHER GOD, ANY AILMENT THAT YOU MAY BE FEELING RIGHT NOW, WHETHER IT IS PHYSICAL, MENTAL, WHETHER IT IS A DISEASE, WHETHER IT IS RELATIONSHIP ISSUES, FINANCIAL ISSUES, WHATEVER IT IS, I ASK THAT YOU PUT IT IN THIS PALM AND WE OFFER IT TO YOU RIGHT NOW. FATHER GOD, WE BIND IT IN THE NAME OF JESUS, FATHER GOD, FOR WE KNOW THAT YOUR WORD SAYS IT IS ALREADY TAKEN CARE OF. LORD GOD, WE KNOW THAT WHEN MORE THAN ONE COMES [00:45:01] INTO A PLACE SUCH AS THIS IN AGREEMENT, FATHER GOD, THAT MIRACLES CAN HAPPEN LORD GOD. SO WE THANK YOU RIGHT NOW FOR THE MIRACLES THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US TODAY. LORD GOD, WE THANK YOU RIGHT NOW THAT WHATEVER IT IS IS WEIGHING THOSE HANDS DOWN RIGHT NOW THAT A FEELING OF FEATHER IS FELT, IT IS LIFTED, FATHER GOD. AND SO WE JUST THANK YOU, FATHER GOD, FOR YOUR HEALING POWER, FATHER GOD, FOR WE KNOW THAT IT IS BY YOUR STRIPES WE ARE HEALED. AND JESUS NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. I ALSO HAVE THE HONOR OF HONORING ONE OF MY VERY, VERY CLOSE FRIENDS. YOU ALL. THIS PERSON IS NOT ONLY A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, THIS PERSON IS A COLLEAGUE, A FELLOW ARMY VETERAN WHO TOO HAS BEEN BATTLING HER OWN BATTLES. IF YOU ARE SOMEONE IN THIS ROOM THAT HAS OVERCOME ANYTHING, RATHER IT IS DISEASE, RATHER IT IS ILLNESSES, RATHER IT IS HOMELESSNESS. YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE TRENCHES AND YOU KNOW YOU HAVE OVERCOME THAT. CAN YOU PLEASE STAND, PLEASE STAND. THAT'S EVERYBODY. THAT'S EVERYBODY. . NOW LISTEN, I'M GOING SOMEWHERE WITH THIS BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH IT. YOU KNOW THAT YOU'VE GONE THROUGH IT. YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE STRONGER BECAUSE OF IT, RIGHT? SO I'M GONNA ASK YOU ALL TO FOLLOW MY HANDS RIGHT HERE. AND I'M GONNA NEED YOU TO LOOK AT MY GOOD FRIEND, MS. KATHY MACKEY, CAN YOU RAISE YOUR HAND? MS. KATHY MACKEY, MY GOOD FRIEND, MS. KATHY MACKEY IS OVERCOMING HER BATTLE WITH CANCER, EVERYBODY. SO I WOULD JUST LIKE EVERYONE THAT HAS OVERCOME TO JUST LOOK AT HER AND POINT AT HER AND SAY, WE GOT YOUR BACK. WE GOT YOUR BACK. THANK YOU FOR HER. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. TELL ISAAC, AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME DR. JONES, UH, TO, TO THE PODIUM FOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND EVERYBODY'S SMELLING THAT GOOD FOOD. SO WE'RE GONNA BE WRAPPING UP REAL SOON. . UH, SO MAYOR IN THE MILITARY WE'RE USED TO GETTING UP AND GETTING DOWN, GETTING UP. SO WE'RE GONNA ASK YOU TO GET UP ONE MORE TIME. . I HAVE A GROUP OF LADIES THAT I WOULD LIKE TO THANK FOR, UM, BASICALLY JUMPING IN WHEN I, WHEN I SENT THEM THE EMAILS, WHEN I SENT THEM THE TEXT MESSAGES, EVERYBODY KNOWS I'M GOOD AT SENDING TEXT MESSAGES AND ASKING PEOPLE TO HELP ME OUT. I'M VERY STRATEGIC WHEN I ASKED FOR A COMMITTEE TO HELP ME OUT ON SOME THINGS. BUT I WANT TO THANK A GROUP OF OF WOMEN WHO HELPED ME PUT THIS DATE TOGETHER. UP UNTIL LAST NIGHT WE WERE HERE TYING BOWS AND, AND RIBBONS AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING WAS GOOD FOR TODAY. SO COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR RETIRED PAULA JOHNSON, HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT, STAY HERE. NEXT PERSON ON MY COMMITTEE IS MY RIGHT HAND FROM THE HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, AIR FORCE VETERAN, RITA BALLARD, UNITED STATES ARMY VETERAN FROM THE HOUSTON VETERANS ADMINISTRATION. ANDREA TANNER FROM THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, UNITED STATES ARMY VETERAN OFFICER REBECCA VARGAS, HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS RETIRED AIR FORCE VETERAN IS ABOUT TO RETIRE NEXT WEEK. THE SECOND RETIREMENT IS CAROLYN JACKSON NEXT MONTH, I'M SORRY, CAROLYN JACKSON [00:50:02] FROM THE WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS VETERAN LASHONDA JOHNSON. ONE OF OUR OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS GOT ORDERS, UM, DEPLOYED TO GERMANY JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, BUT SHE DID HER PART. SHE'S FROM MISS SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AS DEPUTY RUTH SIO. I'M SURE SHE'S WATCHING FROM GERMANY 'CAUSE SHE'S BEEN TEXTING ME ALL MORNING. DRESS FOR SUCCESS, RETIRED UNITED STATES AIR FORCE VETERAN LAJA MURPHY. WE HAVE A CIVILIAN THAT JUMPED IN AND SHE HAD TO DEAL WITH THE REST OF US WOMEN VETERANS. AND SHE JUMPED IN LIKE A REAL TROOPER ARMY WIFE PATRICIA ROBINSON . AND LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT, NOT NOT LEAST, UH, EVERY EVENT THAT WE DO, WE TRY TO SUPPORT VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESSES TO OUR AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME NAVY VETERAN BEVERLY WILLIAMS. SO THESE ARE OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS. AND I WILL NOT SEE Y'ALL NEXT YEAR 'CAUSE I'M NOT DOING THIS ANYMORE. I SAY I SAY THAT EVERY YEAR. . UH, AND I WANNA SAY THANK YOU, UM, MYRA, FOR STEPPING IN WHEN I WHEN I ASK YOU TO COME. 'CAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WOMEN KNOW THAT YOU ARE STILL IN THE FIGHT WHEN YOUR, YOUR FAMILY COULD STILL BE GRIEVING AND MOVING ON WITH LIFE. BUT YOU DECIDED YOU WERE GONNA STAY AND GO BACK AND FORTH TO DC TO FIGHT FOR THOSE WHO ARE STILL SERVING AND THOSE WHO PLAN TO SERVE. SO WE THANK YOU FOR THAT ONE LAST PERSON THAT I CANNOT LEAD THIS PODIUM WITHOUT THINKING MY MOMMY WHO FLEW IN FROM MEMPHIS TO BE HERE TODAY. SO AGAIN, AS I TOLD YOU ALL, UM, THE WOMEN WHO WERE HERE IN 2018, WE PACKED OUT THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND THOSE WOMEN WERE SO EXCITED TO BE HERE WHEN WE FOUND THESE WOMEN IN THESE REST HOMES. UM, THEY WERE JUST SO DELIGHTED TO JUST KNOW THAT PEOPLE WERE STILL THINKING ABOUT THEM. ALTHOUGH THEIR SERVICE ENDED IN THE FORTIES AND THE FIFTIES AND THE SIXTIES, AND THEY ARE NO LONGER HERE. SO WE'RE DEFINITELY GONNA THINK ABOUT THEM DOING THE PLAN OF TAPS TODAY. SO WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THIS THING ON OUT. DIRECT THE DEBO, COME ON UP. THANK YOU ALL. WOO. GOOD AFTERNOON. I JUST WANNA WELCOME YOU ON THE ROOFTOP OF CITY HALL . I'M JUST GONNA GIVE YOU A QUICK EXPERIENCE OF MY TIME IN THE NAVY. BACK IN 1985, I WAS OUTTA SEA, UH, DURING THE PERSIAN GULF, UH, COMPLEX. AND, UH, WE WERE ESCORTING, UH, SHIPS IN AND OUT THE PURGING GULF. SO ONE DAY WE HAD A STEEL BEACH PICNIC ON THE FLIGHT DECK, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, UH, WE HAD A, MY SHIP MATE RUN, UH, TOWARDS THE STORE BY SIDE WAITING THEIR HANDS. AND I SAID, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? SO I WENT OVER THERE TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON. IT WAS FEMALE. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE EVER SEEN FEMALE ON A, ON A SHIP. . YOU KNOW WHAT, WHEN EVERY TIME I WAVE TO . AND ALSO, UH, JUST KEEP IN MIND, UH, THE STATE OF HOUSTON BEEN VERY BUSY FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS. AND IF YOU GET A CHANCE TO, UH, UH, CHECK OUT THE, UH, UNVEILING OF THE, UH, MONUMENT FOR VIETNAM VETERAN, WE HAVE A SECTION FOR FEMALE. IF HOUSTON HAD GET A TIME, JUST GO AND, AND, YOU [00:55:01] KNOW, LOOK AT THE MONUMENT AND READ ABOUT THE SECTION PERTAINING TO WOMEN. WE MADE A SPECIAL EFFORT TO MENTION THE FEMALE ALONG WITH EVERYONE ELSE. AND I HAD TO THANK, UH, MR. P*****K FOR, FROM, UH, UH, UH, SPONSORING THAT. THROUGHOUT AMERICAN PROUD MILITARY HISTORY, WOMEN HAD PLAYED A VITAL ROLE SERVING WITH HONOR AND DISTINCTION. WOMEN HAD DISPLAYED THE BURRY COMMITMENT AND STRENGTH. WE HAVE COME TO EXPECT IT FROM OUR MILITARY. I STAND PROUDLY BEFORE YOU TO RECOGNIZE, TO COMMEND YOUR DEDICATION TO SERVICE DURING THE TESTIMONY. I LEARNED A WHOLE LOT, UH, WHEN THESE, UH, FINE, OUTSTANDING, UH, FEMALE VETERAN WAS GOING THROUGH THEIR TESTIMONY. AND I LEARNED A WHOLE LOT ABOUT WHAT YOU CONTRIBUTE, UH, TO THE NATION. AND I JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW I WILL CONTINUE, HAVE THE UTMO RESPECT FOR ALL MY SHIPMATES, ALL MY SHIPMATES. I SALUTE YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU, MS. NIBO AND DR. JONES. FOR THOSE WHO ARE ABLE TO STAND, PLEASE STAND FOR CAPS. THANK PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ANGELA HAWKES JOHNSON, US AIR FORCE FOR PLAIN TAPS. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS YOUR MC FOR TODAY'S EVENT. TO CONTRIBUTIONS FROM OUR WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED IN OUR MILITARY AND OUR VARYING COMMUNITIES IS VITAL TO OUR COUNTRY. I WANNA THANK THE HONORABLE MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, ALL THOSE WHO ARE HERE, AND ESPECIALLY, UH, OUR NOT ONLY FEMALE VETERANS, BUT FROM OUR GREATEST GENERATION. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND THIS CONCLUDES OUR CEREMONY. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.