[Veterans Day Ceremony: Houston Salutes American Heroes on November 11, 2023. ]
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WE ARE KEEPING US SAFE.WE ARE KEEPING OUR LIBERTY INTACT.
THOSE ARE US WHO HAVE WON THE NATION UNIFORM.
KNOWS THAT DEFENDING JUSTICE MEAN MORE THAN BEING A WARRIOR FOR JUSTICE.
IT'S ALSO MEAN BEING AN AMBASSADOR FOR PEACE AND HUMANITARIAN FOR PROSPERITY.
THIS GREAT NATION HAS ENDURED OVER 250 YEARS BECAUSE IN EVERY GENERATION, PRAY MEN AND WOMEN ANSWER THE CALL OF DUTY.
I AM ROBERT DEMBO, VIETNAM, EVERY VETERAN, UNITED STATE NAVY, DIRECTOR OF THE MAYOR, OFFICE OF VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOUTH AND TENURE TODAY, CELEBRATION, AND TO WELCOME OUR ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO ARE HERE WITH US TODAY.
I WOULD LIKE EXPECT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS AND FOR THE SUPPORT OF OUR VETERAN POPULATION.
SIR, WE TRULY APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR CELEBRATION IS RECOGNITION TO FEMALE VETERANS.
AND HONOR IS TO BE AN HONOR FOR DR. JONES TO INTRODUCE THE MC TODAY CEREMONY.
DR. JEFFERSON, THANK YOU, DIRECTOR DEBO.
WE THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA RAIN, BUT I THINK WE PRAYED THE RAIN AWAY FOR A WHILE.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING TIME TODAY TO COME HERE ON THIS WONDERFUL VETERAN'S DAY.
SO, YES, WE ARE SALUTING WOMEN TODAY, ALTHOUGH WE'RE GONNA HONOR ALL VETERANS.
MATTER OF FACT, IF YOU'RE A VETERAN, PLEASE STAND.
AND THAT INCLUDES OUR ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY AS WELL.
SO I HAVE THE HONOR OF INTRODUCING OUR MC, UH, IS VERY SPECIAL TO ME BECAUSE YESTERDAY WE CELEBRATED OUR 248TH BIRTHDAY.
MR. BILL, ALL THE MARINES ARE HERE.
MR. BILL ZA SERVED IN VIETNAM AND UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, AND HE SERVED HERE ON MAINSIDE FOR 50 YEARS IN OUR MEDIA INDUSTRY, BRINGING US THE NEWS AND MAKING SURE THAT, THAT ALL THE PEOPLE IN HIS AREA GOT THE, THE LATEST NEWS.
SO WE WANNA BRING UP OUR MC, FELLOW DEVIL DOG
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WHAT DO YOU HATE TO HAVE TO FORECAST THE WEATHER IN HOUSTON, TEXAS?
I MEAN, IF YOU'RE A MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYER AND YOU'RE BATTING 300, YOU'RE KILLING IT AS A WEATHER FORECASTER.
IF YOU'RE ONLY RIGHT, THREE TIMES OUTTA 10, NOT SO MUCH.
RIGHT? BUT USING THE SAME BASEBALL METAPHOR, THE WEATHER YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS NOLAN RYAN, YOU KNOW, WITH A FEROCIOUS CURVE BALL
AND THAT'S THE KIND OF PITCH WE GOT TODAY.
SO WE'RE INSIDE ENJOYING THIS, AND I WANNA WELCOME ALL OF YOU AND ALSO ALL MY FELLOW VETERANS.
WE'RE INDOORS HERE TODAY, COMMEMORATING, UH, ALL THOSE WHO SERVED AND STILL SERVE IN OUR NATION'S MILITARY.
LET'S NOT GET VETERANS DAY CONFUSED WITH MEMORIAL DAY.
THIS IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT THING.
NO REASON TO BE SOLEMN, NO REASON WE'RE HERE TO CELEBRATE THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE SERVING OUR MILITARY AND TODAY, ESPECIALLY THE WOMEN WHO HAVE TAKEN SUCH A KEY ROLE IN THE US MILITARY.
IN FACT, JUST IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARINES, BY THE WAY.
MALE AND FEMALE RECRUITS TOGETHER.
THE WOMEN ARE PULLING THE EXACT SAME WEIGHT AS THE MALE MARINE RECRUITS.
AND WHAT THEY FOUND OUT IS THEY CAN DO IT AND SOMETIMES BETTER
NOW MY FIRST ORDER OF BEAUTY IS TO CALL FOR THE POSTING OF THE COLORS.
THIS IS TODAY IS BY THE TEXAS CITY HIGH SCHOOL MARINE CORPS JUNIOR, ROTC.
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OKAY.THEN AFTER THEY POST THE COLORS, THE NATIONAL ANTHEM IS GONNA BE PERFORM BY MASTER SERGEANT ANGELA MATTHEWS.
SHE'S FROM THE ONE 47TH ATTACK WING, TEXAS AIR NATIONAL GUARD.
AND THEN FOLLOWING THAT PETTY OFFICER, FIRST CLASS, SARAH ALLEN WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
AND FINALLY, THE INVOCATION BY CHAPLAIN ANN LUNA FROM THE VA HOUSTON HEALTHCARE POSTAL COLORS FOUR MARK.
OH, SAY, CAN YOU SEE BY THE EARLY, SO PROUDLY WE AND WHOSE BROAD STRIP AND BRIGHT THROUGH THE, OR THE RAMS. WE WERE SO STREAMING AND THE THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE.
OH, SAY, DOES BAD SAW SPAN BAND THE LAND? AND THE NOW JOIN ME FOR THE P OF ALLEGIANCE BY PLEASURE, ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS INDIVISIBLE UNDER GOD FOR LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
LEFT, LEFT FORWARD, MARK LEFT, LEFT, LEFT.
WILL YOU PLEASE SPELL YOUR HEADS WITH ME? ALMIGHTY GOD.
TODAY WE HONOR OUR VETERANS WORTHY MEN AND WOMEN WHO GAVE THEIR BEST WHEN THEY WERE CALLED UPON TO SERVE AND TO PROTECT THEIR COUNTRY.
WE PRAY THAT YOU WILL BLESS THEM, LORD, FOR THEIR UNSELFISH SERVICE.
IN THE CONTINUAL STRUGGLE TO PRESERVE OUR FREEDOMS, OUR SAFETY, AND OUR COUNTRY'S HERITAGE, FOR ALL OF US, BLESS THEM ABUNDANTLY FOR THE HARDSHIPS THAT THEY FACED, FOR THE SACRIFICES MADE FOR THEIR MANY DIFFERENT CONTRIBUTIONS TO AMERICA'S VICTORIES OVER TYRAY AND OPPRESSION.
AND WE PRAY THAT YOU WILL WATCH OVER THEM.
BLESS OUR VETERANS WITH PEACE AND HAPPINESS.
WE ASK THESE THINGS IN YOUR HOLY NAME.
WE WANNA THANK ALL OF THE OPENING CEREMONY PARTICIPANTS TODAY WHO VOLUNTEERED TO MAKE THIS PATRIOTIC MOMENT VERY SPECIAL.
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CITY HIGH SCHOOL, MARINE CORPS JUNIOR, ROTC, MASTER SERGEANT, UM, ANGELA MATTHEWS, PETTY OFFICER, FIRST CLASS SARAH ALLEN.AND OF COURSE, THE CHAPLAIN JUST HEARD ANN LUNA.
YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED THAT AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, MANY OF OUR PARTICIPANTS ARE WOMEN.
THEY'RE EITHER A VETERAN OR CURRENTLY SERVING ON ACTIVE DUTY.
THIS YEAR MARKS THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WOMEN ARMED SERVICES INTEGRATION ACT, WHICH ALLOWED WOMEN TO BECOME A PERMANENT PART OF OUR ARMED FORCES.
TODAY'S CEREMONY IS A RECOGNITION OF ALL WOMEN IN THE MILITARY.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE, IT'S A GREAT HONOR FOR ME TO BE HERE WITH YOU ONCE AGAIN, AS I HAVE FOR MANY YEARS.
I AM A MARINE VIETNAM VETERAN, SERVED IN THE TET OFFENSIVE OF 1968, PROUD OF MY MARINE CORPS, PROUD OF ALL MY FELLOW VETERANS.
AND WE ALSO APPRECIATE VETERANS FAMILIES FOR THEIR SACRIFICES THAT THEY CONTINUE TO MAKE FOR OUR FREEDOM.
BECAUSE WE KNOW WHEN A MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES TAKES AN OATH TO DEFEND OUR COUNTRY, EVEN IF IT MEANS GIVING THEIR OWN LIVES, THEIR FAMILIES DON'T TAKE THAT OATH YET.
THEY ARE THE ONES WHO SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT OATH MORE THAN ANYONE.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FAMILIES OF ALL VETERANS TODAY.
SO, UH, WE'RE GONNA BE GRACED WITH A POEM RIGHT NOW.
UH, IT IS GOING TO BE, UH, PRESENTED BY, UM, DR.
LASANDRA JONES, AS WHO WE HEARD EARLIER FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF VETERAN AFFAIRS.
DR. JONES, THE NOBLE AND THE BRAVE.
WHEN AMERICA HAD AN URGENT NEED, THESE BRAVE ONES RAISED THEIR HAND.
THEY WERE PROUD TO TAKE A STAND.
THEY LEFT THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
THEY HAVE ABNORMAL LIFE TO SERVE THEIR COUNTRY AND THEIR GOD.
THEY FOUGHT FOR FREEDOM AND FOR PEACE ON STRANGE AND FOREIGN SHORES.
SOME LOST NEW FRIENDS, SOME LOST THEIR LIVES, AND LONG AND BRUTAL WARS.
OTHER VETERANS ANSWERED A CALL TO SUPPORT THE ONES WHO FOUGHT THE COUNTRY HAD REQUIREMENT, THE ESSENTIAL SKILLS THEY BROUGHT.
WE SALUTE EVERY ONE OF THEM, THE NOBLE AND THE BRAVE.
THE ONES STILL WITH US HERE TODAY, AND THE ONES WHO REST IN THE GRAVE.
SO HERE'S THROUGH OUR COUNTRY'S HEROES.
LET'S GIVE THE HONOR THAT IS DUE THROUGH OUR COUNTRY'S THE VERY BEST.
OH, WHAT A WONDERFUL READING DR. JONES.
YOU KNOW, WHEN, UM, RAQUEL, THE TRUTH, SEGURA, WHO WAS ORIGINALLY GONNA READ THAT POEM AND WHO COMES HERE EVERY YEAR, COULDN'T MAKE IT TODAY.
THEY WERE, WE WERE THINKING, WELL, WHO COULDN'T READ IT? AND IT WAS SUGGESTED I MIGHT.
IT WOULD BE LIKE, ONLY GOD CAN MAKE A TREE
NOW IT, IT IS WITH GREAT ADMIRATION AND RESPECT THAT I INTRODUCED OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE WELCOME TO THE PODIUM, THE LEADER OF OUR GREAT CITY, THE MAGNIFICENT, HONORABLE MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER.
LET ME SAY, UH, GOOD MORNING TO EVERYBODY.
IT IS VETERAN DAY, RIGHT? YES.
GIVE IT UP TO ALL THE VETERANS.
AND LET ME THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING.
UH, I WOULD HAVE LOVED IT IN MY FINAL YEAR FOR, FOR US TO HAVE BEEN OUTSIDE WITH THE PARADE.
UM, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT THE WEATHER WILL BE, BUT THE WEATHER DOESN'T CHANGE THE MEANING OF THE OCCASION.
UH, SO WHETHER WE ARE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE, UH, THE CELEBRATION, UH, IS STILL, IS STILL THE SAME.
IT IS TRULY UNFORTUNATE, UH, THAT THE WEATHER CAUSED IT.
BUT, UH, WE ARE GOING TO ENJOY THIS THIS DAY.
WE ARE ALL HONORED, UM, ALL HONORED AND ADMIRE THE MEN, THE WOMEN, THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE GIVEN UP THEIR TIME, THEIR LIVES, SO THAT WE MAY ENJOY OUR AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE.
AND BEFORE I GO ANY FURTHER, I DO WANT TO THANK BILL BAA.
UH, HE HAS FAITHFULLY BEEN HERE, UM, EVERY SINGLE TIME WE HAVE CALLED ON HIM.
UM, BILL, IF YOU'LL JUST COME UP 'CAUSE THIS IS MY FINAL TIME
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TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU IN THIS CAPACITY.BUT GIVE IT UP TO THIS YOUNG MAN,
I'M A MARINE AND PROUD OF IT, BUT SOMEONE WHO DEMONSTRATES NOT ONLY SERVICE IN THE MILITARY, BUT SERVICE AS A CIVILIAN.
AND WHEN WE CALL, HE HAS ANSWERED EVERY SINGLE TIME.
SO A HOUSTON WELCOME FOR THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK AND RECOGNIZE OUR SPON SPONSORS WHO GENEROUSLY SUPPORT THE PARADE, THE CEREMONY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, OUR VETERANS.
AND EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT HAVING THE PARADE, I WANT TO THANK THEM NONETHELESS.
HCA, HOUSTON HEALTHCARE, UT HEALTH, HOUSTON, BOEING, MCDONALD'S, HOUSTON, STARBUCKS, 93 Q COUNTRY, HOUSTON EAGLE, 1 0 6 0.910 7.5, 97.9 IN THE BOX.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE SPONSORS NOW.
AND I KNOW ALL OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE GOING TO BE INTRODUCED, UH, UH, IN THE PROGRAM.
UH, BUT SINCE I'M THE MAYOR FOR ANOTHER ONE MONTH AND 15 DAYS, I STILL HAVE SOME KEY PARTNERS.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, I NEED THEIR VOTE.
SO, UM, LET ME ACKNOWLEDGE THEM AS WE ACKNOWLEDGE SOME OF THE OTHERS, UH, AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE PROGRAM.
UH, BUT FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE, IF YOU ARE STANDARD, I CALL YOUR NAME, COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA PLUMER, COUNCIL MEMBER MIKE KNOX.
COUNCIL MEMBER NAN HUFFMAN, PLEASE GIVE IT UP TO ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE, AND THEN ALL OF THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS.
IF YOU ARE HERE, UH, PLEASE STAND SO I CAN IDENTIFY YOU ALL OF MY DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS.
UH, CHIEF FINN, FIRE POLICE, COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, MAYOR'S, OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, UH, SPECIAL VINCE SUSAN CHRISTIAN, UH, UH, JANICE WEAVER, UH, UH, ARTURA MICHELLE CITY LEGAL.
LET ME THANK ALL OF THE CITY DEPARTMENTS OF COMMUNICATIONS.
UH, HTV THANK YOU ALSO VERY, VERY MUCH.
TODAY ON VETERANS DAY, WE CELEBRATE, UH, THOSE WHO HONOR OUR COUNTRY WITH ITS HIGHEST FORM OF SERVICE.
UH, YOU WHO ONCE WORE THE UNIFORM OF OUR ARMY, MARINES, NAVY, AIR FORCE, AND COAST GUARD, WE OWE YOU OUR THANKS AND WE OWE YOU OUR UTMOST RESPECT.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, WE OWE YOU OUR FREEDOM.
WE ARE HERE TO EXPRESS OUR PROFOUND GRATITUDE, UH, FOR THE SACRIFICE AND CONTRIBUTIONS BOTH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY MADE ON THE BATTLEFIELD AT HOME AND AT DUTY STATIONS AROUND THE WORLD.
AMERICA'S GRATITUDE TO OUR VETERANS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN GROUNDED IN SOMETHING GREATER THAN THE DUTIES YOU PERFORM.
IT IS ALSO AN APPRECIATION OF THE EXAMPLE THAT YOU CONTINUE TO SET EVEN AFTER YOUR SERVICE HAS ENDED.
YOUR, YOUR EXAMPLE AS CITIZENS.
AND NOW TODAY, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF ACKNOWLEDGING, UM, INDIVIDUAL AND THEIR FAM INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES, UH, FOR THEIR SERVICE.
AND INSTEAD OF ME HAVING THEM TO COME UP HERE WHERE I STAND, I'M GONNA STEP DOWN WHERE I'M CLOSER, CLOSER TO THEM.
UM, AND QUITE FRANKLY, FOR THIS, SINCE I'M GONNA BE ISSUING A COUPLE OF PROCLAMATIONS, IF YOU DON'T MIND, IF I CAN GET THE COUNCIL MEMBERS JUST TO COME AND STAND RIGHT AROUND.
I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO RECOGNIZE TWO VERY SPECIAL VETERANS AND FAMILY MEMBERS ATTENDING THIS COMMEMORATION.
UH, FIRST IS COLONEL JOE MCFE, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS.
RETIRED WHO SERVED IN WORLD WAR II AND IN THE KOREAN WAR, AND WAS WHO WAS OF COURSE OUR FIGHT FIGHTER.
COLONEL MCFE IS 102 YEARS OLD.
YEAH, YOU LOOK PRETTY GOOD FOR 102.
SIR
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HE, HE IS THE OLDEST SURVIVING FIGHTER PILOT IN THE UNITED STATES WHO HAPPENS TO RESIDE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.HE SERVED IN OVER 240 COMBAT MISSIONS AND TWO AIR TO AIR VICTORIES.
HIS AWARDS INCLUDE A DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, SECOND AWARD AND AIR MEDALS, THE 11TH AWARD.
WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE HIM AND HIS FAMILY WITH US TODAY.
AND HE HAS, UH, AND HE HAS AGREED, HE HAD AGREED, UH, TO SERVE AS THE HONORARY GRAND MARSHALL FOR THE PARADE.
AND AS HONORARY GRAND MARSHALL.
UH, COLONEL MCFE, WHO'S MY, HE'S NOT HERE.
NOW WITH HIS FAMILY MEMBERS, PLEASE.
OKAY, WELL, LET'S PLEASE, LET'S ACKNOWLEDGE COLONEL MCFE.
LOOK AT 102 OF YOU DECIDE YOU WANNA STAY HOME.
SO TO COLONEL JOE MCPHAIL, GIVE IT UP TO HIM ONE MORE TIME.
AND NOW I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, UH, POSTHUMOUSLY STAFF SERGEANT FRED DOUGLAS WITCH, UH, WORLD WAR II, SERVED IN WORLD WAR II KOREA AND A VIETNAM WAR VETERAN WHO SERVED WITH HONOR IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND WAS AWARDED A PURPLE HEART MEDAL AND BRONZE STAR WAR MEDAL FOR VALOR.
UH, HIS WIDOW, MS. NAOMI WI UH, IS HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF HER HUSBAND.
ON NOVEMBER 17TH, 1965, HE WAS DECLARED A CASUALTY OF THE VIETNAM WAR.
DURING THE BATTLE OF LERANGE, UH, THIS BATTLE WAS PROMINENTLY BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION.
IN 2002 FROM THE MEL GIBSON MOVIE, WE WERE SOLDIERS.
HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES, AND HE WAS REFUSED BURIAL AND WHAT IS NOW KNOWN AS THE HOUSTON NATIONAL CEMETERY.
HE WAS BURIED IN PARADISE NORTH CEMETERY HOUSTON.
HIS CURRENT RESTING PLACE WAS DRIVEN BY THE FACT, UH, THAT HE WAS DENIED THE RIGHT IN 1965 TO BE IN, TO BE BURIED IN HOUSTON NATIONAL CEMETERY.
STAFF SERGEANT WITCHER FOUGHT WITH DISTINCTION IN THE NAME OF FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY FOR ALL, BUT RECEIVED LITTLE EMPATHY FROM HIS OWN GOVERNMENT.
MS. WITCH HAD ALSO AGREED TO SERVE AS AN HONORARY GRAND MARSHAL TODAY.
UH, AND, BUT SHE IS HERE, UH, STANDING NOT ONLY FOR HER HUSBAND, BUT STANDING FOR HERSELF FOR HER FAMILY MEMBERS AS WELL.
AND TODAY, UH, WE WANNA THANK MS. WITCH FOR REPRESENTING HER HUSBAND, WHO WAS A DISTINGUISHED VETERAN AND WE HONOR BOTH OF THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES ON TODAY.
PLEASE GIVE IT UP TO NAOMI AND MS. RICHARD.
TODAY WE WANNA PRESENT TO YOU, UH, THIS PROCLAMATION, UH, I'M NOT GOING TO READ IT IN FULL.
IT'S BEING PRESENTED IN MEMORIAL TO STAFF SERGEANT FRED DOUGLAS, RICHARD.
AND WHERE IS THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS DEDICATED TO A MEMBER, REMEMBERING INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE ENRICHED OUR COMMUNITY WITH THEIR MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
AND WHEREAS HOUSTON NATIVES STAFF SERGEANT FRED DOUGLAS RICHARD, UH, WAS BORN IN AUGUST 19TH, 1926, HE SERVED HIS COUNTRY FAITHFULLY AND WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART AND THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL, UH, FOR HIS BRAVERY.
AND DESPITE THE RACIAL DIVIDE OF THAT TIME, HE FOUGHT IN WORLD WAR II, KOREA AND THE VIETNAM WAR.
THAT INCLUDED THE BATTLE OF LARAS.
AND WHEREAS THE BATTLE OF LARAS, UH, COMPRISED, UH, TWO MAIN ENGAGEMENTS THAT TOOK PLACE ON NOVEMBER 14TH THROUGH THE 17TH, 1965, AND IN THERAN VALLEY, IT WAS THE FIRST MAJOR CONFRONTATION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND NORTH VIETNAM, KNOWN DURING THE VIETNAM WAR.
LEMME JUST ADD ON A PERSONAL NOTE THAT I HAVE KNOWN THIS FAMILY ALL OF MY
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LIFE.UM, IN FACT, UM, MISS WITCHING AND HER FAMILY LIVED RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, UH, FROM ME.
I TALKED TO HER SON LENIS, UH, ON YESTERDAY.
LENIS HAPPENED TO HAVE BEEN MY DEBATE PARTNER, UM, AND BEST FRIEND.
UM, AND IT'S, UM, UH, AS A BACKDROP THOUGH, UH, MR. WITCHER WAS DENIED THE RIGHT AT THAT TIME TO BE BURIED IN HOUSTON ON NATURAL, UH, UH, NATIONAL CEMETERY.
UM, THE CITY TODAY, 58 YEARS LATER, REAFFIRMED HIS RIGHT, UH, TO HAVE BEEN BURIED THERE AND RECOGNIZES HIM.
UM, IRONICALLY, UM, THE BEST FRIEND OF HER SON AND, UH, THE FATHER, THE VETERAN IN 58 YEARS LATER AS THE MAYOR OF THIS CITY, UH, WE RECOGNIZED HIS RIGHT, UH, AS A BACKDROP.
UH, IT WAS GARDEN CITY IN ACRE HOME, UH, THAT INTEGRATED THE KLINE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AND IT WAS A KLEIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, UH, THAT CLOSED THE ELEMENTARY AND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL AND SOLD IT TO THE CEMETERY SO THE COMMUNITY WOULD NOT GROW.
IT IS IN THAT CEMETERY THAT HER HUSBAND IS NOW BURIED WHEN HE WAS DENIED THE RIGHT TO BE MARRIED IN THE HOUSTON NATIONAL CEMETERY.
SOME 58 YEARS LATER, WE REAFFIRMED AND RECOGNIZED HIS SERVICE AND WE HONOR THEM TODAY.
SO THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH.
AND IT'S BEING DONE WHILE MS. WIT YET LIVES.
SO, AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, MS. WIT, LET ME PRESENT TO YOU, UH, THE KEY TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND RECOGNITION OF ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE AND ON THIS SPECIAL TODAY.
I KNOW SHE DID NOT COME ALONG.
UH, SO WERE THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF, OF, UH, NAOMI WIT AND VETERAN WIT WHERE Y'ALL, WHERE Y'ALL STAND WITH THE FAMILY MEMBERS.
SO FOR BEING HERE, LYNN, BEST FRIEND, UH, FIDEL CHURCH MEMBER, UH, COUSINS DADDY AND I WENT TO SCHOOL TOGETHER.
UM, AND ALL OF THEM THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
BUT, UH, THE MOTHER OF SO MANY, UH, AND SO THANK YOU MS. NAOMI WIT.
GIVE IT UP TO HIM ONE MORE TIME.
OH, I'M SORRY, MS. WIT, BEFORE YOU LEAVE, DID YOU, DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? WE CERTAINLY YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING? UH, THIS HAS BEEN QUITE AN HONOR FOR ME.
WE USED TO TRAVEL AROUND WITH MY HUSBAND, ME AND THE KIDS, AND SOMETIMES WE GET WEARY, BUT WE MADE IT SO, UH, ALL OF MY KIDS NOW ARE COLLEGE GRADUATES.
AND, UH, THANKS TO, UH, THE SERVICE OF IT.
SO LET'S REMEMBER DEAF SERGEANT FRED DOUGLAS, RICHARD, AND THE SAME PRO, THE SIMILAR PROCLAMATION IN THE KEY TO THE CITY IS ALSO BEING PRESENTED TO COLONEL MCFE AS WELL.
CAN WE GET A PHOTO OF Y'ALL PROCLAMATION AS WELL? THANK YOU.
CAN YOU HOLD THAT? PLEASE? HAND IT BACK.
SHE'S, SORRY, SHE WAS MOVING PRETTY QUICKLY.
DO WE NEED THIS RIGHT HERE GUYS, PLEASE.
YOU WANNA GO FIRST? I'LL LET YOU GO.
ALRIGHT GUYS UP HERE PLEASE MA'AM.
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WE GO BACK.THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR'S CELEBRATION IS RECOGNITION OF OF, OF FEMALE VETERANS.
UH, AND QUITE FRANKLY, VETERANS AS A WHOLE.
WHILE WOMEN HAVE FORMALLY BEEN A PART OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES, SINCE THE EXCEPTION OF THE ARMED NURSE CORPS IN 1901, THEY HAVE SERVED HONORABLY IN EVERY MAJOR CONFLICT SINCE THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
THE STATE OF TEXAS CONTINUES TO HAVE THE LARGEST POPULATION OF WOMEN IN THE COUNTRY WITH APPROXIMATELY 180,000 PRIOR ENLISTED WOMEN CALLING TEXAS THEIR HOME.
TODAY WOMEN ARE SERVING IN GREATER NUMBER AND COME BACK AND LEADERSHIP ROLES IN THE NATION AND AROUND THE WORLD.
HOUSTON HAS A HUGE POPULATION OF VETERANS, UM, AND IS STEADILY GROWING EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
IN FACT, UH, WE ARE SECOND ONLY TO THE LA REGION.
WE NOW HAVE WELL OVER 300,000 VETERANS.
AND OUR COMMUNITY IS FORTUNATE TO BE A DESTINATION FOR SO MANY AFTER THEY LEAVE MILITARY SERVICE VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE COMING TO HOUSTON BECAUSE OF THE AFFORDABLE COST OF LIVING, THE GREAT INSTITUTION OF HOW LEARNING THE RESILIENT ECONOMY, THE MANY ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDES SERVICES, AND A RECOGNITION THAT IN HOUSTON REGION, WE RESPECT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM AND REP, REC AND REP AND RECOGNIZE THEIR SERVICE.
UM, AND SO TODAY WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE, UH, VETERANS HERE.
AND BEFORE I BRING UP, UM, THE SPEAKER THIS MORNING, I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF OUR NATIONAL AND STATE LEADERS.
AND IF YOU ARE, AND I KNOW THE CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS YOU WILL HEAR FROM.
BUT FOR ALL OF OUR STATE AND NATIONAL, UH, UH, SENATOR ER'S, OFFICE REPRESENTATIVES, OUR STATE LEADERS REPRESENTATIVE, PLEASE STAND, UH, THIS MORNING AND THANK OUR ALL REPRESENTATIVE REYNOLDS, REPRESENTATIVE LON JONES.
THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO NOW ASK RETIRED ARMY COLONEL, DR.
OLA CROWLEY, UH, TO JOIN ME AT THE PODIUM.
CROWLEY IS TODAY'S KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND IS THE DAUGHTER OF VETERANS AND THE MOTHER OF A VETERAN AND THE SPOUSE OF A VETERAN
SHE WAS ON ACTIVE DUTY WHILE HER DAUGHTER SERVED IN IRAQ AND CAUSED THIS ONE OF THE MOST LIFE-CHANGING TIMES IN HER LIFE AND CAREER.
SHE RETIRED FROM THE US ARMY AS A LIEUTENANT COLONEL AFTER 29 YEARS OF SERVICE.
UM,
ONE IS AN ENGINEER OFFICER AND TWO OTHER COMMANDS WHILE SERVING AS A MEDICAL SERVICE CO-OP OFFICER AS WELL.
UH, IF I CAN HAVE, BEFORE SHE SPEAKS, LET ME PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION, UH, TO YOU.
OLA CROWLEY IN THE REGION PART.
UM, ON NOVEMBER THE 11TH, 2023, WE'LL COMMEMORATE THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION TO ESTABLISH AN OFFICIAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR THE AMUS OF WORLD WAR I.
SINCE THE OFFICIAL RECOGNITION OF AMUS DAY NEARLY NINE DECADES AGO, THE UNITED STATES HAS CONTINUED TO FLOURISH AS A FREE NATION, UH, EVER MINDFUL OF THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY AND PEACE SECURED BY OUR DEDICATED SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN.
OUR NATION ACKNOWLEDGES THE PRACTICE OF WAR AND THE DEAD OWED TO THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED AND SACRIFICED ON THE BILL OF, ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE ON NOVEMBER THE 11TH, 2023, THE ANNUAL VETERANS DAY OF SERVANTS WILL HONOR OUR NATION'S VALUED VETERANS AND PAY TRIBUTE TO THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY WITH HONOR.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT THIS YEAR.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECOGNIZES THE SIGNIFICANCE AND LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR ARMED FORCES.
UH, VETERANS APPRECIATES THEIR COURAGE AND DEDICATION AND EXTENDS BEST WISHES TO ALL ON THIS MEANINGFUL VETERANS DAY.
AND SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER
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TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, DO HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 11, 20, 23 YEARS VETERANS DAY AND RECOGNIZE YOU AS THE DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER ON THIS DAY AND FOR YOUR SERVICE.AND WE WISH YOU ALL THE VERY, VERY BEST THANK
AND NOW, UH, RECOGNIZING THE DAUGHTER OF A VETERAN, THE MOTHER OF A VETERAN, AND THE SPOUSE OF A VETERAN, TO BE YOUR GUEST SPEAKER THIS MORNING ON VETERAN'S DAY, DR.
I WASN'T NERVOUS BEFORE, BUT NOW I AM.
SO I'D LIKE TO SAY GREETINGS TILL ALL OF OUR DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, THE MAYOR.
AND TO OUR VETERANS THAT ARE IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY AND THOSE THAT ARE OUT THERE, IT IS MY PLEASURE AND MY HONOR TO STAND BEFORE YOU ON THIS VETERANS DAY, A DAY THAT WE HONOR OUR NATION'S HEROES, OUR VETERANS.
AND SO OF COURSE I BEGIN BY SAYING THAT I AM THE WIFE OF A VETERAN, THE DAUGHTER OF VETERANS, BOTH MY MOTHER AND MY FATHER SERVED.
I LEFT THAT PART OUT OF A VETERAN.
AND YES, WE ARE AN ARMY FAMILY, HOWEVER.
OKAY, YOU GOTTA GET A LITTLE BIT MORE IN THAT.
WE DID HAVE ONE THAT'S STRAY, AS MY HUSBAND SAYS.
UM, THAT, UH, IS A MARINE VETERAN
HOWEVER, YOU HAVE TO NOTE THE NUMBER OF WOMEN IN THAT LEGACY THAT WE HAVE.
SO THERE'S MY MOTHER, MY DAUGHTER, MY SISTER, UM, WITH MY DAUGHTER BEING THE YOUNGEST OF OUR VETERAN CLAN.
SO I WANTED TO SHARE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY AND, UH, THE MAYOR TALKED ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT, BUT YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF, UH, WE ALL REALIZE JUST HOW, UH, INTEGRAL WOMEN HAVE BEEN, UH, TO THE MILITARY AND THE ARMED FORCES EVEN BEFORE IT WAS FORMALIZED.
SO FROM THE BATTLEFIELDS OR THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION TO THE DESERTS OF IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, WOMEN HAVE BEEN SERVING IN THE MILITARY IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER FOR MORE THAN 200 YEARS.
THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE HAD TO OVERCOME DECADES OF OBSTACLES TO GET WHERE THEY ARE TODAY, SERVING IN GREATER NUMBERS, IN COMBAT ROLES AND IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS.
AND, YOU KNOW, JUST RECENTLY, 2016, I BELIEVE THE FIRST FEMALE SOLDIERS BECAME INFANTRY OFFICERS.
AND THEN IN 2017, THE FIRST FEMALE MARINES GRADUATED FROM INFANTRY SCHOOL.
AND THEN WE HAVE IN 2016, AIR FORCE, UM, GENERAL LORI ROBINSON TOOK THE LEAD OF THE US NORTHERN COMMAND BECOMING THE FIRST FEMALE MEMBER TO LEAD A UNIFIED COMBATANT COMMAND, THUS HOLDING THE HIGHEST RANK OF WOMEN IN US MILITARY HISTORY.
WE'VE SEEN FEMALE ENLISTED SAILORS DEPLOY ON SUBMARINES FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.
AND THESE ARE, THESE ARE REASONS TO CELEBRATE BECAUSE WE ARE THERE IN THE MIX DOING OUR JOB.
AND I TOO HAVE STOOD ON THE SHOULDERS OF THESE GIANTS.
AND I'VE ALSO BEEN A TRAILBLAZER.
I WAS ONE OF THE FIRST SOCIAL WORKERS TO COMMAND AS A COMPANY COMMANDER.
I COMMANDED THE 47TH COMBAT SUPPORT HOSPITAL FORMALLY.
'CAUSE NOW IT'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT BECAUSE THAT WAS A WHILE AGO.
BUT THAT CASH, I WAS A PART OF IT.
AND I THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER WORK THAT I'VE DONE.
YOU KNOW, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY BEFORE I RETIRED TO LEAD A SUCCESSFUL BATTALION COMMAND UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF AN INFANTRY BRIGADE COMMANDER.
BEING THE ONLY FEMALE THERE, THE ONLY ONE THAT LOOKED LIKE ME COMPLETELY.
AND I ALWAYS CONSIDERED IT AN HONOR.
'CAUSE I THOUGHT, HERE'S THIS INFANTRY GUY TAKING ON THIS MEDIC.
[00:40:01]
'CAUSE I WAS MEDICAL SERVICE CORPS.SO I'VE HAD SOME GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO ALSO LEAD IN TRAILBLAZE, WHICH IS PART OF THE LEGACY WE HAVE, OF COURSE AS WE SHARED IN MY FAMILY.
'CAUSE YOU WATCH MY DAUGHTERS COME ALONG AND DO THEIR THING AND THE WOMEN BEHIND US ARE CONTINUING TO SERVE AND SHOW UP.
WOMEN NOW MAKE UP 16% OF THE ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY.
THAT'S UP FROM 11% DURING THE GULF WAR ERA.
I BELIEVE IN THE WARRIOR ETHOS.
AND I CONTINUE TO SERVE IN THE CAPACITY THAT I DO BECAUSE I'M FORTUNATE TO WORK WITH VETERANS EVERY DAY.
I WORK AT THE HOUSTON VA HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, WHICH IS PRETTY EXCITING.
IT'S EXCITING FOR ME BECAUSE I CONTINUE TO SERVE AND I SAY I SERVE BECAUSE THEY SERVED.
I'M THERE BECAUSE I CONSIDER MY PARENTS' ERA.
I LOOK AT MY DAUGHTER AND O-I-F-O-E-F VETERANS THAT ARE COMING THROUGH.
AND IT IS, YOU WANNA BE A PART OF ENSURING THAT THEY HAVE THE BEST OPPORTUNITY FOR HEALTHCARE BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I AM.
BUT THEY HAVE ALL THE ACCESS TO WHAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BASED ON THEIR SERVICE, BASED ON THEIR BENEFITS, BASED ON WHAT THEY'RE ENTITLED TO.
AND SO WE WANNA MAKE THAT A BETTER EXPERIENCE FOR THEM.
SO I WORK WITH OVER 450 CLINICAL WARRIORS.
I CALL THEM WARRIORS, SOCIAL WORKERS, NURSES, PEER SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE THERE COMMITTED TO SERVING OUR VETERANS OVER THE LAST DECADE.
THE VA HAS SEEN 154% INCREASE JUST IN THE NUMBER OF WOMEN VETERANS USING HEALTHCARE.
SO IN COMPARISON TO 2001, THAT'S GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY.
I WANTED TO SHARE THIS, UH, ODD STORY 'CAUSE I TALK ABOUT HOW, UM, THAT CRITICAL POINT WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS IN IRAQ, AND, UH, THERE WERE SO MANY INCIDENTS HAPPENING.
SHE WAS 19 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME.
SHE HADN'T EVEN HAD TIME TO RECONCILE HER LIFE AS A PERSON, LET ALONE BE THRUST INTO COMBAT.
I WAS IN, UH, COMMAND AT THE TIME.
AND SHE WOULD CALL, I HAD A SENSE OF HER.
I COULD FEEL HER, I COULD FEEL EVERY TIME SOMETHING OCCURRED.
AND SHE HAD LOTS OF INCIDENTS.
SHE'S STILL CONNECTED TO ALL OF THOSE THAT SHE SERVED WITH IN IRAQ.
AND SOME CAME BACK MISSING LIMBS, SOME CAME BACK, YOU KNOW, WITH SOME SIGNIFICANT, UH, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, YOU KNOW, AND SOME DIDN'T COME BACK.
AND I RECALL THERE WAS AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED AND I WAS WAITING, UM, TO HEAR FROM HER TO SEE IF SHE WAS OKAY.
AND I LOST A SOLDIER, ACTUALLY.
UM, ONE OF MY SERVICE MEMBERS I LOST DURING THAT TIME.
AND WE WERE PREPARING TO BRING THAT SERVICE MEMBER HOME.
AND I GET A CALL AND IT'S FROM DOVER AIR FORCE BASE.
AND DOVER IS WHERE THEY BRING ALL OF, YOU KNOW, OUR DECEASED SERVICE MEMBERS TOO, UH, WHEN THEY'RE COMING BACK FROM WAR.
AND, YOU KNOW, I'M LOOKING AT MY PHONE AND IT SAYS, DOVER.
AND IN THESE SECONDS THAT WENT BY, I HAD TO STOP AND THINK, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET THE CALL LIKE THAT.
'CAUSE ALL I COULD THINK OF WAS MY DAUGHTER.
AND THE WHOLE IDEA OF ME PLANNING FOR MY SOLDIER TO COME BACK HAD JUST LEFT MY MIND BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT, THAT WAS VERY, UM, THAT WAS A TURNING POINT FOR ME JUST IN TERMS OF HOW I CONTINUE TO SERVE, TO ENSURE WE'RE CONNECTED.
ENSURE I HAD THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE.
YOU KNOW, THERE WERE TIMES I'D HAVE TO TALK TO HER ABOUT SOME OF THE INCIDENTS THAT HAPPENED.
AND I'D SAY, GO BACK, TALK TO COMBAT STRESS.
MAKE SURE YOU GUYS ARE STAYING ENGAGED.
YOU KNOW, GET BACK IN THE FIGHT.
BECAUSE IT WASN'T THE TIME FOR ME TO GET OFF THE PHONE LIKE I NORMALLY DID, AND JUST CRY AND SAY, OH MY GOD, YOU KNOW, I HAD TO KEEP HER PUMPED UP 'CAUSE SHE HAD TO STAY IN THE FIGHT.
SO THIS IS A PERSPECTIVE I COME FROM AND THIS IS WHY I CONTINUE TO SERVE.
SO LASTLY, I JUST TELL YOU THAT TODAY ON THIS VETERAN'S DAY, WE PAUSE TO EXPRESS OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED IN OUR NATION'S ARMED FORCES.
THEIR EXTRAORDINARY SACRIFICE AND DEDICATION HAS BEEN THE CORNERSTONE TO OUR FREEDOM AND OUR SECURITY.
AND AS WE CELEBRATE THE UNWAVERING COMMITMENT AND VALOR OF OUR VETERANS WHOSE SELFLESS SERVICE HAS SAFEGUARDED THE LIBERTIES THAT WE ALL HOLD DEAR, WE TAKE HEART IN KNOWING THAT THEIR LEGACY IS
[00:45:01]
NOT JUST IN THE HISTORY BOOKS.IT IS ETCHED IN THE HEART OF THIS NATION AND IN THE SPIRIT OF EVERY AMERICAN.
AND SO WITH THAT, I SAY AS WE REFLECT TODAY, MAY GOD BLESS YOU.
MAY GOD BLESS US AND MY FAMILY AS WE CONTINUE TO SERVE.
IT'S A FAMILY OF VETERAN HEROES.
MAN, I'VE NEVER HEARD ANYTHING LIKE IT.
UM, AND SOMEBODY STOLE MY NOTES.
BUT I, I THINK, UM, THAT, I THINK THAT CONGRESSMAN CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE IS NEXT TO SPEAK.
CAN I CONFIRM THAT? YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE, WHEN YOU'RE, UH, MASTER OF CEREMONIES IN THE PODIUM, YOU SHOULD ALWAYS TAKE YOUR NOTES WITH YOU WHEN YOU WALK AWAY FROM 'EM, BECAUSE SOMEBODY IS LIKELY TO SCOOP 'EM UP.
WHAT THEY GAVE ME WAS THE MAYOR'S DAY BOOK, AND IT HAD ALL HIS ITINERARY RIGHT THERE.
MISSED THE CORRECT SCRIPT, WRONG PAGE.
UM, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS INDEED, UH, FROM THE TEXAS 18TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE CONGRESSWOMAN, I'M GONNA ASK YOU, UH, A FAVOR, IF I MIGHT PLEASE COME UP.
UH, YOUR, YOUR, YOUR TALK IS GOING TO COME RIGHT AT 11 O'CLOCK, WHICH IS THE 11TH HOUR.
THE 11TH DAY OF THE 11TH MONTH.
AND WE WANT NO, NO, DON'T WAIT.
IF I GIVE YOU THE SIGNAL, WILL YOU CALL FOR THE MOMENT OF SILENCE TO RECOGNIZE VETERAN'S DAY? I'LL, I'LL CATCH YOU TO RUN UP WITH ME.
I'LL I'LL GIVE YOU THE HIGH SIGN.
WANT EVERYBODY TO SEE THAT I'M A WORKING MEMBER.
I'VE GOT BAGS AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS HERE.
UH, THAT'S BECAUSE BILL HAS TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A DAY OF CELEBRATION.
AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CELEBRATE, CELEBRATE AMERICA, AMERICA'S FREEDOM.
AND SOMEONE TELLS ME THAT IF WE CONTINUE TO BE THE LAND OF FREEDOM, WE MUST BE THE LAND OF THE BRAVE.
THAT'S HOW WE GET OUR FREEDOM.
YOU CAN CLAP, CLAP FOR THE LAND OF THE BRAVE.
LET ME THANK, UH, BILL, UH, IT HAS BEEN, UH, UNCOUNTABLE YEARS BECAUSE WE ADD TO YOUR SERVICE HERE, UH, TO YOUR SERVICE IN GIVING US THE NEWS WHERE WE WOULDN'T LISTEN TO ANYONE ELSE TILL WE HEARD BILL ZA SAY IT.
UM, AND THEN OF COURSE, TO BE JOINED BY A MAYOR THAT I HAVE NOT SEEN MORE COMMITMENT, UH, TO THE MEN AND WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES, MILITARY AND VETERANS FROM AN ADMINISTRATION, AS I'VE SEEN FROM THE ADMINISTRATION OF MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER.
YOU'VE GOTTA GIVE HIM A ROUSING APPLAUSE.
SO LET ME ACKNOWLEDGE MY COLLEAGUES, CONGRESSMAN GREEN, UH, CONGRESSWOMAN FLETCHER.
AND YOU WILL HEAR, UH, FROM CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA.
UM, WE FOCUS ON THIS CITY TOGETHER.
UH, WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE SERVE, THEN HOUSTON RECEIVES.
WE'RE DELIGHTED WITH OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOLANDA JONES, UH, SENATOR CORNYN'S OFFICE.
AND THIS IS, UM, TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION, KEVIN VETERANS COMMISSION, AND ALL OF OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE'RE EXCITED.
WE'LL ASK YOU ALL TO STAND IN JUST A MOMENT.
OH, HE GOT, HE SLIPPED IN HERE.
UM, WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HAVE HIM HERE AS WELL.
AND ALL OF YOU IN THE UNITED STATES MILITARY, ALL OF YOU WHO ARE VETERANS WHO ARE LIVING, AND OBVIOUSLY TO THE RICHARD FAMILY, THEY ARE BOTH AN INSTITUTION.
MRS. RICHARD, LOOKING ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.
LET ME JUST SIMPLY SAY, UH, THAT, UM, I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE, UH, BECAUSE I ALWAYS GET CHILLS AND THRILLS TO
[00:50:01]
BE AROUND THE MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM.WE WORK EXTENSIVELY WITH YOU IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.
I'VE INTRODUCED, UH, TONS OF BILLS AND AMENDMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR LIFE IS BETTER.
WE'VE GOT SOMETHING CALLED THE BUDDY WEEK.
'CAUSE NOVEMBER IS NATIONAL CAREGIVERS WEEK.
AND WE KNOW HOW MANY FAMILIES ARE CARING FOR VETERANS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND THOSE OF YOU AT THE VETERANS HOSPITAL AND VETERANS AFFAIRS, YOUR CHIEF PRIORITY SHOULD BE CARING FOR THE LIVING DR.
CROWLEY AND THESE EXCITING VETERANS LIKE YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR YOUNG DAUGHTER, WHO WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO.
AND WE MUST SAY THANK YOU ALL THE TIME.
WE MUST TAKE A MOMENT THAT IS NON-VETERANS DAY OR NON MEMORIAL DAY AND JUST THINK AND GIVE A WORD.
AND SO TO ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS, ALL OF YOU THAT ARE HERE THAT HELP OUR VETERANS 385 DAYS A YEAR, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU AN APPLAUSE BECAUSE IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
AND SO WE RECOGNIZE IN THE WORK THAT I'VE DONE, I'VE GOT NATIONAL BUDDY WEEK, AND THAT IS TO HAVE VARIOUS VETERAN SOLDIERS CHECKING ON SOMEONE ELSE.
SO WE CAN BRING DOWN THE NUMBER OF SUICIDES OR PEOPLE WHO ARE DESPONDENT WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY.
WE SHOULD NEVER ABANDON THEM IN THEIR TIME OF NEED.
AND THEN WE HAVE ALSO HAD, UH, LEGISLATION TO ASSESS WHETHER THE SERVICES THAT YOU'RE GETTING HELP YOU, WHETHER WE CAN DO BETTER IN MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE RESPONDING TO YOUR NEEDS.
I HAVE BEEN A CONTINUOUS CHAMPION OF PTSD DOLLARS, EVEN OUTSIDE OF THE VETERANS HOSPITAL.
SO YOU CAN FIND THOSE SERVICES AND BE ABLE TO DO IT.
UH, AND I WILL ASK BILL TO COME JOIN ME AS WE SEEK THIS PAUSE.
AND THEN I HAVE PRESENTATIONS TO MAKE AND COMMENTARY TO MAKE ABOUT OUR WOMEN VETERANS.
BUT LET ME STEP ASIDE AND JOIN YOU.
WE, THIS IS THE 11TH HOUR OF THE 11TH DAY OF THE 11TH MONTH ARM TO STAY ORIGINALLY VETERANS DAY TO DAY, JUST A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INDULGENCE, CONGRESSWOMAN.
NO, MY THE LORD BLESS US AND KEEP US.
THE LORD MAKE HIS FACE TO SHINE UPON US AND BE GRACIOUS TO US.
THE LORD LIFT UP HIS COUNTENANCE UPON US AND GIVE US PEACE THIS DAY AND NIGHT AND FOREVERMORE.
I'M HUMBLED TO BE ABLE TO BE IN THE MIDST OF A, UH, RECOGNITION AND ONE MINUTE OF SILENCE FOR THIS GREAT NATION AND THE GREAT VETERANS AND ARM TO STAY ITS ORIGINAL NAME.
LET ME, UM, INDICATE AGAIN THAT THIS IS A MOMENT OF CELEBRATION BECAUSE WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL IN EVERY MOMENT.
WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THE FALLEN AS WE DO A MEMORIAL DAY.
BUT AS OUR MC SAID, TO THANK THOSE OF YOU WHO LIVE AMONGST US EVERY DAY, AND WHO WE GRAB UP TO BE PART OF OUR OPERATIONS, OUR WORK DAYS, OUR CORPORATIONS, UH, CITY EMPLOYEES WHO ARE VETERANS, AND MANY OF THEM I I MEET CAME STRAIGHT OUT OF THE MILITARY TO WORK FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
I KNOW IN THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, WE GRABBED THEM UP.
AND I IMAGINE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, OUR COLLEAGUES GRABBED THEM UP AS WELL.
SO I SAID I WAS GOING TO HONOR WOMEN VETERANS AND TO THANK THEM 1.7 MILLION AND GROWING.
AND THEY ARE ANGLO, UH, ASIAN AMERICAN LATINOS.
THEY'RE AMERICAN INDIANS, THEY'RE AFRICAN AMERICANS.
UH, AND I SEE THEM ALL THE TIME AS A MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF HONORING VETERANS IN THE EARLY STAGES OF MY CAREER.
UH, WE HAVE EVEN, UH, SECURED A VETERANS WOMEN'S MUSEUM IN MY TENURE, UH, WHICH I CO-SPONSORED TO OPEN UP AT ARLINGTON CEMETERY, OF COURSE.
BUT THERE ARE STORIES OF THOSE WHO LIVE AS WELL.
AND I CANNOT STAND HERE WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGING FIRST PETTY OFFICER, US NAVY, MAN DAVIS, WHO IS HERE.
WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND? MR. DAVIS? YOU JUST STAND UP PLEASE.
AND SO LET ME, UH, NOW, UM, DO AS, UM, AND I I WANTED TO FIND OUT, UM, I CAME DOWN FOR YOU, MS. WIT, ARE YOU ABLE TO COME UP OR I WILL COME DOWN RIGHT HERE.
I'M JUST, JUST, SO LET ME, UH, FIRST OF ALL, UM, ACKNOWLEDGE,
[00:55:01]
UH, DR.I THINK YOU CAN COME UP, UM, AND, UH, RECOGNIZE YOU AS THE, UH, KEYNOTE SPEAKER.
AND WE ARE VERY PLEASED TO 29 YEARS.
UH, AND, UH, VERY HIGH RANKING LIEUTENANT COLONEL.
AND, UH, NOW WORKING AT THE VA.
DOES SHE EVER STOP GIVING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN? AND SO I'M JUST SIMPLY GONNA SAY THAT YOU ARE DESERVING OF THE COMMENDATION, RESPECT AND ADMIRATION OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.
AND AS WELL, UH, TO BE ABLE TO, MY COLLEAGUE, CONGRESSMAN GARCIA IS WILLING, I'M GONNA COME DOWN FOR OUR OTHER PRESENTATION THAT SHE MAY WISH TO JOIN US.
AND, UH, WE ARE BOTH IN THE RED CATEGORY AND WE ARE NOW THE RED, WHITE, AND BLUE CATEGORY
UM, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AGAIN, UH, I CELEBRATE TODAY.
I WALK TALL WHEN I SEE YOU BECAUSE WE HAVE THE FIRST AND THE BEST FIGHTING MACHINE IN THE WORLD.
LET NO ONE TELL YOU ANY DIFFERENT CONFLICTS.
AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE CALLED UPON IN CONFLICTS AROUND THE WORLD.
AND I ASK YOU AND BEG OF YOU TO STAND BY THE MEN AND WOMEN WHEREVER THEY ARE, WHILE THEY'RE ON DUTY, WHILE THEY WALK AMONGST US.
AND REALIZE THAT SOMETIMES THERE MAY BE A FALTER, BUT IT IS NOT THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY.
WE HONOR THEM IN WHATEVER CONFLICT WAR, ANYTIME THEY ARE AWAY.
AND ANYTIME THEY ARE WITH US, HOW DARE WE NOT GIVE THEM HONOR BECAUSE THEY HAVE PUT ON THE UNIFORM UNSELFISHLY.
REMEMBER, FREEDOM IS NOT FREE, BUT THERE IS NO FREEDOM IF THERE'S NOT THE LAND OF THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY AND OUR VETERANS.
GOD BLESS YOU AND GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, MY PRIVILEGE DOWN TO PROVIDE, UH, THESE, UH, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS TO MS VERY QUICKLY.
SO LET ME, UM, COMES WITH GREEN AND CONGRESSWOMAN FLETCHER WILL JOIN US.
I KNOW IN THE PRESENTATION TO THE WITCHED FAMILY, TRULY AN AMERICAN HERO.
I JUST WANT YOU TO HEAR WORLD WAR II, THE KOREAN WAR, AND VIETNAM.
DOES THAT NOT DESERVE AN A AROUSING APPLAUSE FOR ALL? I'M GOING TO BE INTERN AND OUT OF TURN, BUT MAYOR, COME STAND HERE PLEASE.
UH, BUT WE WILL, WE WILL WORK TOGETHER TO CORRECT THE CEMETERY MISS DESIGNATION, WHICH WAS EVEN WORSE THAN THAT.
BUT WE WILL TRY TO BE POLITE TODAY.
UH, AND WE WILL WORK ON THOSE MEDALS.
AND WE'RE PRETTY DARN SUCCESSFUL WORKING TOGETHER ON THOSE MEDALS.
AND WE SAY WE ARE GONNA GIVE YOU YOUR FLOWERS WHILE YOU YET LIVE.
AND I'M GONNA PLACE THIS IN THE UNITED STATES.
WE'LL PLACE THIS IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESSIONAL RECORD TO HONOR HIM.
AND RIGHT, THAT RECOGNIZES THE FLAG, THE BIG FLAG.
THE ONE THAT IS FLOWN OVER THE UNITED STATES CAPITAL.
CAN Y'ALL LOOK THIS WAY? HERE'S A FLAG.
AND CAN THE SUN HOLD THIS FOR HER, PLEASE? YES.
[01:00:01]
HAVE, UM, AN ADDITIONAL FLAG FROM, DIRECTLY FROM, UH, CONGRESSMAN GREEN.AND, UH, YOU NEED TO GIVE BACK THE BAG, PLEASE.
SO, UM, LEAVING? YES, YOU'RE GOOD.
UH, MAYOR, JUST A MOMENT, PLEASE STAND BY.
MR. DAVIS, JUST CAN YOU COME JUST FOR A MOMENT? HE'S 90 AND HE SERVED IN UNITED STATES NAVY OUTTA THE WAY.
AND HE'S BEEN A SERVANT IN THIS COMMUNITY SHELTER IN ARMS AND EVERYWHERE ELSE.
UH, AND THE CERTIFICATE THAT HONORS, UH, FIRST PETTY OFFICER BRETT DAVIS, THE MAN OF THIS CITY, UH, US NAVY.
MAYOR'S NOT 90, BUT HE IS DESERVING AS WELL.
90, BUT HE'S DESERVING AS WELL.
TALKS ABOUT HIS COMMITMENT TO THE MILITARY.
YOU HEAR THAT THE MAYOR SAID, IS THIS ALL YOU HAVE FOR ME,
HE SAYS, I HOPE YOU'VE ENJOYED THE CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE SHOW.
BILL LEANED OVER TO THE MAYOR AND I SAID, WELL, THIS, HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A VANNA WHITE? UH, BUT NO, THIS IS, UH, SO IMPORTANT, UH, THAT WE DO LIGHTEN UP AND CELEBRATE BECAUSE IT IS A CELEBRATION.
IT IS A CELEBRATION OF ALL OF THE SERVICE FROM ALL OUR MILITARY FAMILIES, FROM ALL OUR MILITARY FOLKS.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO THIS SO THAT WE, PEOPLE DON'T FORGET SO PEOPLE DON'T FORGET.
SO FOR ME, IT'S JUST A PLEASURE TO BE BACK AT CITY HALL AND MAYOR, YOU DON'T GET THE PROCLAMATION.
WE, WE DEAL WITH YOU LATER WHEN WE BRING YOU HOME MONEY.
I, I ALWAYS JOKE WITH HIM THAT I USED TO BE CITY CONTROLLER HERE WATCHING THE MONEY, BUT NOW MY JOB IS TO BRING HOME THE MONEY.
UH, AND BILL, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE.
I KNOW I'VE BEEN HERE WHEN I WAS A JUDGE AS CONTROLLING ALL MY DIFFERENT POSITIONS.
AND YOU'RE ALWAYS HERE AND ALWAYS KEEP US ROLLING AND ON TIME AND FOCUS ON THE THING, THE, UH, TASK AT HAND.
UH, AND FOR ME, I WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TOPIC.
UH, AND THAT IS HONORING OUR WOMEN VETERANS.
AND REMEMBER GUYS, IT'S NOT BECAUSE WE'RE FORGETTING YOU, IT'S JUST TO HIGHLIGHT, UH, UH, THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACT THAT, THAT THAT ALLOWED WOMEN TO SERVE.
YOU KNOW, I HAD THE DISTINCT, UH, TASK OF WORKING ON A CASE OF A YOUNG SOLDIER IN FORT HOOD THAT WAS MURDERED.
I SERVED ON THE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE.
AND THAT LADIES REALLY OPENED MY EYES
[01:05:01]
AS TO SOME OF THE CHALLENGES, THE STRUGGLES, AND THE THINGS THAT WE STILL MUST DO FOR WOMEN IN OUR MILITARY.YES, WE MUST DO SO MUCH MORE IN WORKING ON THAT CASE AND LOOKING AT THE THINGS RELATED TO MILITARY, SEXUAL ASSAULT, HARASSMENT, AND JUST THE TREATMENT OF WOMEN.
UH, AND I'M NOT HERE TO TELL YOU ALL THAT.
IT'S AT EVERY MILITARY INSTALLATION THAT IT'S EVERY MALE OFFICER OR EVERY MALE SERGEANT, OR IT IS HAPPENING REGRETFULLY.
AND HERE IS THE MOST STAR, UH, THING THAT I'VE DISCOVERED WAS THAT.
BUT FOR THE FACT THAT I GOT INVOLVED AND DID THE CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY, WENT DOWN THERE TO FORT HOOD AND MET WITH EVERYBODY AND BROUGHT IT UP TO LIGHT, I THINK THERE'S A STRONG POSSIBILITY IT WOULD'VE JUST BEEN SWEPT UNDER THE RUG.
OKAY? THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO STOP.
WE'VE GOTTA MAKE SURE THAT ALL OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SERVE A GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
THAT THE PROCESS IS OPEN AND TRANSPARENT FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO DO IT.
AND THAT WHEN THEY'RE THERE, THAT THEY'RE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT AND EQUAL EQUALITY AS ANYBODY ELSE.
AS I SAID TO THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY, HO WE WERE DOING SOME FOLLOW UP WORK RECENTLY.
I TOLD HER, I SAID, IT IS, AND I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE ARMY BECAUSE VANESSA WAS IN THE ARMY, BUT THIS APPLIES TO EVERYBODY.
THE MODEL THAT YOU HAD WHEN YOU WERE MR. DAVIS IN THE SERVICE, MA'AM, WHEN YOU WERE, AND NO ONE MA'AM, YOU WERE IN MARINE CORPS WORLD WAR I, CORRECT? OR IS IT THE NO, THE WOMEN'S ARMY CORPS.
YOU KNOW, SHE SERVED AT THE WOMEN'S ARMY CORPS AND YOU'RE WHAT NOW? 90, 105 YEARS OLD.
AND FORGIVE ME, I THE ARMY THAT SHE JOINED AT A TIME WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED, THE WOMEN ARMY CORPS IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE ARMY THAT VANESSA GULLEN JOINED.
SO WE CAN'T BE DOING THE SAME THINGS THE SAME WAY.
AND WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PREPARE FOR THAT.
NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT, ONE OF THE BILLS THAT I HAVE FILED RECENTLY, IN FACT IT WAS JUST LAST WEEK IN HONOR OF, OF THE VETERANS, UH, WEEK, WAS A BILL TO ENSURE THAT VA SERVICES HAVE GYNECOLOGICAL CARE AND A GYNECOLOGICAL CARE PROVIDER.
'CAUSE RIGHT NOW THEY DON'T PROVIDE IT AT ALL.
AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO RIGHT BACK THEN, BUT NOW THEY REALLY NEED TO.
UH, AND THE OTHER BILL THAT WE HAVE, AND THAT'S ONE THAT, UM, WE GOT, UH, GOING ALREADY 'CAUSE IT'S A GAO STUDY, IS JUST TO STUDY JUST WHAT THE CHALLENGES ARE IN THE PROCESS OF HANDLING, UH, UH, SEXUAL ASSAULT OR HARASSMENT.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT COMPLAINTS THROUGH THE ARMY AND THE NAVY.
EVERYONE, EVERYONE SHOULD BE DOING THE SAME THING.
IT SHOULDN'T BE DIFFERENT AT HOW THE AIR FORCE HANDLES SOMETHING AND THE ARMY DOES IT A DIFFERENT WAY.
IT'S VERY CONFUSING SOMETIMES.
AND THE OTHER PIECE OF WORK THAT I'M DOING THAT'S RELATIVE TO TODAY'S DISCUSSION, Y'ALL, IT'S GONNA BREAK HER HEART.
BUT THERE IS SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE JUNIOR ROTC PROGRAMS. THERE'S ALREADY BEEN, I THINK ABOUT 30, I THINK A LITTLE LESS THAN 50, BUT THAT'S STILL TOO MANY.
ONE WOULD BE TOO MANY OF, OF, OF CONVICTIONS AND CHARGES FILED.
WE CANNOT DISCOURAGE ANYONE WHO WANTS TO SERVE.
AND IF WE DON'T DO THE RIGHT THING IN MAKING SURE THAT THE PROCESS OF THE APPLICATIONS AND THE RECRUITMENT AND EVERYTHING IS EQUAL AND FAIR, THEN WE MAY END UP NOT READY AND NOT PREPARED.
IT'S AN EQUALITY ISSUE AND IT'S A FAIRNESS ISSUE.
SO I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY WOMAN LIKE YOU TODAY, WHO DECIDES TO JOIN THE MILITARY CAN AND WILL BE TREATED THE SAME AS HER, HER MALE PARTNER, UH, THAT HAND IN HAND DOING THE SAME THINGS, THE SAME PAY AND BEING TREATED EQUALLY BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
THEY GO FIGHT FOR OUR FREEDOMS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET ALL THAT.
SO WE CERTAINLY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN TOO.
[01:10:01]
OUR VETERANS.WE'VE GOTTA PROTECT THE RECRUITS FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THEY SERVE THEY PROUDLY DO THAT AND THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO SERVE.
SO AS YOU REMEMBER, OUR CONGRESS, YOU KNOW, I'LL WORRY ABOUT BRINGING B TURNER MONEY NOW FOR ANOTHER, WHAT IS IT? SIX WEEKS? SIX WEEKS.
HE'S STILL ASKING FOR SOME, TRUST ME,
BUT I'LL ALSO OF COURSE BE FIGHTING FOR ALL OF YOU AND FOR EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THE MILITARY, I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT I'LL BE GOING HOME.
I TOLD BILL I WOULDN'T BE THAT LONG, BUT MAYBE I HAVE BEEN.
'CAUSE I'VE GOT A FLIGHT TO CATCH.
AND WHEN I KNOW THAT WE'RE AT A, A MASS ON SUNDAY, I'M CATHOLIC, THE PRIEST WILL CALL UP ALL THE VETERANS FOR A BLESSING AND THREE OF MY BROTHERS WILL GET UP.
EVERY ONE OF MY BROTHER-IN-LAWS WILL GET UP AND SOME OF MY UNCLES THAT ARE THERE WILL GET UP BECAUSE MY FAMILY'S WANNA SERVICE JUST LIKE YOURS CURES.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
STAY WARM, STAY DRY, AND GOD BLESS.
THANK YOU CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA.
JUST BEFORE WE GO, UH, WE ARE GONNA HAVE, UH, A MEDLEY OF PATRIOTIC SONGS PERFORMED BY MR. KELLY FAIR.
WHERE IS HE GETTING THAT BAG PUMPED UP.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I'M GONNA ASK THAT IF YOU ARE ABLE, PLEASE STAND AND IF YOU'RE WEARING A COVER, PLEASE REMOVE IT AS TAPS IS SOUNDED BY SENIOR AIRMAN, ANGELA HAWKS JOHNSON, US AIR FORCE AND JOHANN CUS SECOND CLASS PETTY OFFICER UNITED STATES NAVY.
AFTERWARDS, WE WILL OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
[01:15:50]
SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO BE SEATED, BUT THEN YOU JUST HAVE TO STAND UP AGAIN BECAUSE OUR CEREMONY IS OVERPLEASE THANK YOUR VETERANS TODAY AND EVERY DAY.