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WELCOME FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF VETERAN AND MILITARY AFFAIRS.
AS WE HONOR THE WOMEN WHO SERVE YESTERDAY AND THOSE WHO ARE SERVING TODAY.
TODAY WILL BE EMOTIONAL AND EMPOWERING.
MY JOB IS TO FRAME THE EVENT, KEEP US ON TIME, AND LIFT UP OTHERS.
ALLOW ME TO DO THAT BY SHARING A FEW WORDS OF WISDOM THAT MY MOM SHARED WITH ME.
YOU ARE MEANT TO BE STRONG AND TO BE HEARD.
ON THIS SPECIAL DAY, LET US HONOR AND CELEBRATE THE REMARKABLE STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE OF OUR WOMEN VETERANS.
YOU'RE MEANT TO BE STRONG AND HEARD, AND YOUR VOICE MATTERS.
IF YOU ARE ONE OF THE WOMEN VETERAN IN ATTENDANCE AND YOU'RE ABLE TO PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED.
LADIES, I SEE YOU IN THE FRONT.
OH, HOUSTON, YOU CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT.
LADIES STILL SAY STANDING BECAUSE AT THIS TIME WE'RE ASKING EVERYONE, EVERYONE TO PLEASE RISE AND DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION.
WE'RE GOING TO, SHE'S GIVING ME SIGNALS HERE, FOLKS.
AND STALL WHILE WE'RE GIVING THE PENS TO THE WOMEN VETERANS.
I THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE QUICKER THAN THAT.
I GET TO HELP Z EARN HIS KEEP TODAY BECAUSE IF HE HAD NOTICED, HE'S MY BROTHER AND HE IS ABSOLUTELY.
HE GOES TO THE SAME BARBER, EXCEPT HE KNOWS AT LEAST TWO LANGUAGES.
ALL RIGHT, AS WE PASS THESE OUT, AND NOW I GET TO DANCE 'CAUSE I ACTUALLY FILLED A FEW THINGS IN.
WHEN THE WESTBURY HIGH SCHOOL AIR FORCE, J-R-O-T-C PRESENTS THE COLORS THEIR PRINCIPAL JERRY NIXON, SHE'S SO PROUD OF THIS GROUP BECAUSE THEY HAVE AN AWARD WINNING FINE ARTS MAGNET PROGRAM AND THEY INCORPORATED IT INTO THEIR COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL SETTING.
OVER 2300 STUDENTS EACH YEAR HAVE THE HONOR OF BEING HUSKIES AND THE ELITE FEW ARE PRESENTING THE COLORS TODAY.
DR. JONES, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.
PLEASE DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO THE US FLAG AS THE WESTBURY HIGH SCHOOL AIR FORCE JR.
THIS WILL BE DIRECTLY FOLLOWED BY MASTER SERGEANT ANGELA MATTHEWS FROM THE 147TH ATTACK WING TO SING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM ARCH COLLAR GUARD.
GO LEFT FACE FREEZE HARMS. OH, SAY, CAN YOU SEE BY THE DAWNS EARLY OH.
SO PROUDLY WE THE LAST GLEAMING WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT THROUGH THE OR THE RAMS WE WERE STREAMING AND THE BOMBS BURST THROUGH, THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS SPAN
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OR THE LAND OF THE, AND THE OF GOOD, HARD, GOOD FALL.THANK YOU TO THE J-R-O-T-C AND FOR MASTER SERGEANT MATTHEWS FOR THAT AND FOR ZII KNOW THAT THE MAJORITY OF EVERYBODY WAS ABLE TO HEAR THAT.
I GOT GOOSEBUMPS, UH, WHEN SHE WAS SINGING AND WHEN I SAW Z UH, ENTHUSIASTICALLY SIGNING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY ELSE COULD FEEL WHAT WAS IN THE AIR.
IT IS FITTING THAT WE CONTINUE TO EXERCISE OUR FREEDOM WITH A MOMENT OF REFLECTION AND SPIRITUAL GROUNDING FROM US ARMY VETERAN TO LISA KEEL.
DISTINGUISHED GUEST VETERANS, SPECIFICALLY MY SISTER WARRIORS.
HOW Y'ALL DOING? GIVING ALL HONOR TO GOD MY LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.
AND LET'S JUST GIVE A HAND CLAP TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR PUTTING THIS EVENT ON TODAY.
DR. JONES DOESN'T LOVE IT WHEN I DO THIS, BUT ANY OPPORTUNITY THAT I HAVE TO GIVE SOMEONE THEIR FLOWERS, I'D RATHER DO IT WHILE THEY'RE HERE RATHER THAN AT A FUNERAL.
AND, UH, SHE'S A HUGE REASON THAT WE ARE HERE TODAY CELEBRATING A DAY THAT TEXAS RECOGNIZES WOMEN VETERANS DAY BECAUSE OF THE LEGISLATION THAT SHE HELPED LEAVE.
NOW I'M SUPPOSED TO BE OPENING UP IN PRAYER, BUT JUST GIVE ME 30 SECONDS,
WE HAVE HAD OVER 2 MILLION WOMEN THAT HAVE SERVED IN THIS NATION'S GREAT MILITARY, AND THERE ARE WOMEN TODAY THAT STILL DO NOT RECOGNIZE THEMSELVES AS A VETERAN, EVEN THOUGH THEY SIGNED THAT DOTED LINE AND SERVED.
SO WE STAND IN THE GAP FOR THEM TODAY AS WE RECOGNIZE OUR SERVICE.
WE RECOGNIZE THE SERVICE OF THE WOMEN BEFORE US, THE WOMEN THAT ARE PRESENTLY SERVICE, AND THE WOMEN THAT ARE GONNA SERVE IN OUR NEAR FUTURE.
NOW, IF YOU GUYS WOULD ALL LIKE TO JOIN ME IN PRAYER, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO START OFF WITH JUST A FEW SECONDS OF SILENCE, UH, SO THAT WE CAN, UM, HONOR OUR OWN WAY OF WORSHIPING AND AS WELL, UH, RECOGNIZE THE WOMEN WHO AREN'T ABLE TO BE HERE TODAY.
DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT OF THIS DAY AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER IN RECOGNITION OF EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN WHO HAVE DAWNED THAT UNIFORM AND ANSWERED THE CALL TO SERVE, WE HONOR THEIR BRAVERY, THEIR RESILIENCE, AND THEIR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THE IDEALS OF FREEDOM AND JUSTICE.
WE ASK FOR YOUR BLESSING UPON EVERYONE IN YOUR PRESENCE TODAY.
AND FOR ALL OF THE WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED PAST AND PRESENT WHO HAVE SACRIFICED SO MUCH FOR THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR NATION, MAY THEY FIND PEACE AND FULFILLMENT IN KNOWING THAT THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE SHAPED THE COURSE OF HISTORY AND INSPIRE GENERATIONS TO COME GRANTED THE WISDOM TO SUPPORT AND UPLIFT THESE VETERANS ENSURING THAT THEY RECEIVE THE RECOGNITION AND CARE THAT THEY SO DESERVE.
AND MAY OUR GATHERING TODAY SERVE AS A BEACON OF HOPE AND TESTAMENT TO THE STRENGTH AND PERSEVERANCE OF WOMEN IN UNIFORM.
I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE, FATHER, THAT THERE ARE ALSO WOMEN THAT COULDN'T BE HERE, FATHER GOD, WHETHER IT WAS FOR PHYSICAL OR MENTAL REASONS.
LORD GOD, WE ASK THAT YOU STAND IN THE GAP, LORD GOD, AND JUST COVER THEM WITH YOUR PRESENCE, FATHER, AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE.
WE THANK YOU FOR EVERY PERSON THAT IS HERE TODAY IN HONOR OF THIS RECOGNITION AND THIS CEREMONY OF WOMEN, VETERANS.
AND WE JUST PRAY, FATHER GOD, THAT YOUR WILL WILL BE DONE TODAY AND EVERY DAY AFTER.
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DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO THE MONITOR.JUNE 12TH, 2018 MARKS THE FIRST OFFICIAL WOMEN'S VETERANS DAY IN TEXAS.
VETERAN ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS TEXAS ARE PLANNING A SERIES OF EVENTS THAT WILL EDUCATE, VALIDATE, AND COMMEMORATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED OR ARE CURRENTLY SERVING IN THE US MILITARY.
ACCORDING TO VA.GOV, THERE ARE CURRENTLY 1,882,848 WOMEN VETERANS IN THE US PUERTO RICO AND FOREIGN TERRITORY.
THE SUICIDE RATE AMONG WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE US MILITARY IS MORE THAN TWICE AS HIGH AS THAT OF ADULT CIVILIAN WOMEN.
140,000 WOMEN SERVED IN THE US ARMY AND THE WOMEN'S ARMY CORPS.
THEY PERFORMED CRITICAL JOBS SUCH AS MILITARY INTELLIGENCE, CRYPTOGRAPHY, AND PARACHUTE RIGGING.
IN 1948, CONGRESS PASSED THE WOMEN'S ARMED SERVICES INTEGRATION ACT.
THIS GRANTED WOMEN PERMANENT STATUS IN THE MILITARY, ENTITLING THEM TO VETERANS BENEFITS.
FAMILY REINTEGRATION CAN BE CHALLENGING.
WOMEN VETERANS MAY NOT HAVE A SUPPORT SYSTEM TO DEAL WITH ISSUES STEMMING FROM SERVICE AS THEY SETTLE BACK INTO HOME LIFE.
OVER 1000 WOMEN FLEW AIRCRAFT FOR THE WOMEN'S AIR FORCE SERVICE PILOTS.
WOMEN ARE AT A HIGHER RISK FOR PTSD STEMMING FROM MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA THAN VETERAN MEN.
AND WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN PHYSICALLY INJURED ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE PTSD AS WELL.
SO I WANNA SAY TO ALL OF OUR HONOREES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE, AND WE THANK YOU FOR PAVING THE WAY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE COME BEHIND YOU.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE WANNA ALSO HONOR THOSE WOMEN WHO ARE NO LONGER WITH US.
SO WE WANNA SAY TO THE FAMILIES THAT WE ALSO REMEMBER THOSE WOMEN WHO HAVE ALSO GIVEN TO, UH, THIS GREAT NATION.
IT'S ONLY ONE THING I WOULD ASK OF THE ROOM IS THAT WHOEVER CONTROLS THE AC, TURN IT DOWN TO ALASKA, PLEASE, SO WE CAN ENJOY THE REST AS WE WELCOME DR.
LASANDRA JONES AND DIRECTOR ROBERT DBO III FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF VETERAN AND MILITARY AFFAIRS.
I'M WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF VETERAN MILITARY AFFAIRS.
IT IS AN HONOR TO SEE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
EVERYBODY KNOWS FROM ME, THIS IS LIKE CHRISTMAS FOR ME.
I DON'T HAVE KIDS, SO I DON'T GET THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE KIDS, YOU KNOW, ON CHRISTMAS DAY.
BUT FOR ME, JUNE 12TH, IT MEANS A LOT.
THERE WAS DAYS, THERE WAS NIGHTS WHEN WE WERE GOING BACK AND FORTH FROM HOUSTON, FROM DALLAS, FROM AUSTIN TO, I'M SORRY, FROM KILLEEN, DALLAS AND HOUSTON, FROM BACK AND FORTH TO AUSTIN TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE STATE LEGISLATORS KNEW HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS TO MAKE SURE WE HONOR THOSE WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED HERE IN TEXAS.
TEXAS WAS ACTUALLY NUMBER TWO IN THE COUNTRY.
DID Y'ALL HEAR ME? WE WERE NUMBER TWO IN THE COUNTRY TO GET THIS DAY PASSED.
AND NOW WE HAVE MORE AND MORE STATES THAT ARE FOLLOWING SUIT TO MAKE SURE THEY TAKE THIS DAY TO RECOGNIZE THOSE WOMEN WHO SERVE THIS NATION.
BUT TEXAS IS NUMBER ONE AND THE LARGEST NUMBER OF FEMALES THAT STAY HERE IN THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS GIVE IT UP FOR TEXAS.
IF YOU WERE ABLE TO SEE THAT VIDEO, UH, WE MADE THAT VIDEO BACK IN 2018.
SO THE LEGISLATION WAS PASSED MARCH, 2017 AND GOVERNOR ABBOTT SIGNED IT, UM, RIGHT BE RIGHT AFTER THAT.
BUT OF COURSE, WITH LEGISLATION, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT, UH, ACTUALLY LEGISLATION TILL SEPTEMBER 1ST, I THINK, OF EVERY YEAR.
SO WE WEREN'T ABLE TO REALLY OFFICIALLY CELEBRATE THE 2018.
SO THOSE WOMEN THAT YOU SAW, THEY'RE NO LONGER HERE, AND THEY SAT ON THIS ROW, THEY'RE NO LONGER HERE.
UH, THE OLDEST WAS 1 0 5, 1 WAS 1 0 3, 1 IS ALREADY GONE.
THERE'S ANOTHER ONE THAT'S IN HOSPICE.
SO THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
ACTUALLY, AFTER TODAY, I'M SORRY, AFTER THIS CEREMONY, WE HAVE ANOTHER CEREMONY AT FOUR O'CLOCK AT THE RICHARD A. ANDERSON FACILITY, WHICH IS A,
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A FACILITY FOR VETERANS, UM, DOWN TO 88.I WENT ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO AND I MET THE FOUR WOMEN THAT WERE THERE.
I SAID, WE'RE GONNA BE HONORING YOU ON JUNE 12TH.
AND WITHIN A FEW DAYS, ONE OF THEM WAS GONE.
SHE WAS VERY EXCITED, SHE WAS INVITING HER FAMILY.
I GOT THE CALL, SHE PASSED AWAY.
SO THAT'S WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE SURE THESE WOMEN WHO SERVED IN THE THIRTIES AND THE FORTIES AND THE FIFTIES AND STILL SERVING, WE WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE HONOR YOU, AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, IT SAID, HONOR TO WELCOME AND JOHN YOU AND TO STAND WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THIS OFFICE TO CELEBRATE TEXAS WOMEN VETERAN DAY, AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THE WOMEN WHO HAD SERVED AND SACRIFICED FOR OUR COUNTRY SINCE THE PASSING OF THIS LEGISLATION IN 19, EXCUSE ME, 2017 WOMEN VETERAN ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS BEEN COMING TOGETHER EACH JUNE THE 12TH TO CELEBRATE THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE THE WOMEN IN THE ARMED FORCES PASS AND PRISON.
THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS CONTINUE TO HAVE THE LARGEST POPULATION OF WOMEN.
ALSO, WE HAVE A LARGER POPULATION OF VETERANS IN THE WHOLE ENTIRE NATION.
HOUSTON IS THE PROUD HOME TO OVER 300,000 VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILY.
AND ALSO, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE LARGER POPULATION OF VETERAN IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.
OUR VETERANS HAVE SERVED IN EACH AND EVERY BRANCH OF THE MILITARY IN THE AREA, AREA, DONE PEACE AND WARD.
THEY CONTRIBUTE TO OUR COMMUNITY AT EVERY LEVEL, SUCH AS LARGE OR SMALL BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT, SERVICE, AND NON-PROFIT LEADERSHIP.
TODAY, WOMEN'S ARE SERVING IN A GREATER NUMBER IN COMBAT AND LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE NATION AROUND THE WORLD.
FREE MAN TO FIGHT THIS DAY IS TO TO HONOR WOMEN WHO SERVE AND REFLECT ON THEIR DEDICATION.
THEY ARE OUR GRANDMAMA, GRANDMOTHER, MOTHER, DAUGHTER, NEIGHBOR, AND COKE WORKER.
THEY SHOW OUR APPRECIATION BY THANKING THEM FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION WIDE SERVICE IN THE ARMY, NAVY, MARINE CORPS, AIR FORCE, SPACE FORCE, COAST GUARD, HAPPY VETERAN DAY AND CLOSING.
WE HAD AROUND ABOUT AT LEAST ABOUT 400 WOMEN SERVED IN CIVIL WAR.
IF WE KNOW YOU HAVE THE NORTHWEST AND SOUTH, THEY HAD THE SAME BELIEF IN ONE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
GOD BLESS THE STATE OF TEXAS AND GOD BLESS YOUR UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
OKAY? OOH, I LOVE IT WHEN THERE'S CHANGES AND WE GET TO MOVE SOME STUFF AROUND.
THERE'S GONNA BE A PUPPET SHOW AND SOME INTERPRETIVE DANCE
IT IS GONNA, IT'S GONNA GET REAL IN HERE.
SO IF YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED LOOKING AROUND THE ROOM, THERE ARE TONS OF VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS.
I'M GOING TO NAME A FEW OF THOSE AND IF I MISS YOURS, I APOLOGIZE.
AND I SAY THIS TO REINFORCE WHAT, UH, MR. DEN, BO AND DR. JONES HAS HAD SAID.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES ROTARY CLUB OF GREATER HOUSTON VETERANS CAMP HOPE COMBINED ARMS, A USA IMPACT, A HERO, GRACE AFTER FIRE, THE MISSION CONTINUES.
VFW, AMERICAN LEGION, WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT DAV, STAY TUNED FOR VETS, AND I PROBABLY MISSED ONE.
THAT'S JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE, THE VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE HERE TO SUPPORT THE WOMEN VETERANS.
OH, AND SOMEONE FROM THE VA SAW SAW THEM HERE AS WELL.
I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS IT? THE JEWISH WAR VETERAN AND THE JEWISH WAR VETERANS, BY THE WAY, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THAT IS THE OLDEST VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT ONE.
I KNOW YOU LEARNED SOMETHING HERE TODAY.
SO BEING PART OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL AND TOASTMASTERS INTERNATIONAL, ONE OF MY FAVORITE PORTIONS OF EVERY PROGRAM IS HEARING THE SPEAKERS
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WHO HAVE FOUND THEIR VOICES NOW POUND FOR POUND.SHE'S ONE OF THE STRONGEST AND BRIGHTEST MUSTANGS IN OUR MILITARY.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE TERM, A MUSTANG IS A MILITARY MEMBER WHO HAS TRANSITIONED FROM AN ENLISTED RANK TO BECOME A COMMISSIONED OFFICER.
THOSE WHO SERVED WITH HER KNOW THAT SHE EARNED TWO BRONZE STAR MEDALS FROM DEPLOYMENTS TO BAGHDAD AS THE XO EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND THE 410TH MP DURING OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM AND IN AFGHANISTAN WITH THE FOURTH BRIGADE.
I KNOW HER BEST FROM BEING STEADFAST AND LOYAL WITH THE FOURTH INFANTRY DIVISION FROM FORT HOOD.
PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER, LIEUTENANT COLONEL SANCHEZ, COMMANDER OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY RECRUITING BATTALION IN HOUSTON.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, VETERANS, AND LADY WARRIORS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WELCOME TO TODAY'S WOMEN'S VETERANS DAY.
WHEN WE GATHER TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE A CRUCIAL CHAPTER IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY, THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND SACRIFICES OF WOMEN VETERANS.
MY NAME'S LIEUTENANT COLONEL SANCHEZ.
AS, UH, YOU ALREADY HEARD, I'M SO HONORED AND HUMBLED TO REPRESENT YOUR US ARMY AS A GUEST SPEAKER TODAY.
THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ESPECIALLY DR. JONES, FOR YOUR WARM HOSPITALITY.
SO AMONG US TODAY, WE DO HAVE A, A, A FEW HONOR HONOREES, UM, 103 YEARS YOUNG.
HELENE LIPMAN FROM THE US NAVY, 90 YEARS YOUNG, JOAN TULLE, ALSO US NAVY, 87 YEARS YOUNG.
BETTY ROBINSON, US AIR FORCE FROM THE US MARINE CORPS, AGE 75.
CAMILLA THOMAS, ALSO AGE 75 OR YEARS YOUNG, 75 YEARS YOUNG, MS. CHERYL JONES FROM THE US ARMY.
WHO? AUDREY ADAMS, DOUBLE HOOD AGE 71 US ARMY LADIES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
WE ARE SO HONORED TO HAVE YOU AMONG US TODAY.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE FAMILIES OF, UM, EVA LINDA BARRETO, AS WELL AS VANESSA GUILLEN, WHO ARE ALSO AMONG US TODAY.
UM, THEIR DAUGHTERS, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, DID PAY THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR OUR NATION, UM, UNJUSTLY.
UNFORTUNATELY, THEIR TIME WAS CUT TOO SHORT.
AS YOU LOOK AROUND TODAY, I HOPE YOU CAN SEE THE, THE PRESENCE OF THE COMMUNITY, THE, THE MILITARY COMMUNITY HERE WHO ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU.
MAY YOU FIND COMFORT IN THE LORD AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY, OR THEY, THEY ARE IMMENSELY BEHIND YOUR BACK.
YES, FOR ALL YOU LADIES THAT I HAVE JUST NAMED THIS CELEBRATION IS FOR YOU AND ALL OTHER WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE MILITARY, OFTEN IN QUIET DEDICATION AND WITHOUT RECOGNITION, OFTENTIMES MANAGING A SECOND FULL-TIME JOB WITHOUT TIME OFF OR SICK DAYS CALLED MOTHERHOOD.
WE CELEBRATE THE WOMEN WHO HAVE BROKEN BARRIERS, SHATTERED GLASS CEILINGS, AND PAVED THE WAY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
WE HONOR THEIR SERVICE, THEIR SACRIFICE, AND THEIR STRENGTH.
IT'S A WONDERFUL TIME TO BE ALIVE NOW.
SO AS RECENT AS 2015, THE US ARMY LIFTED THE BAN ON WOMEN IN COMBAT ROLES, ALLOWING WOMEN TO CHOOSE FOR THE FIRST TIME TO SERVE IN THE INFANTRY CARY AND OTHER COMBAT ORIENTED JOBS FIELDS.
I REMEMBER BACK IN 2000, I ASKED MY RECRUITER TO PUT ME IN THE INFANTRY, AND I WAS TOLD NO.
I ASKED HIM, I WILL PUT ME IN THE NEXT BEST THING, THE NEXT CLOSEST THING HE GAVE ME.
MILITARY POLICE, WHICH IS WHERE I'M AT TODAY.
THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUNG WOMEN NOW HAVE WIDENED.
WE WATCHED AN ADMIRATION AS CAPTAIN KRISTIN GRACE.
FIRST LIEUTENANT SHAYLIN BECAME THE FIRST WOMEN TO SUCCESSFULLY GRADUATED THE EXTREMELY CHALLENGING US ARMY RANGER SCHOOL.
HOWEVER, WOMEN HAVE ANSWERED THE CALL TO DUTY, SERVING WITH VALOR AND DISTINCTION BEING WOUNDED IN ACTION CAPTURED AND KILLED IN ACTION FOR CENTURIES DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR, DEBORAH SAMPSON DISGUISED HERSELF AS A MAN NAMED ROBERT SHIRTLIFF AND ENLISTED INTO THE CONTINENTAL ARMY FOR TWO YEARS.
SHE SCOUTED TERRITORIES, PARTICIPATED IN BATTLES EVEN BEING WOUNDED IN ACTION.
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SHE DUG OUT FRAGMENTS OUT OF HER OWN FLESH, BUT ULTIMATELY INFECTION DID SET IN.SHE LOST CONSCIOUSNESS, AND THAT'S HOW SHE WAS FOUND OUT.
SHE RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE AND A MILITARY PENSION FROM THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS.
IN THE BATTLE OF FORT WASHINGTON, 1776, MARGARET COCHRANE FOLLOWED HER HUSBAND INTO THE REVOLUTIONARY RULE, HELPING TO CARRY AMMUNITION FOR CANNON FIRE.
WHEN HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION, SHE TOOK HIS PLACE TO LOAD AND FIRE THE CANNONS AGAINST ENEMY ADVANCE.
ULTIMATELY BEING WOUNDED IN ACTION HERSELF.
SHE BECAME THE FIRST WOMAN TO BE GRANTED A SOLDIER'S PENSION.
SHE HAD TO FIGHT FOR IT THOUGH.
THESE ARE ONLY A FEW OF THE WOMEN WHOSE NAMES ARE RECORDED IN HISTORY WITH MANY MORE WHO SACRIFICED IN SILENCE AND WHOSE NAMES HISTORY HAS LONG FORGOTTEN.
NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN, AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN, BOTH FREE AND ENSLAVED, HAVE ALSO SERVED FUNCTIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE MILITARY.
KATHY WILLIAMS, FOR EXAMPLE, ALSO DISGUISED HERSELF AS A MAN AND ENLISTED AS WILLIAM KA INTO THE 38TH US COLORED INFANTRY BUFFALO SOLDIERS.
SHE ALSO SERVED FOR TWO YEARS BEFORE CONTRACTING SMALLPOX AND BEING DISCOVERED SHE WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TO SERVE A WOMAN TO SERVE IN THE US ARMY.
WE ALSO HAVE HEARD ALL THE EVENTS OF MARCH 23RD, 2003, WHEN A CONVOY FROM THE FIVE OH SEVENTH MAINTENANCE COMPANY WAS AMBUSHED IN IRAQ MEDIA WAS FILLED WITH NEWS ABOUT PRIVATE FIRST CLASS.
JESSICA LYNCH, THE FIRST FEMALE PRISONER OF WAR, LESSER KNOWN THOUGH, WAS ANOTHER WOMAN IN THAT SAME CONVOY, THAT SAME DAY, SINGLE MOTHER SPECIALIST SHOSHANA JOHNSON.
SHE WAS THE FIRST FEMALE AFRICAN AMERICAN PRISONER OF WAR.
AS YOU HAVE HEARD, WE'VE BEEN HERE ALL ALONG, OFTENTIMES FOLLOWING HUSBANDS INTO WAR TO PROVIDE FOOD SUPPORT, LAUNDRY SERVICES, NURSING, THE WOUNDED, AND EVEN TAKEN ON THE HUSBAND'S RESPONSIBILITIES WHEN HE WENT DOWN.
BUT IT WAS NOT UNTIL A BILL WAS SIGNED IN 1941 TO ESTABLISH THE WOMEN'S ARMY'S, EXCUSE ME, WOMEN'S ARMY AUXILIARY CORPS FOR WOMEN WHO SERVED IN SUPPORT OF THE ARMY.
FOR THE FIRST TIME, WOMEN COULD OPENLY RECEIVE ALL THE RIGHTS AND BENEFITS AFFORDED TO MALE SOLDIERS, BUT THEY STILL COULD NOT RECEIVE OVERSEAS PAY OR GOVERNMENT LIFE INSURANCE.
AND IF KILLED IN ACTION, THEIR FAMILIES DID NOT RECEIVE A DEATH GRATUITY.
IT WASN'T UNTIL TWO YEARS LATER THAT THE WORD AUXILIARY WAS DROPPED FROM THE NAME ESTABLISHING THE WOMEN'S ARMY CORPS THAT PROVIDED ALL THE BENEFITS.
FINALLY, IN 1977, BASIC TRAINING BEGAN TO CONDUCT GENDER INTEGRATED CLASSES, BEGINNING WITH THE FIRST MILITARY POLICE CLASS IN 1977.
AND SO THEY DEE ESTABLISHED, OR UH, THEY CLOSED DOWN THE MIL.
BACK IN 2008, I WAS THE ONLY FEMALE IN THE OPERATIONS SECTION WITHIN THE FOURTH INFANTRY BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM.
IF HE EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED MY PRESENCE AT ALL.
OVER THE LONELIEST SIX MONTHS OF MY LIFE, I FOUGHT TO GAIN THE RESPECT.
IT WASN'T UNTIL I ASKED MY BOSS FOR PERMISSION TO HAVE A DAY OFF TO FIGHT IN THE INSTALLATION COMBATIVES TOURNAMENT THAT I FINALLY BECAME ONE OF THEM.
I STILL REMEMBER THE LOOK OF SURPRISE ON HIS FACE AND WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED THAT HE CAME OUT TO WATCH ME FIGHT.
ONE YEAR LATER AS A COMPANY COMMANDER IN AFGHANISTAN SENT OUT ON THE DELTA SIX MISSION IN ONE OF MY VILLAGES.
ALTHOUGH MY ROLE WAS JUST TO OBSERVE SO THAT I COULD EXPLAIN THE EVENTS TO MY AFGHAN DISTRICT LEADER PARTNERS, THE MEN ON THE TEAM QUICKLY REALIZED THEY HAD A GAP.
IT WAS PROHIBITED FOR MEN TO TOUCH AFGHAN WOMEN, AND THEY NEEDED TO SEARCH A LOT OF THEM.
THOSE MONTHS IN AFGHANISTAN WERE PIVOTAL BECAUSE MY LADY WARRIORS WERE ABLE TO CREATE IMPACTS THAT OUR MALE COUNTERPARTS HAD NO ACCESS TO.
WHETHER IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN SCHOOLS FOR GIRLS OR AS MEN, MUNDANE AS SEARCHING AND INTERVIEWING AFGHAN WOMEN, WE ARE CRUCIAL LADIES.
SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY IS CRUCIAL, BOTH TO RETAIN OUR NATION'S FREEDOM, BUT ALSO TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THE VALUES AMONG OUR YOUTH THAT MADE THIS NATION TO BE THE GREATEST ON THIS PLANET.
ONLY APPROXIMATELY 20% OF OUR ARMED SERVICES ARE WOMEN.
OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, THOSE NUMBERS HAVE RISEN INCREMENTALLY.
HOWEVER, A GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE REPORT ALSO FOUND THAT WOMEN ARE 28% MORE LIKELY TO LEAVE THE SERVICE, AND THAT DECREASES THE PERCENTAGE OF FEMALE LEADERS.
WOMEN IN GENERAL ARE STILL DISCOURAGED BY SOCIETY TO SERVE.
I SEE IT AT MY LEVEL AS A RECRUITER.
JUST THE OTHER DAY, I HAD A FEMALE FUTURE SOLDIER FAILED TO SHIP TO BASIC TRAINING BECAUSE SHE WAS AFRAID OF BEING MURDERED.
THEY CONTINUE TO FEAR SEXUAL ASSAULT BECAUSE OF THE INFLATED ATTENTION
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FROM THE MEDIA.HOWEVER, ANOTHER STUDY I FOUND WAS THAT SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE MILITARY IS FAR LESS THAN WHAT THE RATES ARE ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES.
THEY LEAVE THE MILITARY FROM MOTHERHOOD DESPITE THE MILITARY PROVIDING FREE MEDICAL CARE.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO HAVE A BABY ON THE ECONOMY VERSUS $0 IN THE MILITARY, PROVIDING 12 WEEKS OF PARENTAL LEAVE IN THE ARMY AND FREE OR LOW COST CHILDCARE? LADIES, WE HAVE GOT TO CREATE A SISTERHOOD AMONGST THE SERVICE FOR OURSELVES TO NORMALIZE WOMEN IN THE ARMY AND TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER.
SINCE TODAY, WE RECOGNIZE THE CHALLENGES THE WOMEN BEFORE US COURAGEOUSLY FACED, THE OBSTACLES THEY OVERCAME AND THE TRIUMPHS THEY ACHIEVED.
I ASK YOU LADY WARRIORS, PLEASE FIND AND MENTOR THESE YOUNG LADIES.
WE MUST CONTINUE TO HAVE REPRESENTATION AND TRAILBLAZERS FOR OUR FUTURE.
REMEMBER, SERVICE HAS NO GENDER.
LET US HONOR THE WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED UNLESS CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR RECOGNITION AND SUPPORT.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE WOMEN VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVED OUR NATION WITH HONOR AND DISTINCTION AND ARE STILL SERVING.
THANK YOU TO THE FAMILIES WHO PAID THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.
YOUR SERVICE, YOUR SACRIFICE, AND YOUR STRENGTH WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.
FORGOTTEN BE SOMEONE, BE ALL YOU CAN BE.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE UPLIFTING WORDS AND THAT POWERFUL MESSAGE.
I TOLD YOU I WOULD FORGET SOMEBODY.
I LOOKED OVER HERE TO MY LEFT AND SHE'S LIKE, HARRIS COUNTY, A HARRIS COUNTY VETERAN SERVICES IS HERE.
AND I WANT US TO ALSO THANK OUR, UH, CHIEF OF OUR, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OUR FIRE CHIEF SAM PENA, WHO'S ALSO A US AIR FORCE VETERAN.
SHE'S POINTING, AND I PROBABLY FORGOT SOMEONE ELSE, BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE
SO AS I SCRAMBLED FOR MY NOTES AND LOOK TO MY LEFT TO SEE IF OUR NEXT PRESENTER IS HERE, WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT IF SHE WALKED IN THE DOOR AS SOON AS I LOOKED TO MY LEFT? SHE DIDN'T.
SO WE'RE GONNA GO THE OTHER WAY.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
FIRST CLASS SARAH ALLEN FROM THE US NAVY.
AND ALL OF THE, UH, NAVY VETERANS, THE WOMEN VETERANS, PLEASE ALSO COME TO THE STAGE.
SO WE, HERE WE ARE HERE TODAY TO HONOR OUR SISTER EVA LINDA BARTO.
EVA LINDA BARRETO WAS BORN IN HOUSTON, TEXAS ON DECEMBER 16TH, 2002 TO RERO AND JOSE DETO.
SHE WAS THE THIRD OF FOUR CHILDREN, AND FROM HER CHILDHOOD WAS TIMID, SOFT-SPOKEN, BUT ALWAYS CARRIED A SWEET SMILE.
AFTER FINISHING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, SHE ATTENDED YES, PREP EAST END SECONDARY, WHERE SHE COMPLETED MIDDLE SCHOOL IN 2017 AND GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL IN 2021.
DESPITE HER QUIET PERSONALITY,
[00:35:01]
SHE WAS FUNNY, SARCASTIC, AND EASILY MADE FRIENDS.AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, SHE MADE THE HONORABLE DECISION TO JOIN THE ARMED FORCES.
ORIGINALLY INTERESTED IN THE ARMY, SHE OPTED TO ENLIST AS A RESERVIST IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY IN OCTOBER, 2021.
SHE STARTED BASIC TRAINING IN JANUARY, 2022.
DURING HER TRAINING, SHE SCORED SECOND BEST IN SHOOTING.
EVA GRADUATED AS A NAVY SAILOR FROM GREAT LAKES NAVY TRAINING CENTER AND GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS.
IN MAY, 2022, EVA EXPRESSED BEING GRATEFUL AND THE NAVY HELPED HER TO BE NOT AFRAID, TO NOT BE AFRAID, AND WAS PROUD OF HER SERVICE AND THE WORK THAT SHE WAS DOING AS WELL AS HER NEW CAREER.
TODAY, MY FELLOW NAVY SISTERS AND I STAND TOGETHER IN SOLIDARITY TO HONOR OUR NAVY SISTER EVA, LINDA PRETO AT THIS TIME, MYRA, WOULD YOU PLEASE COME TO THE SEAT? NEED A COUPLE MINUTES? YOU GOT IT.
UM, IT'S SUPER EMOTIONAL TO SEE, UM, ALL OF US UNITED HERE ONCE AGAIN.
I AM THE OLDEST SISTER OF VANESSA GUILLEN.
AND, UM, I HAVE MY MOM HERE WITH ME TODAY.
AND, UM, IT BREAKS MY HEART TO SEE, UM, ONCE AGAIN ON THE SCREEN, UM, ANOTHER ONE OF OUR YOUNG WOMEN IN THE MILITARY THAT PASSED AWAY FOR UNJUST FOR REASONS.
AND, UM, IT'S, UH, IT'S BEEN A TOUGH CHALLENGE.
UM, MY SISTER PASSED AWAY IN 2020 AND, UM, I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF LEGISLATION, UH, PASSED IN HONOR OF VANESSA, IN HONOR OF WOMEN WHO SUFFERED THROUGH MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA.
AND JUST A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, UH, WERE NOT GIVEN RESPECT, RIGHTS, UH, SIMPLY FOR WANTING TO SERVE.
UM, I DO HOPE THAT CHANGES IN THE NEAR FUTURE, AND WE'VE SEEN THE OUTCOME, UH, AND I HOPE IT CONTINUES TO BE A POSITIVE CHANGE.
UM, ALL MY SISTER WANTED TO DO WAS SERVE BRAVELY AND HONORABLY, AND SHE WAS STRIPPED FROM THAT.
BUT I DO HOPE THAT THE FUTURE GENERATIONS THAT ARE HERE TO COME, UM, ARE PROVIDED WITH SAFETY AND HONOR BASED ON THE LEGISLATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED SINCE THE YEAR 2020.
AND I WANNA EXTEND MY, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO WORDS WHEN IT COMES TO, UM, LOSING A LOVED ONE.
UM, AND FOR, UM, THE FAMILY HERE TODAY, UH, I MEAN, JUST KNOW THAT WE DEEP COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH, AND IT BREAKS MY HEART TO SEE THIS HAPPEN.
AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU GUYS, DON'T HESITATE TO, TO REACH OUT AND THANK YOU TO ALL WOMEN VETERANS.
YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU GUYS, YOU TOOK ON A CHARGE THAT, UM, NOT MANY ARE, UM, ABLE TO DO.
AND I DO WANNA ENCOURAGE WOMEN TO JOIN OUR MILITARY AND DO WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOUR HEART, WHAT YOUR HEART STRIVES FOR YOU TO DO.
UM, THAT'S ALL MY SISTER WANTED TO DO.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, UM, SHE WASN'T GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO EVEN GO TO COMBAT.
BUT I KNOW SHE LEFT THE LASTING LEGACY FOR MANY, MANY WOMEN OUT THERE.
[00:40:39]
OH, I PROMISED AT THE BEGINNING IT WAS GONNA BE EMOTIONAL AND POWERFUL, DIDN'T I? I THINK WE'RE ALL GONNA LEAVE WITH SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL TODAY.THIS TIME THE CITY OF HOUSTON WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR DIGNITARIES, ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS FOR THEIR CONTINUED AND UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF WOMEN VETERANS.
PLEASE STAND IF YOU'RE ABLE AND BE RECOGNIZED.
I KNOW A FEW OF 'EM ARE STANDING.
AND I KNOW WE HAVE, UH, REPRESENTATIVE OF WILLIE DAVIS ON CITY COUNCIL.
IS UH, MS. TWILA HERE AS WELL? NOPE.
I'M A FORMER CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT I ALSO HAPPEN TO BE THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR HOUSE DISTRICT 1 47.
SO WELCOME TO HOUSE DISTRICT 1 47.
IF YOU DIDN'T REALIZE YOU WERE IN IT, BUT I'M ALSO THE CHILD, THE GRANDCHILD, AND THE NIECE OF VETERANS.
MY DAD AND MY UNCLE WERE MARINES.
UH, BUT I ALSO HAPPENED TO BE A GIRL
AND THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS EVER GONNA MISS THIS RECOGNITION OF POWERFUL WOMEN BECAUSE WE ARE SO FREQUENTLY, OFTEN OVERLOOKED.
THEY WANTED US TO BE THE HELP.
WELL, WE DESERVE TO OWN THE HOUSE.
WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE THE 76TH BIRTHDAY.
AS THINGS ARE FALLING, THE 76TH BIRTHDAY OF THE WOMEN'S ARMED SERVICES INTEGRATION ACT THAT MATTERS.
I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE IN THE STATE HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE VIC VICTORIA NEVE FOR FILING AND GETTING PASSED IN 2017 JUNE 12TH AS WOMEN'S VETERANS DAY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
I'D LIKE TO THANK MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER FOR PROCLAIMING JUNE 12TH, 2018 WOMEN'S VETERANS DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
SO I'M VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT AS WELL.
NOW WHAT I'M WAITING ON IS FOR THERE TO BE AN OFFICIAL WOMEN'S VETERANS DAY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SINCE THE MILITARY FIGHTS FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND OUR FREEDOMS. I WANNA THANK YOU BAD, BAD WOMEN FOR SERVING TO KEEP ME FREE AND YOUR FAMILY'S FREE THIS COUNTRY.
AND WE DON'T JUST PROTECT AMERICA, WE PROTECT OTHER COUNTRIES AND OTHER PEOPLE.
I WANNA THANK THE FAMILIES OF THE VETERANS BECAUSE YOU SACRIFICING TOO.
MY DAD, WHEN HE WENT AWAY TO VIETNAM AND MY UNCLE ROCKY, WHEN HE WENT AWAY TO VIETNAM, WHEN THEY CAME BACK, THEY WEREN'T THE SAME.
AND THEY BOTH COMMITTED SUICIDE.
I WAS WITH MY FATHER WHEN HE COMMITTED SUICIDE.
SO I PRAY AND I HOPE THAT THE MILITARY CAN APPRECIATE VETERANS AND THE ISSUES THEY HAVE WHEN THEY RETURN AFTER HAVING SEEN THINGS THAT ORDINARY PEOPLE DON'T SEE.
AND YOU KNOW WHY WE DON'T SEE IT? BECAUSE THE MILITARY IS OUT THERE PROTECTING US FROM EVIL WOMEN INCLUDED.
I THINK IT'S A SHAME THAT WOMEN HAVE TO GO SNEAK AND CHANGE NAMES AND PRETEND TO SERVE THIS COUNTRY.
I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE EVA, LINDA BETO BECAUSE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS REAL.
[00:45:01]
YOU JUST HEARD, UH, VANESSA GUILLEN'S SISTER TALK ABOUT HOW WOMEN NEED TO BE PROTECTED.WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE PROTECTED, BUT WE NEED TO BE PROTECTED.
I'M A SURVIVOR OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THAT'S, IT'S TERRIBLE, BUT WE'VE GOT A WAYS TO GO TO CONVINCE THE WORLD TO APPRECIATE THAT WE ARE HUMANS TOO AND WE DESERVE TO BE PROTECTED.
WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE, UH, PROTECTING OURSELVES FROM OUR TEAMMATES IN WAR.
SO WE'RE GONNA WORK ON THAT AS WELL.
I WANT TO PRESENT SOME OFFICIAL RECOGNITIONS FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS TO THE LADIES WHO HAVE SERVED, WHO ARE SITTING HERE.
I'M GOING WITH, WITH COLLEEN
FIRST, THIS IS A CERTIFICATE THAT SAYS THAT THIS FLAG WAS FLOWN OVER THE STATE CAPITOL.
I ASKED FOR IT TO BE, JUST SO YOU KNOW.
AND IT LETS YOU KNOW THAT IT'S THE OFFICIAL STATE FLAG FLOWN OVER THE STATE OF TEXAS.
THIS YOUR DAUGHTER, YOU, YOUR DAUGHTER, RECOGNITION BECAUSE WE OWE YOU A DEBT.
I ALSO LIKE TO PRESENT TO JOAN TOIT.
I KNOW THAT YOU'RE IN THE NAVY.
I FORGOT TO SHAKE YOUR THANK YOU.
AUDREY, I LET YOU KNOW THAT I ALSO BELIEVE IN HIRING PEOPLE WHO ARE VETERANS BECAUSE FOR MY DISTRICT DIRECTOR CHERYL TAYLOR TO STAND UP, SHE'S AN AIR FORCE VETERAN.
ANYTIME YOU EVER NEED ME, I'M HERE FOR YOU BECAUSE SOMEBODY'S GOTTA FIGHT FOR US.
WE HAVE OUR NEXT ELECTED OFFICIALS COMING UP, AND THEN WE HAVE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION.
WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
I AM RON REYNOLDS, STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR HOUSE DISTRICT 27, AND IT IS MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE ON THIS SUSPICIOUS DAY TO CELEBRATE AND RECOGNIZE OUR WOMEN VETERANS.
LET'S GIVE ALL OF OUR FEMALE VETERANS A GREAT TEXAS BIG WELCOME, 76 ANNIVERSARY OF THE WOMEN'S ARMED FORCES INTEGRATION ACT.
AND I WAS VERY PROUD BACK IN 2017 TO CO-AUTHOR HOUSE BILL 26 98 THAT MADE TEXAS WOMEN VETERANS DAY SIGNED INTO LAW.
I WANT TO THANK GOVERNOR ABBOTT FOR SIGNING THAT BILL INTO LAW.
IT WAS LONG OVERDUE, RIGHT? AND I WANT TO THANK DR.
LASANDRA JONES, WHO GIVE IT UP FOR HER.
LISTEN, LOOK, LEMME TELL Y'ALL I GOT MY PHD IN WOMEN VETERANS FROM HER BECAUSE WHEN I SERVED ON THE BUR ON THE TEXAS, UH, DEFENSE AND VETERAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, SHE REALLY LITERALLY TAUGHT ME SO MUCH.
WE WORKED ON A LITANY OF LEGISLATION TO COMBAT THE OVERWHELMING PREVALENCE OF WOMEN VETERAN SUICIDE, THE SOMETHING THAT, THAT YOLANDA JONES TALKED ABOUT.
THE FACT THAT THERE WERE SO MANY SEXUAL ASSAULTS THAT, THAT WERE TAKING PLACE.
SO WE DID SO MUCH AND WE MADE PROGRESS, AND WE STILL HAVE MORE PROGRESS TO GO.
BUT TODAY, WE PAUSE TO CELEBRATE,
[00:50:01]
TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO PRESERVING, PROTECTING, AND DEFENDING OUR COUNTRY.WE OWE A GREAT DEAL OF GRATITUDE FOR YOU THAT A DEBT THAT CAN NEVER BE PAID TRULY.
AND THAT IS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT TEXAS AND OUR COUNTRY DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR VETERANS ARE TAKEN CARE OF.
IT CAN'T JUST BE POLITICAL RHETORIC, RIGHT? WE CAN'T JUST SAY, OH, WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS AND WE SUPPORT OUR VETERANS.
WE SEE PEOPLE THAT HAVE FOOD INSECURITIES THAT ARE JOBLESS.
WE SEE THE VA THAT HAD CHALLENGES.
SO I'M HAPPY THAT WE'VE MADE PROGRESS, BUT WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.
SO WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO FIGHT TO IMPROVE.
AND I WANT TO HELP DR. JONES REALIZE THE GOAL THAT SHE HAS OF A MONUMENT AT OUR TEXAS STATE CAPITOL TO RECOGNIZE AND HONORING TEXAS WOMEN VETERANS AT THE CAPITOL.
DR. JONES, WE'RE GONNA MAKE THAT A HAPPEN.
I KNOW THAT'S BEEN A GOAL OF YOURS AND I WILL NOT STOP.
REPRESENTATIVE JONES AND I THAT'S RIGHT.
SO IT IS MY PLEASURE AND I HOPE THAT DR. JONES OR SOMEONE ELSE WILL COME UP HERE AND RECEIVE THIS, UH, CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION, HONORING YOU ALL FOR THIS AUSPICIOUS DAY, UH, AND TO CELEBRATE HONORING THE PAST, PRESENT, AND THE FUTURE OF AMERICA'S SERVICE WOMEN.
AND ALSO A PARTICULAR SHOUT OUT TO ALL THE FAMILIES BECAUSE WE KNOW IT TAKES A VILLAGE AND ALL THE SACRIFICES THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE WHEN YOUR LOVED ONES ARE A AWAY DEFENDING OUR COUNTRY.
GOD BLESS YOU AND GOD BLESS TEXAS.
AS OUR NEXT SPEAKER COMES UP, I ALSO WANTED TO THANK, UH, HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND THE TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION WHO ARE ALSO HERE.
I'M THE DISTRICT DIRECTOR FOR CONGRESSMAN WESLEY HUNT, UM, WHO IS A VETERAN.
AND I ALWAYS LIKE TO JOKE IN MY LIFE, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN VETERAN ADJACENT OR MILITARY ADJACENT.
UH, MY FIRST P WAS A MARINE, SO RAH TO ALL THE MARINES.
UM, AND IT ALWAYS DROVE ME CRAZY 'CAUSE WHEN WE WOULD GO TO THE BALL, THEY WOULD ALWAYS DO A SECTION FOR THE FEMALE MARINES.
AND IT DROVE ME CRAZY BECAUSE I WAS LIKE, WELL, THEY'RE MARINES LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
THEY WENT THROUGH BOOTCAMP AT PARIS ISLAND, LIKE EVERYONE.
AND THEN MY SISTER ACTUALLY SERVED IN THE ARMY, AND SO I GOT TO YEP.
AND THEN MY, MY CURRENT HUSBAND IS ARMY, SO IT'S A BROKEN HOME A LITTLE BIT.
SO I STILL CELEBRATE THE BIRTHDAY IN NOVEMBER 10TH.
SO IT IS, IT IS SO INTERESTING TO HAVE THAT PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT WOMEN HAVE DONE FOR THE MILITARY AND WOMEN CURRENTLY SERVING.
AND AGAIN, HISTORICALLY, WOMEN HAVE BEEN THERE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY FIGHTING WITH MEN FOR THIS COUNTRY.
EVEN IF WE WANNA GO ALL THE WAY BACK IN HISTORY, WOMEN HAVE BEEN THERE.
SO, AND I ALSO WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO THE FAMILY OF EVA FOR HER MAKING THAT THAT CALL TO SERVE IS, I NEVER DID IT.
AND I ADMIRE HER AND I ADMIRE EVERY WOMAN IN THIS ROOM WHO TOOK THIS CALL TO SERVE THIS COUNTRY.
UM, AND WE HAVE CERTIFICATES AS WELL FOR ALL OF THE LADIES ON THE FRONT ROW.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE, YOUR TRAILBLAZERS.
IT WASN'T EASY AND WE KNOW THAT.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THAT SACRIFICE AND BEING THE FIRST FOR EVERYONE ELSE.
UH, I'VE, I'VE BEEN TAUGHT BE BRILLIANT, BE BRIEF, BE GONE.
I PROMISE THERE'S AMAZING FOOD.
AND, UH, WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE PRESENTATIONS AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HONOR THE REST OF OUR LADIES.
IT IS AN ABSOLUTE HONOR TO BE HERE.
AND I WORK FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE HAROLD DUTTON, A GENTLEMAN WHO HAS FOUGHT AND SUPPORTED ALL OF THE RIGHTS AND ALL OF THE, THE INITIATIVES THAT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR, FOR WOMEN AND, AND THE MILITARY.
UM, HE ACTUALLY ALSO HELPED SUPPORT THAT HOUSE BILL TO MAKE SURE THAT IT GOT PASSED.
UM, AND THIS MEANS A LOT TO HIM.
UM, WHAT HE HAS DONE IS ACTUALLY GOT A RESOLUTION FOR EACH OF YOU.
AND I'LL JUST READ IT BRIEFLY.
UM, THESE ARE FOR THE VETERANS, HELENE LIPMAN AND JOANNE ICK OF THE US NAVY, CHERYL JONES AND AUDREY ADAMS OF THE US ARMY, BETTY ROBINSON OF THE US AIR FORCE, CAMILLE THOMAS OF THE US MARINE CORPS, ALL BEING RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS ESTABLISHED, ESTABLISHED BY THE TEXAS LEG LEGISLATURE.
AND 2017 WOMEN VETERANS DAY IS HELD ANNUALLY ON JUNE 12TH IN HONOR OF THE WOMEN'S ARMED SERVICES INTEGRATION ACT, WHICH 76 YEARS AGO OPENED REGULARLY MILITARY SERVICE TO ALL WOMEN SIGNED INTO LAW BY PRESIDENT HARRY S TRUMAN ON JUNE 12TH, 1948.
[00:55:01]
ARMY CORPS AS PART OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND AUTHORIZED THE ENLISTMENT AND APPOINTMENT OF WOMEN IN THE US NAVY AND MARINE CORPS, THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS RESERVES, AND THE NEWLY FORMED US AIR FORCE.TODAY, TEXAS HAS THE HIGHEST FEMALE VETERAN POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES WITH MORE THAN 200,000 WOMEN HAVING PROUDLY SERVED THEIR COUNTRY.
ON BEHALF OF STATE REPRESENTATIVE HAROLD DUTTON, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND WE HONOR YOU EVERY, EVERY DAY, EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE.
DID I MENTION THERE ARE GRILLED SKEWERS? THERE ARE GREAT SECURITY BOARDS.
YEAH, WE ARE ALMOST THERE, FOLKS.
UM, MY NAME IS DENNIS OJA, A CASEWORKER AND FIELD REPRESENTATIVE AND MILITARY LIAISON FOR CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE'S OFFICE HERE IN HOUSTON.
UM, AND I ALSO SERVE AS A SPECIALIST SPECIALIST IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY RESERVES, UM, WHO
UH, THEREFORE, I AM HERE ON HER BEHALF WITH SPECIAL CONGRESSIONAL ACCOMMODATION, RECOGNIZING THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF VETERAN AND MILITARIES AFFAIRS AND OUR HONOREES, UM, AND THE WOMEN VETERANS.
SO, UM, I WILL JUST QUICKLY READ IT AND IT READS NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT ON BEHALF OF THE CONSTITUENTS OF THE 18TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF TEXAS, I TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN RECOGNIZING OUR HONOREES, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF VETERAN AND MILITARY AFFAIRS, ON THE OCCASION OF THE 76TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WOMEN'S AND ARMED FORCES INTEGRATION ACT AND CELEBRATING TEXAS WOMEN VETERANS DAY.
YOUR COMMITMENT TO HONOR WOMEN VETERANS FOR THEIR DEDICATION, RESILIENCE, AND UNWAVERING SACRIFICE TO PROTECT OUR NATION DESERVES THE PRIDE AND, AND IT REFLECTS THE PRIDE THAT EXEMPLIFIES THE SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
YOUR EFFORTS ARE MOST DESERVING OF THE RESPECT AND ADMIRATION AND COMMENDATION OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.
CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE, THANK YOU.
SHE'S LIKE, I DON'T NEED YOUR HAND.
BEAUTIFUL AND HANDSOME CROWD TODAY.
YOU GOT ME OUTTA BUDGET MEETINGS, WHICH THIS IS A WHOLE LOT MORE FUN AND A WHOLE LOT MORE IMPORTANT.
UM, I'M TWILA CARTER, COUNCIL MEMBER AT LARGE.
UM, I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE.
JUST, IT WARMS MY HEART TO BE IN FRONT OF SO MANY THAT HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH TO OUR COUNTRY.
IT JUST, THERE'S NEVER ENOUGH THAT WE CAN DO FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND THEIR FAMILIES BECAUSE CERTAINLY, CERTAINLY THEIR FAMILIES SACRIFICE A, A GREAT DEAL AS WELL.
SO, UH, ON BEHALF OF A GRATEFUL NATION, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
I'M HONORED TODAY TO PRESENT A PROCLAMATION AND, UM, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, OUR MAYORS UPSTAIRS, UH, LIKE I SAID IN BUDGET MEETINGS.
BUT I'M SO EXCITED BECAUSE I GET TO BE HERE.
UM, WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECOGNIZES THE 76TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WOMEN ARMED SERVICES INTEGRATION ACT, SIGNED BY PRESIDENT HARRY S TRUMAN.
AND ON JUNE 12TH, 1948, ALLOWING WOMEN, ALLOWING WOMEN TO BECOME PERMANENT REGULAR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.
THE STATE OF TEXAS DURING THE 85TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION PASSED SENATE BILL 8 0 5, LATER SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR, RECOGNIZING JUNE 12TH AS TEXAS WOMEN'S VETERANS DAY.
AND WHEREAS TEXAS HAS THE LARGEST POPULATION OF WOMEN VETERANS IN THE UNITED STATES AND ITS TERRITORIES WITH CLOSE TO 200,000 WOMEN VETERANS ON JUNE 12TH, 2024, WE HONOR AND ACKNOWLEDGE WOMEN, VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVED IN OUR NATION'S ARMED FORCES.
THROUGHOUT HISTORY, WOMEN HAVE UNIQUELY SERVED THIS GREAT NATION.
AND TODAY IT IS WITH GREAT RESPECT.
WE PAY TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO RAISE THEIR RIGHT HAND TO PROTECT THE FREEDOMS WE APPRECIATE.
TEXAS HAS PIONEERED THE PATH AS THE FIRST STATE TO CELEBRATE A DAY IN RECOGNITION OF WOMEN VETERANS INSPIRING OTHER STATES TO FOLLOW.
AND WHEREAS IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON THINKS THE BRAVE WOMEN WHO HAVE CHOSEN TO ANSWER THE NATION'S CALL TO SERVE, TO DEFEND AND PROTECT.
WE VALUE YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WE'D LIKE TO, WE WOULD, WE'D LIKE YOU TO SHARE
[01:00:01]
YOUR COURAGEOUS STORIES.YOUR STORIES HAVE THE POWER TO EMPOWER FUTURE GENERATIONS OF WOMEN.
YOU HAVE PAVED THE WAY AND YOUR STORIES CONTINUE TO BUILD AND LEAVE A LEGACY.
THERE IS NO ONE WHO HAS RAISED THEIR RIGHT HAND TO SERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND WHO ISN'T WORTHY OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO ALL OF US AMERICANS.
IT HAS BEEN THE CALL OF DUTY THAT IS UTMOST DESERVING.
AND TODAY WE SHOW GRATITUDE AND SALUTE YOU FOR YOUR MILITARY SERVICE.
THEREFORE, ON BEHALF OF MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WE HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 12TH, 2024 AS WOMEN'S VETERANS DAY.
I'M GOING TO, UH, I'M GOING TO PULL AN AUDIBLE LADIES, UH, WHEN I TOLD YOU EARLIER TO NOW, PLEASE RISE AND, UH, WOMEN VETERANS, PLEASE COME TO THE, TO THE STAGE.
THIS IS YOUR TIME AND WE WILL BE CONDUCTING A YES.
REMEMBER SAID WHEN I SAID, RISE.
UM, AND WE ARE GOING TO DO A SPECIAL PRESENTATION FOR THE LADIES IN THE FRONT ROW.
AND AFTER THAT PRESENTATION, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MINISTER VICKI CRUZ, US NAVY VETERAN.
SHE'S GOING TO CLOSE WITH A SPECIAL PRAYER FOLLOWED BY TAPS, BY ANGELA HAWKS JOHNSON, US AIR FORCE VETERAN, AND THEN PICTURES.
WE MAY EVEN PULL A SWITCH, UH, IN A MOMENT.
YEAH, PLEASE, PLEASE SAY, DON'T LET DR. JONES BLOCK YOU.
UH, YOU HAVE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION.
SHE'S GIVING ME CUES, BUT I CAN'T SEE THEM.
SO WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND, UH, GO AHEAD AND HAVE THE, UH, THE VETERANS COME UP.
AND THEN THE REST OF YOU FILL IN THE FRONT.
I WANT OUR HONOREES TO SEE THE LADIES WHO ARE STANDING BEHIND THEM, BACKING THEM, BUT ALSO NOW IN FRONT OF THEM, SUPPORTING THEM EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
AND SO DON'T BE SHY LADIES, JUST COME ON UP TO THE FRONT.
WOMEN, VETERANS, DR. JONES, LIKE, WHAT'S GOING ON? OH, IT'S GOING TO BE WONDERFUL AND YOU'RE GONNA LOVE IT.
AND DR. JONES, YOU HAVE YOUR SPECIAL PRESENTATION.
HELEN WAS BORN 1921 IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK.
AND THROUGH HER SISTER HAD ALREADY ENLISTED IN THE ARMY, ALTHOUGH HER SISTER HAD ALREADY LISTED IN THE ARMY.
SHE DECIDED TO ENLIST THE UNITED STATES NAVY IN 1944 UNDER THE PRESIDENT FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT.
SHE CHOSE TO ENLIST BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO SEE THE WORLD AND FEED THE GERMANS.
THIS WAS HER OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.
SHE WAS SENT TO STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA FOR SCHOOL AND LATER ASSIGNED TO AN AIR BASE IN FLORIDA AND WAS ASSISTANT TO A HIGH RANKING OFFICER.
TWO YEARS AFTER ENLISTING, SHE MET AND MARRIED.
SHE MET AND MARRIED AN ARMY SOLDIER AND DECIDED TO BE A WIFE AND MOTHER OF THREE KIDS.
SAILOR LIPMAN WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1947.
SHE AND HER HUSBAND REMAINED MARRIED FOR 60 YEARS.
ONE OF HER FONDEST MEMORIES WHILE SERVING WAS BEING ABLE TO DANCE UNDER THE MOON ON A NAVAL AIRCRAFT CARRIER.
SHE CURRENTLY RESIDES IN SUGARLAND, TEXAS AND HAPPY AND HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO ON AN HONOR FLIGHT TO WASHINGTON.
DC CAN WE ALL GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO HELEN LIPMAN, UNITED STATES NAVY, AGE 103.
ALRIGHT, DO WE HAVE, UH, AL GREENS REPRESENTATIVE HERE AS WELL? I'M SURE THAT WE'LL CIRCLE BACK IN AND, UH, GIVE THESE AND, UM, I'M GONNA DO MY CLOSING REMARKS BEFORE, BECAUSE I THINK WE SHOULD BE CLOSING WITH THE PRAYER AND TAPS NOT MY REMARKS AFTERWARDS.
SHE'S GIVING ME SIGNALS, HAND SIGNALS.
SO NEXT I HAVE THE HONOR TO READ ABOUT OUR VERY OWN JOAN TILLAGE.
[01:05:01]
YEP.YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND PULL HER TO THE FRONT PLEASE.
JOAN JOINED THE NAVY AS A NURSE IN 1962.
SOON AFTER JOINING, SHE IMMEDIATELY RECEIVED A DIRECT COMMISSION AS A LIEUTENANT AND WAS SIGNED TO NAVAL HOSPITAL SAN DIEGO.
THROUGHOUT HER CAREER, SHE WAS STATIONED AT NUMEROUS NAVAL HOSPITALS AS AN ASSISTANT CHIEF NURSE.
JOAN HAD THE HONOR OF TAKING CARE OF REFUGE VIETNAMESE BABIES AND TREATING TROOPS IN VIETNAM, ABOARD THE USS SANCTUARY IN 1978, SHE MARRIED ATI BY THE NAME OF JEAN TILLAGE AND THEY REMAINED MARRIED AND HE'S HERE, THEY HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR 45 YEARS.
JEAN IN 1982, COMMANDER JOAN TILLAGE RETIRED AFTER 20 YEARS OF HONORABLE SERVICE TO THIS GREAT NATION.
THANK YOU, JOAN, FOR YOUR SERVICE.
YOU HAVE SLIDES THE LEFT, RIGHT.
BETTY, WE'RE HERE TO ACKNOWLEDGE BETTY ROBINSON, US AIR FORCE.
BETTY WAS BORN IN 1936 IN DENVER, COLORADO, AND ENLISTED IN THE AIR FORCE.
IN 1955, SHE WENT WITH A FRIEND TO TAKE THE ENTRANCE EXAM AND WAS ENCOURAGED TO TAKE THE TEST AS WELL.
AND SOON AFTER, SHE DECIDED TO ENLIST THE AGE OF 18.
AFTER COMPLETING BOOTCAMP IN SAN ANTONIO, SHE WAS LATER SENT TO FLIGHT ATTENDANT SCHOOL, BECOMING THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN C ONE 18TH FLIGHT ATTENDANT.
SHE WAS HOST TO CELEBRITIES, INCLUDING BOB HOPE AND BING CROSBY TRAVELING TO ENTERTAIN TROOPS IN EUROPE, AFRICA, AND ASIA.
AFTER MARRYING A FELLOW AIRMAN, SHE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1958 AND CONTINUED TO TRAVEL THE GLOBE.
SHE WENT ON TO WORK FOR THE VA AS A CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER AND RETIRED AFTER 20 YEARS OF SERVICE.
I KNEW IT WAS SOME MARINES IN HERE.
CAMILLA WAS BORN IN 1948 IN TEXARKANA, ARKANSAS, AND ENLISTED IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS IN 1966.
SHE WAS RECRUITED IN HIGH SCHOOL AND ATTENDED BOOTCAMP IN PA AT PARIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA.
SHE WAS ASSIGNED AS A ASSISTANT BUYER FOR THE WOMEN'S DEPARTMENT AT THE MARINE CORPS EXCHANGE IN EL TORO, CALIFORNIA.
SHE MET HER HUSBAND IN 1968 AND SOON AFTER WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1969.
AFTER LEAVING THE MARINES, SHE AND HER ARMY HUSBAND RELOCATED TO FUSS TEXAS AND LATER ATTENDED TEXAS A AND I.
KINGSVILLE NOW A AND M AFTER MILITARY SERVICE.
SHE BECAME A SCHOOL TEACHER AND RETIRED AFTER 28 YEARS OF TEACHING.
HER FONDEST MEMORY IS ALL OF PEOPLE THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO MEET WHILE SERVING HER COUNTRY.
LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR MS. CAMILLA.
VETERAN MS. CHERYL ANN WILSON JONES.
MRS. WILSON JONES JOINED THE US ARMY IN 1966 WHERE SHE BECAME A SIGNAL CORPS CRYPTOGRAPHER SIGNAL CORPS.
YOU COULD TALK ABOUT 'EM, BUT YOU CAN'T TALK WITHOUT 'EM.
HER PLANNED CAREER IN THE US ARMY WAS CUT SHORT BY THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF HER NAVY VETERAN FATHER, AND SHE MADE THE HONORABLE DECISION TO RETURN HOME AND HELP HER MOTHER.
DURING THESE YEARS, SHE WORKED NUMEROUS JOBS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT IN BOTH LOCAL AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SUCH AS US IMMIGRATION, THE US MARSHALS.
AND AS A DEPUTY SHERIFF FOR DALLAS COUNTY,
[01:10:01]
MRS. JONES HAS ALSO SERVED AS A PANEL ARBITRATOR ON BEHALF OF US VIRGIN ISLANDS, AND WAS ACCREDITED WITH MEDIATION WITH THE CALIFORNIA BAR ASSOCIATION.ALL THE WHILE SHE FOUND TI FOUND TIME TO BECOME A WIFE OF OVER 20 PLUS YEARS.
RAISED TWO SONS WHO HAVE FAMILIES OF THEIR OWN AND SHE HAS BOTH GRAND AND GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN.
MRS. WILSON JONES HAS CONTINUED TO SERVE VETERANS DIRECTLY BY SERVING OVER 15 YEARS WITH THE AMERICAN LEGION ORGANIZATION.
SHE PROUDLY HELD THE POSITION OF POST COMMANDER IN KATY, TEXAS AND HAS THE DISTINCTION OF BEING ITS FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE COMMANDER.
SHE IS THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF THE TEXAS VETERAN FOOD BANK FOUNDATION, WHOSE MISSION IS TO TO LEAVE NO VETERAN HUNGRY.
SHE CONTINUES TO ENJOY AN AMAZING LIFE SERVING IN SPIRITUAL MINISTRY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
AND AT THE BEAUTIFUL AGE OF 75, MS. JONES IS STILL SERVICE STILL STILL OF SERVICE TO THIS DAY, TO OUR VETERANS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MRS. CHERYL WILSON JONES, US ARMY BULL.
ALL RIGHT, SO IN THE SPIRIT OF THE ARMY, I'M BRINGING UP THE REAR.
SO I'M REPRESENTING MS. AUDREY ADAMS. MS. AUDREY WAS BORN IN 1952 IN PALESTINE, TEXAS.
AND IN JUNE OF 1980, AT THE AGE OF 28, SHE ENLISTED INTO LOUISIANA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD, UNDER CIVILIAN ACQUIRED SKILLS PROGRAM AS A LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE, WHICH IS A 91 CHARLIE, NOW 68 CHARLIE.
SHE WAS STATIONED AT FORT MCCLELLAN, ALABAMA FOR BASIC TRAINING.
AND AFTER SIX WEEKS OF BOOTCAMP, SHE RETURNED TO HER UNIT THE ONE 59TH.
ON DECEMBER THE FIFTH, 1981, SHE SIGNED UP FOR ACTIVE DUTY STATUS IN THE ARMY GUARD RESERVE.
DURING HER TIME IN THE SERVICE, SHE OBTAINED SEVERAL MORE MOSS 91 B FLIGHT MEDIC 91 PAPAPA FLIGHT OPERATIONS SPECIALIST, AND 71 LIMA PERSONNEL SPECIALIST.
THE HIGHLIGHTS OF HER TIME IN THE SERVICE WERE BEING A TRAINING NCO, COMPLETING THE IN PROCESSING OF THE PILOTS, AND MOST OF ALL, MEETING HER HUSBAND OF 40 YEARS.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MS. AUDREY ADAMS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE HAVE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION, UH, FOR DR. JONES.
LADIES, IF YOU WOULD COME BACK OVER HERE, KEEP MY REMARKS VERY, VERY BRIEF.
I HAD LONG-WINDED, UM, REMARKS.
STILL READY TO GO, BUT RECENTLY WITHOUT, UH, GOING OVER ANY HIPAA GUIDELINES.
UH, DR. JONES WAS RECENTLY IN THE, UH, THE VA AND, UH, JUST FOUND OUT THAT HER BLOOD TYPE IS RED, WHITE, AND BLUE
YOU COULDN'T ASK FOR A BETTER PATRIOT AND VETERAN HERE IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA.
SHE'S DONE SO MUCH, RIGHT? OH YEAH.
THE LADIES HAVE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION FOR YOU.
I KNOW
SO IT'S, IT'S WITH GREAT HONOR THAT I ALSO PRESENT TO YOU THE INAUGURAL BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE DOES MORE ON THE SCENE BEHIND THE SCENE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY VETERAN, EVERY WOMAN VETERAN GETS THE SUPPORT THEY NEED.
AND AFTER TALKING WITH OUR BOARD, WE'RE PRESENTING THE FIRST EVER WOMEN'S VETERANS LEADERSHIP AWARD TO DR.
STAY TUNED AND SO HONORED TO PRESENT THIS TO YOU.
THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT NO ONE ELSE WILL GET THIS AWARD.
NUMBER ONE IS BECAUSE IT IS THE INAUGURAL AWARD, BUT AFTER THIS, IT WILL BE KNOWN AS THE DR.
I LOVE YOU AND YOU'RE AMAZING.
PLEASE JOIN US AS WE CLOSE OUT OUR PROGRAM WITH A PRAYER AND TAPS.
YOU KNOW, IN THE BEGINNING OF TIME IT WAS THE WORDS THAT WERE SPOKEN.
AND TODAY THERE WERE SO MANY WORDS THAT WERE SPOKEN.
AND I HAD MY PRAYER HERE ALL WRITTEN UP.
I SAID, NOPE, WE'RE NOT GOING THAT WAY.
IT JUST DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.
[01:15:01]
AND SPIRIT.SO I AM A DAUGHTER OF A VETERAN.
I'M A MARINE VETERAN, UM, VIETNAM VETERAN, AND, UM, NAVY WIFE, NAVY I SERVED AND A NAVY MOTHER.
SO I SERVED IN EVERY CAPACITY.
AND THEY SAID WHICH ONE WAS THE HARDEST AND ALMOST DIFFICULT.
AND I SAID, THE MARINE BEING A DAUGHTER OF A MARINE, BECAUSE THERE IS SOMETHING IN MY BLOOD THAT JUST CAN'T SHAKE OFF.
AND WE SERVE AND WE SERVE AND SERVE ENDLESSLY.
UM, BUT I AM A NAVY SAILOR THOUGH.
SO, UM, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S JUST LET NOW AS WE CLOSE IN PRAYER, MY PRAYER IS THAT WE JUST EMPTY OURSELVES OUT TODAY.
AND THAT WE JUST EMPTY OURSELVES, OUR MINDS, OUR EXPECTATIONS, OUR FEARS, OUR DESIRES, OUR HURTS, OUR PAINS.
THERE WAS SO MUCH THAT HAPPENED.
WE KNOW THAT IN THE BEGINNING THERE WAS A MISSION.
WHEN GOD CREATED THIS EARTH, THERE WAS A MISSION.
AND IN THIS MISSION, HE CONTINUED TO GIVE US HIS SON FOR GRACE, HOPE, PEACE, COMFORT.
THROUGH THIS MISSION AND THROUGH THIS MISSION, THE LEGACY CONTINUES THROUGH EVERY WOMAN VETERAN THAT IS HERE TODAY TO SERVE, TO CONQUER, TO BIRTH, TO SUFFER, TO HEAL.
AND AS WE GATHER, IN MY PRAYER IS, IN OUR PRAYER TOGETHER, IS THAT WE CONTINUE THE FAITHFUL MISSION OF SERVING ONE ANOTHER WITH LOVE, HONOR, AND RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER.
AND DESPITE OF RELIGION AND DESPITE OF RACE, IN SPITE OF COLOR, AND DESPITE OF ANYTHING THAT WE WOULD RELEASE AND RECEIVE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FROM OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, HOPE TO SHARE INTO THE WORLD, TO ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER, TO HELP ONE ANOTHER, MOTIVATE ONE ANOTHER, WHATEVER IT TAKES TO FULFILL THE MISSION THAT HE'S DESTINED FOR US ALL.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR SETTING US FREE INDEED.
AND AS WE GO FORTH, WE THANK YOU FOR THE FREEDOM OF NEW BEGINNINGS.
AND MAY EVERY WOMAN VETERAN HERE TODAY RECEIVE THAT SO WE CAN BE AND CONTINUE TO BE THE LIGHT OF THIS EARTH AND THE SALT, THE LIGHT OF THIS WORLD, AND THE SALT OF THIS EARTH.
DEAR GOD, WE THANK YOU THAT YOU CHOSE EVERY PERSON HERE TODAY.
AND MAY YOU CONTINUE TO COMFORT US ALL, COMFORT EVERY PARENTS, EVERY THE FAMILIES THAT ARE HERE TODAY THAT, UM, FALLEN SOLDIERS, FEMALE VETERANS, FATHER, AND BEYOND EVERY ACTIVE DUTY, WE ASK THAT YOU SEND YOUR LARGEST ANGELS AROUND THEM.
BLESS OUR COUNTRY, OUR LEADERS, OUR CHILDREN, OUR HOMES, THOSE THAT ARE IN NEED IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR FORMAL PRESENTATION OF TODAY.
PLEASE JOIN US FOR REFRESHMENTS AND FOOD.