[00:00:16]
WELL, GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE.
I WAS SITTING THERE WAITING ON THE PROGRAM TO START AND SAY, HEY, WE ARE, WE'RE WAITING ON YOU.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE DOING THE WELCOME.
UM, SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL, UH, FOR COMING OUT TODAY.
THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL DAY FOR OUR OFFICE, A VERY SPECIAL DAY FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.
UH, BUT I DO WANT TO GIVE SOME THANK YOUS AS AS WE START.
UH, FIRST I WANNA RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS, WHO IS HERE ALSO THIS DAY, UH, COULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WHEN IT COMES TO WHY WE COMMEMORATE VIETNAM VETERANS DAY, UH, WITH THIS MEMORIAL WITHOUT THE, THE TOURIST BOARD.
AND I WOULD LIKE EVERYONE ON TOUR 20, UH, THEIR BOARD.
DON, I WANT YOU TO STAND DAVID AS WELL, UH, SO PEOPLE CAN KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
THEY, THEY ARE THE MAIN CONTRIBUTORS OF THIS MEMORIAL.
WITHOUT THEIR LEADERSHIP AND WITHOUT THEIR FUNDING, UH, THE MEMORIAL COULD NOT BE POSSIBLE.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE THE SCULPTORS OF THE MEMORIAL, THE KELLY FAMILY.
I WOULD LIKE YOU ALL TO PLEASE STAND.
I, I, I KNEW I WANTED TO DO A VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL.
I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT CONSTRUCTING A MEMORIAL.
UH, SO I DID A GOOGLE SEARCH AND I WAS JUST LOOKING AROUND AT OTHER MEMORIALS THAT HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED.
AND I SAW ONE AT THE STATE CEMETERY, UM, THE TEXAS STATE CEMETERY.
AND IT WAS A, A SCULPTURE THAT THEY HAD, UM, CONSTRUCTED.
AND I JUST COLD CALLED THEM ONE DAY, I JUST FOUND THEIR NUMBER ONLINE.
I SAID, HEY, YOU ALL HAVE, UH, CONSTRUCTED A MEMORIAL THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BRING SOMETHING SIMILAR TO HOUSTON.
UH, AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE, UH, DON.
HOW, HOW MUCH DID THAT EVENTUALLY END UP COSTING? WELL, THE MONUMENT WAS LIKE THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.
IT'S ALL THE STUFF AROUND IT THAT COST A LOT.
SO OUR OFFICE PAID FOR THE FIRST 100,000 WITH YOUR TAX DOLLARS, AND THEN HOW MUCH WAS THE REST OF IT? ALL THE STUFF AROUND THERE IS ABOUT 10 MILLION.
UH, I WANT TO GIVE A RECOGNITION TO, UH, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR VETERANS AFFAIRS.
I WANT TO GET THEM TO STAND OR WAIVE, ESPECIALLY DR. JONES HERE.
SHE'S DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB, UM, AND PUTTING THIS EVENT TOGETHER.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
AND THEN MY OFFICE STAFF, UH, FRANCIS, MISTY, BERT, PAUL, DAVID, OUR, OUR INTERN IS EVEN HERE, WADE.
SO THIS HAS BEEN, THIS HAS BEEN A, UM, A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE YOU ALL.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AND WE'LL GET STARTED WITH THE PROGRAM.
READY? GOOD COLOR TURNER MARK.
MARK ALL SAY, CAN YOU SEE BY THE DAWNS EARLY LIGHT WHAT'S SO PROUD AT THE TWILIGHT LAST GLEAMING, WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS THROUGH THE PAIR FIGHT, OR THE RAMPART WE WATCHED WERE SO
[00:05:01]
STREAMING AND ROCK THE BOMBS BURSTING IN GATE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STEAL THERE.OH, SAY, DOES THAT STAR SPAN GOLD BAND OR THE OF THE, AND THE ORDER ON I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WATCHING STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL GREETINGS.
THE SCRIPTURE TELLS US THERE'S NO GREATER LOVE THAN TO LAY DOWN ONE'S LIFE FOR ONE'S FRIEND.
TODAY, WE PRAY FOR THOSE MEN AND WOMEN'S HAVE IN THEIR MILITARY SERVICE, SACRIFICE THEIR TIME, STRENGTH, AMBITION, HEALTH, AND EVEN THEIR LIVES ON THIS EARTH TO BENEFIT FRIENDS KNOWN AND UNKNOWN.
MANY OF OUR WARRIORS CARRY SCARS IN THEIR HEART AS WELL AS ON THEIR BODY.
DARK MEMORY, HEARTS THEIR DREAMS AT NIGHT, FEAR CLOUDS STA WAKING HOURS ABUNDANT.
LIFE HAS BEEN GIVEN US BY PROVIDING A WAY TO RELEASE OUR PAIN TO GOD MIRACULOUSLY HEALING AND MERCY WITH TRUST IN A DIVINE POWER GREATER THAN OURSELVES.
WE CAN EXCHANGE OUR WOUNDS FOR JOY IN A FUTURE UNHEEDED BY FATE.
AND SO, DEAR LORD, WE ONLY ASK YOU, BRING THIS GIFT NOW TO THE VETERANS OF OUR NATION WHO BEAR TANGIBLE AND INTANGIBLE WOUNDS, STILL BLESS THE FAMILIES OF THE SOLDIERS WHO BEAR THEIR PAIR VIGOROUSLY.
GIVE THEM PATIENT AND WISDOM AND STRENGTH TO ENDURE AND MORE THAN ENDURE TO HOPE AND FAITH FOR A BLESSED LIFE, GOD, NOT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN LIFE IS GOOD, BUT YOU PROMISE TO WORK ALL THINGS TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD TO THOSE WHO LOVE YOU AND ALIGN THEIR LIVES WITH YOUR PURPOSE.
CREATE GOOD IN THE FAMILIES OF VETERANS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE AND LOSS FOR THEIR, THEIR, THEIR MIRACLES.
WE PRAY WE HONOR OUR VETERANS IN YOUR NAME.
WE THANK YOU LORD, AND WE THANK THEM FOR THEIR SACRIFICE.
WE ASK YOU TO RETURN THEM IN FAVOR OF YOUR BLESSING.
A GIFT ON OUR OWN COULD NEVER OFFER.
WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD GIVE OUR VETERANS A PEACE BEYOND THE PEACE THAT FOUGHT TO SECURE PEACE, THEIR OWN HEART WRAPPED IN THE JOY OF TOUCHED BY YOUR STRONG HANDS.
GOD, GRANT US THE SERENITY TO ACCEPT THE THINGS WE CANNOT CHANGE AND THE COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS WE CAN.
AND THE WILLIAMSON KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.
[00:10:01]
UM, MY FATHER WAS SUPPOSED TO BE, UH, ONE OF THE SPEAKERS.AND, UM, MY FATHER SERVED IN VIETNAM.
UM, HE'S FACING SOME HEALTH CHALLENGES, HAS BEEN BACK AND FORTH TO THE VA, UM, ALL WEEK.
AND I KNOW MANY OF YOU ALL, UM, HAVE YOUR OWN PERSONAL TESTIMONIES ABOUT STORIES ON SOME OF THE HEALTH CHALLENGES THAT YOU WERE FACING BASED ON YOUR TIME IN VIETNAM.
BUT MY FATHER WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR ME, UH, WHEN IT CAME TO, UM, CONSTRUCTING THIS MEMORIAL.
HE TOLD ME, SON, WHEN, UH, WHEN I GOT BACK FROM VIETNAM, UH, WE WEREN'T WELCOMED LIKE THE HEROES THAT WE WERE.
WE WEREN'T WELCOMED WITH RESPECT, WITH DIGNITY.
WE WEREN'T WELCOMED WITH A SENSE OF PRIDE.
UH, BUT SOME CRITIQUE, SOME RIDICULE, SOME JUDGMENT, AND I, THAT, THAT HAS LIVED WITH HIM, UM, FOR HIS ENTIRE ADULT LIFE.
AND I TOLD HIM THAT, UH, IF I EVER WAS ABLE TO GET ELECTED INTO OFFICE, I WOULD TRY TO CONSTRUCT A MEMORIAL, UM, THAT WOULD TELL THE HOUSTON STORY, THOSE FROM THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA THAT SERVED, UH, WHAT THAT EXPERIENCE WAS ABOUT, UM, THEIR SACRIFICE.
AND SO PEOPLE COULD ALWAYS REMEMBER, COULD ALWAYS LEARN, UH, AND WE WOULD NEVER FORGET, UM, THEIR SERVICE.
SO HE WAS A HUGE INSPIRATION IN THIS MEMORIAL.
AND WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT AND YOU READ, UM, THAT STORY, MUCH OF THAT IS, IS HIS STORY AND YOUR STORY.
UM, MY GODFATHER WAS ALWAYS A HUGE INSPIRATION IN MY LIFE AS WELL.
AND HE ALSO SERVED IN VIETNAM.
HE WAS ACTUALLY MY DAD'S BEST FRIEND.
THEY'RE JUST TWO BOYS FROM SUNNYSIDE WHO WENT TO TSU.
AND AS, AS, AS LEGEND TELLS IT, THEY THEY DROPPED OUTTA SCHOOL.
MY DAD SAID HE DROPPED OUT FOR A SEMESTER TO EARN MONEY FOR A CAR.
UM, MY UNCLE RONNIE, HIS WIFE, KIND OF, KIND OF TOLD A DIFFERENT STORY THAT HE MAY HAVE HAD TO DROP OUT BECAUSE OF GRADES,
BUT, BUT WHEN THEY WERE NO LONGER ENROLLED, UH, THEY GOT DRAFTED AND THEY GOT DRAFTED, UH, AS TEENAGERS AND NEVER HAD BEEN REALLY OUTSIDE OF TEXAS BEFORE.
AND, UM, TO ALL OF THE VETERANS WHO ARE HERE, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU, BUT TO MY, MY, MY GODFATHER, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
YOU'RE A HUGE REASON WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY.
AND A HUGE REASON WHY MY OFFICE MADE IT A PRIORITY, UH, TO GET THIS MEMORIAL DONE.
AND SO I WANT TO BRING, UM, MR. RONNIE EVANS, DR.
RONNIE EVANS, UH, UP, UM, TO THE STAGE OR TO THE PLATFORM SO THAT HE CAN, UH, GIVE SOME BRIEF REMARKS AND TALK ABOUT HIS TIME, UH, IN THE ARMY DURING VIETNAM WAR, DR. EVANS.
YES, I DROPPED A CLASS AND GOT DRAFTED, BUT I HAVE AN EARNED DOCTORATE NOW.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF THE OTHER VETERANS AND I, AND I SEE A LOT OF THEM.
I HAVE REFLUX IN THIS PART OF ME RIGHT NOW, OF ALL, OF ALL THE TIME TODAY.
BUT, UH, I WENT TO VIETNAM 1967.
DURING, DURING THE HEIGHT OF, OF, OF THE WAR.
I WAS IN THE 1 0 8 ARTILLERY GROUP, DHAR, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH VIETNAM, SOME GOOD MEN.
WE, WE LOST SOME GOOD MEN, GUYS I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH, GUYS I WENT TO CHURCH WITH.
BUT, UH, I CAN SAY I OWE SPECIAL THANKS TO OF ALL PERSONS, MY MOTHER-IN-LAW.
WEEK AFTER NEXT, MY WIFE AND I WILL BE IN WASHINGTON, DC TO RECEIVE HER GOLD MEDAL, UH, HONOR FROM THE SPEAKER JOHNSON.
SO WE WOULD BE IN DC TO, TO, UH, TO GET MAMA'S MEDAL.
NOT MINE, BUT WE BURIED ONE OF MY GOOD FRIENDS THREE WEEKS AGO.
AND, UH, THIS AGENT, AGENT ORANGE CAUGHT UP WITH HIM JUST LIKE IT FINALLY CAUGHT UP WITH ME.
SO TO ALL THE MEN WHO FIGHT, WE HONOR YOU.
I SEE SOME GREAT MEN TODAY THAT, THAT MY CHILDREN CAN, CAN FOLLOW ME.
SO GOD BLESS YOU, GOD KEEP YOU.
I AM BAPTIST AND WE DO TALK LONG, BUT NOT TODAY.
[00:15:01]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.AND NAVY, I HONOR YOU BECAUSE MY SON WAS THE NAVAL OFFICER.
I KNOW IN SOME PARTS OF HOUSTON, UH, IT WAS RAINING.
I KNOW PEOPLE WERE TEXTING ME THIS MORNING SAYING, UH, IS THE PROGRAM STILL ON? ABSOLUTELY.
'CAUSE IF OUR VIETNAM VETERANS CAN GO THROUGH WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH, THE MONSOONS, THE RAIN, THE MUD, THEN WE SHALL CONTINUE ON.
SO MY NAME IS LASHONDRA JONES AND I AM WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON MAYOR'S OFFICE OF VETERAN MILITARY AFFAIRS, WHERE IT'S OUR JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TAKING CARE OF OUR VETERANS, OUR FAM, THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF VETERANS, ANYONE WHO IS IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE THAT HAVE SERVED OR CURRENTLY SERVING OUR NATURE.
IF YOUR ACTIVE DUTY, PLEASE STAND UP.
HOWEVER, OUR ACTIVE DUTY MEMBERS PLEASE STAND.
AND IT IS THE SHOULDERS OF OUR VIETNAM VETERANS THAT WE ALL STAND ON.
THOSE WHO ARE NO LONGER SERVING, SUCH AS MYSELF AND THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY SERVING.
IT'S THE SHOULDERS OF OUR WORLD WAR II, OUR KOREA, OUR, UH, VIETNAM VETERANS.
AND FOR, AND I ALSO WANNA MAKE A, A SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR MS. EVANS.
ANYBODY HEARD OF THE SIX TRIPLE EIGHT? ONE OF THE DAUGHTERS IS HERE.
MS. EVANS, WE STAND AND THESE ARE OUR UNSUNG HEROES.
SO TODAY IT IS ABOUT OUR VIETNAM VETERANS.
AND I TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, YOU NEVER KNOW WHO IS AT VIETNAM VETERAN.
IT MIGHT BE THAT LITTLE LITTLE LADY THAT YOU SEE AT THE GAS STATION, THE LITTLE OLD LADY YOU SEE AT THE VA, THE LITTLE OLD LADY YOU SEE AT THE GROCERY STORE OR WHEREVER YOU MAY SEE HER, SHE SERVED TOO.
SO WE HAVE A PERCENTAGE OF OUR WOMEN.
SO I ALWAYS SAY, MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON'T SAY WHEN YOU SEE THE DV TAG.
THANK YOUR HUSBAND FOR YOUR, FOR HIS SERVICE.
BUT TODAY WE'RE GONNA FOCUS ON OUR VIETNAM VETERANS.
IF YOU'RE A VIETNAM VETERAN OF VIETNAM ERA, ARE YOU SERVED IN COMBAT? PLEASE STAND NOW.
EVERYBODY STAND UP AND GIVE THEM A A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
EVERYBODY, PLEASE STAND, GIVE THESE GUYS A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GOVERNMENT GOT RIGHT IS MAKING SURE THAT EVERY YEAR WE TAKE A DAY TO HONOR THESE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVED IN VIETNAM.
SO THE LEGISLATION CAME ABOUT DURING, UH, PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S, UM, ERA, BUT PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS THE ONE THAT EVENTUALLY SIGNED IT ONCE HE CAME INTO OFFICE.
SO AGAIN, GOVERNMENT GOT SOMETHING RIGHT THAT TIME.
SO EVERY YEAR, AGAIN, WE TAKE A MOMENT TO JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
AND WE ALWAYS WANT TO SAY WELCOME HOME.
SO AFTER THE CEREMONY, WE'RE GONNA PIN EACH AND EVERY VIETNAM, WHETHER, WHETHER YOU'VE GOT A GOTTEN A PEN OR NOT.
TODAY, WE'RE GONE HONOR KNOW YOU YET AGAIN AND GIVE YOU YOUR LAPEL PEN.
AND IF YOU HAVE A VETERAN, A VIETNAM VETERAN THAT'S IN YOUR COMMUNITY, THAT'S AT YOUR CHURCH, OR IF YOU HAVE A FELLOW COMRADE WHO IS A VIETNAM VETERAN, WE'LL GIVE YOU AN EXTRA PEN AND MAKE SURE YOU DON'T JUST GIVE IT TO THEM IN THE HAND.
TAKE A MOMENT TO ACTUALLY PIN THEM.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE SHOW THEM THAT WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THEY CAME BACK IS AN INJUSTICE TO THEM.
WE WANNA OFFICIALLY WELCOME THEM AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEY ARE LOVED, THEY ARE CARED FOR, AND THAT WE ARE HERE FOREVER AND EVER TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE RECEIVING THEIR JUST DUES.
AND FOR THE FAMILY MEMBERS, IF YOU ARE A SPOUSE, IF YOU ARE A CHILD, IF YOU ARE A COUSIN OR A NEPHEW, A BROTHER, WHATEVER OF A VIETNAM VETERAN, PLEASE STAND.
SO WE THANK YOU FOR THE FAMILY MEMBERS.
WE KNOW THAT IT WAS HARD WHEN THEY CAME BACK 'CAUSE DAD OR MOM OR UNCLE WAS SITTING IN THE CORNER WAS ISOLATING BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANNA TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH.
AND SO I'M 20 AND 30 OR 40 YEARS LATER, MANY OF THEM STILL AREN'T TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH.
BUT YOU SEE THE EVIDENCE BECAUSE YOU'RE SEEING THEM GETTING ILL, YOU'RE SEEING THEM PASS AWAY.
SO THAT'S WHY I ALWAYS SAY, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE HONORING THEM AND GIVING THEM THEIR FLOWERS WHILE THEY ARE STILL HERE.
SO AGAIN, AND MY NAME IS CHANDRA JONES, I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON MAYOR'S OFFICE.
AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE WITH TAPS BY MARINE CORPS VETERAN NICK MILLER.
[00:20:57]
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.UH, CHAIR OFTS 20 AND THE SOUTHWEST REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
AND I, I'M DEEPLY PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS SPECIAL MOMENT.
THIS MEMORIAL STANDS AS A PLACE OF REFLECTION, REMEMBRANCE, AND TRIBUTE TO ALL THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN HERE AND FROM SOUTH VIETNAM WHO SERVED IN VIETNAM.
IT'S A LASTING HONOR TO OUR VIETNAM WAR VETERANS OFFERING A SPACE WHERE WE CAN COME, ALL COME TOGETHER AND COMMEMORATE THEIR SACRIFICES.
THIS PROJECT ALSO DEMONSTRATES THE INCREDIBLE POWER OF COMMITMENT, PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION.
THE VIETNAM MEMORIAL IS A RESULT OF A JOINT EFFORT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, LED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD UHT 20, UH, SHOWING THAT WE CAN, WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE IF WE WORK TOGETHER FOR A COMMON CAUSE.
UH, OUR TOURS BOARD IS COMMITTED, UH, TO WORK TOGETHER WITH ALL PARTNERS, UH, CITY COUNTY, PARKS DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT, POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE COMMUN THIS COMMUNITY IN THIS AREA AS WELL AS FOR ALL OF HOUSTON.
THIS BEAUTIFUL CLUB CREEK PARK IS A PRODUCT OF THE COLLABORATION OF THE TOURS, THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, CITY OF HOUSTON, CITY OF HOUSTON PARKS DEPARTMENT, WHERE WE CAN PROVIDE A MEANINGFUL SPACE, NOT ONLY FOR THIS MEMORIAL, BUT FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
AS WE CONCLUDE TODAY'S CEREMONY, I WANT TO THANK AGAIN FOR JOINING US ON NATIONAL VIETNAM WAR VETERANS DAY TODAY.
WE HONOR THOSE WHO SERVED AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE REMEMBER THEIR SERVICE.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR SERVING AND THIS IS A TRIBUTE TODAY TO TELL ALL OF YOU WHO SERVED IN VIETNAM THAT WE REMEMBER WHAT YOU DID FOR ALL OF US.
UH, MY NAME IS PAUL YOUNG, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, CHIEF OF STAFF.
UH, IT'S AN HONOR ONE OF MY HONORS, UH, IN MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER TO BE ABLE TO WRITE A HOUSTON STORY THAT'S ON OUR FIRST PANEL.
UM, SO THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.
UM, IT'S A LITTLE EARLY FOR BARBECUE, UH, BUT I WANT TO THANK AMERICAN LEGION POST 6 54 SCI, DIGNITY VETERAN EMPLOYEE GROUP, AND WE HAVE SIENNA SMOKERS, VETERAN OWNED BARBECUE.
SO I'M GONNA DO A BRIEF PRAYER, UM, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA DO SOME PENDING AS WELL AS SOME OBSERVATION TIME.
SO FOR THOSE THAT ARE WILLING, PLEASE JOIN ME IN PRAYER, FLESH AND BONE, BLOOD AND TIMBER, BREAD AND WINE.
WE REMEMBER, BLESS THOSE PRESENT WITH US TODAY.
AND THOSE WHOSE NAMES ARE ETCHED IN THAT STONE AND THOSE THAT LIVE IN OUR MEMORIES, WE BREAK BREAD AND FELLOWSHIP UNDER YOUR GRACE AND FORGIVENESS.
BLESS THIS FOOD, THE HANDS THAT HAVE PREPARED IT, AND LET THE NOURISH OUR BODIES FOR YOUR WILL IN CHRIST'S NAME.
SO, AS PAUL SAID, BECAUSE THIS IS A LITTLE EARLY, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND AND TAKE A MOMENT TO GO AHEAD AND PIN OUR VIETNAM VETERANS.
I'LL CLIP IT OUT AGAIN FOR OUR VIETNAM VETERANS.
ALRIGHT, FIRST UP, IF WE COULD HAVE OUR NAVY VETERANS TO COME ON UP.
COMMANDER LER, A NAVY VIETNAM BASE.
IF YOU CAN STAND RIGHT HERE IN THE LINE.
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I TAKE HIS PHONE.ALL RIGHT, LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR OUR NAVY.
YOU HAVE ANY MARINE CORPS? VIETNAM VETS HERE, ANY MARINE CORPS VETS? IS THAT ONE? ALL RIGHT, COME ON UP.
WE HAVE ANY AIR FORCE VETERANS HERE? ANY VIETNAM AIR FORCE VETERANS V-F-W-V-F-W CAN COME ON.
YOU HAVE ANY COAST GUARD VIETNAM VETERANS HERE TODAY? I'M PROBABLY THE ONLY PERSON ON LA ALRIGHT.
WHERE MY ARMY VIETNAM VETERANS AT.
YOU GUYS CAN START LINING UP PLEASE.
[00:30:29]
THAT'S WHAT YOU STAND UP THERE.WANNA HELP ME? I'M GETTING MM-HMM
DO WE HAVE EVERY VIETNAM VETERAN WITH AN OFFICIAL PEN? LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR OUR ARMY VETERANS.
ALRIGHT, DO WE HAVE ANY, UM, VETERAN WIVES, VIETNAM VETERAN WIVES, WIDOWS THAT ARE HERE TODAY? PLEASE COME ON UP.
COUNCILMAN POLLARD, COME ON UP.
SO COUNCILMAN POLLARD ON BEHALF AS THE COMMUNITY, AS A SON OF A VIETNAM VETERAN, WE'RE GONNA PIN YOU AS WELL.
SO WE LEAVE NO VETERAN BEHIND.
IF WE HAVE ANY MORE VIETNAM VETERANS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN PINNED, PLEASE COME ON UP.
ALRIGHT, ARM, YOU WANNA COME UP AND PIN THEM? COME ON UP.
ANY OTHER, ALL RIGHT, THERE WE GO.
DO WE HAVE ANY MORE VETERANS? WE WON'T LEAVE ANYBODY BEHIND FATHERS VETERAN.
[00:35:05]
THINK THAT I OH, OKAY.ALL RIGHT, WE, UH, WE LEFT OUT ONE, ONE OR TWO THINGS THAT WE NEED TO REALLY QUICKLY GO OVER THE PROCLAMATION IF I CAN HAVE YOU GUYS' ATTENTION PLEASE.
SO I'M GONNA BRIEFLY READ THE PROCLAMATION.
DO WE HAVE A FEW LAST THANK YOUS? PROCLAMATION READS, WHEREAS MORE THAN 9 MILLION AMERICANS SERVED DURING THE VIETNAM WAR ERA WITH OVER 2.7 MILLION SERVING IN VIETNAM, DEMONSTRATING EXTRAORDINARY BRAVERY AND COMMITMENT ON THE VIETNAM VETERANS RECOGNITION, ACTIVE 2017, ESTABLISHED MARCH 29TH AS NATIONAL VIETNAM WAR VETERANS DAY TO ENSURE THEIR SACRIFICES ARE NEVER FORGOTTEN.
WHEREAS WE HONOR THE MORE THAN 58,000 SERVICE MEMBERS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES, THE OVER 1500 WHO REMAINED MISSING, AND THE COUNTLESS OTHERS WHO RETURNED HOME BEARING THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL BURDENS OF WAR, WHILE RECOGNIZING THE FAMILIES WHO STEADFAST SUPPORT SUSTAINED THEM THROUGH THE HARDSHIPS OF SERVICE.
AND WHEREAS HARRIS COUNTY IS HOME OF ONE OF THE LARGEST VETERAN POPULATIONS, ACTUALLY THE LARGEST VETERAN POPULATION IN TEXAS, INCLUDING THOUSANDS OF VIETNAM WAR VETERANS WHO CONTINUE TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH LEADERSHIP, VOLUNTEERISM, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
AND WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING THEM THROUGH ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, EMPLOYMENT, AND OTHER VITAL RESOURCES.
WHEREAS HARRIS COUNTY REMAINS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING THESE VETERANS BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES, INCLUDING HEALTHCARE, MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES, HOUSING ASSISTANCE, EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS, AND OUTREACH EFFORTS THROUGH THE HARRIS COUNTY AREA.
WHEREAS IT IS FITTING THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY EXPRESS OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO VIETNAM WAR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR THEIR IMMEASURABLE CONTRIBUTIONS.
I HARRIS COUNTY JUDGE LINA HIDALGO PROCLAIM THIS DATE, NATIONAL VIETNAM WAR VETERANS DAY.
GIVE IT UP FOR OUR JUDGE LINA HIDALGO.
WE HAVE ONE MORE PROCLAMATION, VIETNAM ONE VETERANS APPRECIATION DAY.
WHEREAS THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF OUR CITY, STATE, AND NATION, COUNTLESS COURAGEOUS INDIVIDUALS HAVE BRAVELY ANSWERED THE CALL TO PATRIOTIC DUTY.
AND WHEREAS VIETNAM VETERANS ENDURED UNSPEAKABLE HARDSHIPS AT RISK, THEIR LIVES FIGHTING FOR AMERICAN VALUES AND IN PURSUIT OF DEMOCRACY, WHEREAS THE WAR CONTINUED AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT INCREASED TO ASTOUNDING NUMBERS OF OVER 3.4 MILLION TROOPS THAT WERE DEPLOYED NEARLY 60,000 WERE KILLED IN ACTION, INCLUDING OVER 350 HOUSTONIANS.
MORE THAN 150,000 WERE WOUNDED.
AND TODAY, IN ESTIMATED 2000 ARE STILL UNACCOUNTED FOR, WHEREAS VIETNAM VETERANS APPRECIATION DAY REPRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE OF HOUSTON TO HONOR AND THANK OUR VIETNAM VETERANS.
THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMORE, MAYOR OF THE CI, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON HERE BY I PROCLAIM MARCH 29TH, 2025 AS VIETNAM WAR VETERANS APPRECIATION DAY.
SO AS WE DEPART TODAY, I WANT TO, UH, BRIEFLY, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS ARE FAMILIAR WITH DISTRICT J, BUT YOU GUYS ARE IN DISTRICT J.
AND DISTRICT J HAS A LARGE VIETNAM VIETNAMESE POPULATION.
IF YOU ARE OF THIS DISTRICT, A VIETNAMESE, VIETNAMESE CITIZEN, PLEASE, UH, RAISE YOUR HAND AND WE'RE GONNA CLAP FOR YOU GUYS.
SO WITHOUT YOU, IT WOULDN BE SO, THANK YOU, UH, FOR THE VIETNAMESE COMMUNITY FOR COMING TODAY AND HELPING US TO HONOR OUR TROOPS.
UM, AS WE, AGAIN, AS WE, UH, LEAVE TODAY, PLEASE, UH, TAKE A MOMENT TO LOOK AT THE MONUMENT.
UH, DISTRICT J WORKED HARD ON THIS.
THESE ARE THE NAMES OF HOUSTON AREA, VIETNAM VETERANS THAT ARE NO LONGER HERE.
SO PLEASE GO AND TAKE A MOMENT, IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THOSE WHO ARE STILL MISSING AS WELL.
UM, SO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TODAY.
COUNCILMAN, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? THANK YOU, DR. JONES.
AND AS WE CONCLUDE, I JUST, AGAIN, WANT TO THANK YOU ALL, UH, FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING AS SHE, AS SHE MENTIONED.
LET'S, LET'S NOT TAKE THE DAY FOR GRANTED.
UH, LET'S NOT JUST HAVE THIS BE ANOTHER HOLIDAY, ANOTHER, UH, ANOTHER TIME FOR US TO GET TOGETHER AND, AND TO REMEMBER, BUT TO ALSO REFLECT, REFLECT ON THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SACRIFICED, THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVED, REFLECT ON THEIR FAMILIES, UH, REFLECT ON WHERE WE WERE, WHERE WE ARE, AND WHERE WE SHOULD BE GOING AS A COUNTRY.
UH, YOU ALL HAVE PLAYED A HUGE ROLE IN NOT ONLY THIS EVENT, UH, BUT THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR CITY AND FOR THOSE WHO SERVED,
[00:40:01]
UM, WE PURPOSELY PUT WELCOME HOME ON THE BACK OF THAT MEMORIAL, AND WE WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT ALTHOUGH YOU DID NOT RECEIVE THE RECEPTION THAT YOU WERE DUE WHEN YOU RETURNED FROM THE WAR, UH, WE RECOGNIZE IT AND WE SAY WELCOME HOME.AND WE SAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR PROGRAM.
PLEASE EAT AND PLEASE CHECK OUT THE MEMORIAL.