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ALL RIGHT, I HONOREES ARE READY.
IT'S WOMEN VETERANS DAY, Y'ALL.
LET'S PLAY WITHOUT, AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT DAY TO ME.
UH, BECAUSE WE FOUGHT HARD BACK IN 2017 TO GET THIS LEGISLATION PASSED.
OF COURSE, THERE WERE SOME NAYSAYERS SAYING, WELL, WHY DO YOU NEED YOUR OWN DAY? IT'S BECAUSE OF THESE WOMEN.
ALRIGHT, SIR, WE ARE GOING TO GET STARTED.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, WELCOME TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HOUSTON CITY HALL.
I AM WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON MAYOR'S OFFICE OF VETERAN AND MILITARY AFFAIRS, WHO I AM HERE TO SERVE OUR ACTIVE DUTY, UH, VETERANS, OUR SPOUSES, ANYONE WHO HAS WORN THE UNIFORM, UH, I'M GONNA WELCOME UP OUR MC, BUT FIRST I'M GONNA TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HER.
IT'S THE NATIVE HOUSTONIAN WHO DISCOVERED HER LOVE FOR JOURNALISM WHILE ATTENDING CINCA RANCH HIGH SCHOOL.
AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, BRITTANY ATTENDED HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE, OBTAINED AN ASSOCIATE'S OF ARTS DEGREE, AND WENT ON TO ALSO GRADUATE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, GO COS.
AND THIS IS WHERE SHE EARNED A BACHELOR'S OF ARTS DEGREE IN JOURNALISM.
PREVIOUSLY, BRITTANY WORKED AT KHLU FROM 2014 TO 2017 AS AN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND ALSO HELD POSITIONS AT CULTURE MAP, HCC, COLLEGE MEDIA, GV MEDIA, GVP MEDIA AND COMCAST.
SHE JOINED KT, SHE JOINED KTRK IN 2017 AS A DIGITAL PRODUCER AND BEGAN HER NEW ROLE AS SENIOR DIGITAL PRODUCER IN 2021.
IN 2025, BRITNEY BECAME, UM, NEW TO HER ROLE AS DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AT A BC 13 AND HER PRIOR ROLE, UBC, HER EARLY IN THE MORNING DOING THE WEATHER, IN DOING THE MEDIA, UH, AS THOSE EARLY HOUSTONIANS.
I DIDN'T NEVER SEE YOU GIRL, 'CAUSE I WAS NEVER UP THERE EARLY
BRITTANY LOVES FASHION TRAVEL, FRENCH CULTURE AND LANGUAGE ARTS MUSICALS AND WATCHING MOVIES.
HOWEVER, SHE HAS A LOVE FOR THE MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE.
SO PLEASE WELCOME TO THE STAGE YOUR MC FOR TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT DR. JONES.
IT WAS SUCH A PLEASURE, PLEASURE, PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH ALL OF YOU.
I DO LOVE THE MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE.
DISNEY DID NOT PAY ME TO SAY THAT I REALLY DO LOVE THE MCU, BUT, UH, YES.
WHAT AN HONOR IT IS TO BE HERE, HERE AND A PRIVILEGE AT THAT ON THIS TEXAS WOMEN VETERANS DAY AS WE HONOR THE PAST PRESIDENT AND FUTURE OF AMERICA SERVICE WOMEN.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, YOU ALL LOOK AMAZING.
I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE ALL HERE, TOO.
THE RAIN COULDN'T STOP US FLOODING THUNDER LIGHTNING.
THIS IS IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE ALL HERE.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
IT'S ALSO NO COINCIDENCE THAT WE'RE HERE TOGETHER ON THIS DATE.
AS ON THIS DAY, 77 YEARS AGO, PRESIDENT TRUMAN SIGNED THE WOMEN'S ARMED SERVICES INTEGRATION ACT, LEGALLY PERMITTING WOMEN TO SERVE IN THE US ARMED FORCES IN A VARIETY OF OFFICIAL CAPACITIES AND IN ALL BRANCHES OF THE MILITARY.
AND AS WE KNOW, WOMEN, VETERANS, DEDICATION, COMMITMENT, AND SERVICE CONTINUE TODAY AND SHOULD ALWAYS BE RECOGNIZED.
WE DO HAVE A WONDERFUL PROGRAM PLANNED HERE THIS MORNING, AIMED AT DOING JUST THAT BY HONORING THE LEGACY OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US, GIVING THE VETERANS WHO ARE HERE WITH US RIGHT NOW, THEIR FLOWERS.
AND BY SHARING THESE STORIES SO THAT GENERATIONS TO COME, REMEMBER WHAT YOU ALL HAVE ENDURED AND FOUGHT FOR, AND THAT THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER YET.
AS WE CELEBRATE THIS DAY, PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING NOW HOUSTON COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS, WHO REPRESENTS DISTRICT F FOR SPECIAL REMARKS.
UM, I AM SO HAPPY TO BE WITH YOU.
I'M HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY D. THOMAS, AND I REPRESENT DISTRICT F ON THE WEST SIDE, THE BEST SIDE OF HOUSTON
I HAVE TO SAY THAT, I HAVE TO SAY THAT.
UM, BEFORE I SHARE REMARKS, I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE MY COLLEAGUES AND SOME ADDITIONAL SPECIAL GUESTS AT LARGE.
COUNCIL MEMBER TWYLA CARTER, COUNCIL MEMBER EDWARD POLLARD, DISTRICT J OR J CITY.
OKAY, HARRIS COUNTY TREASURER, DR.
AND MY SORO, DEBBIE TYLER DILLARD, REPRESENTING HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER TOM RAMSEY PRECINCT THREE, AND TO ALL OF OUR OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS.
UH, WELCOME TO YOUR CITY HALL.
BUT LET ME TELL YOU THAT, UM, I HAVE SUCH AN AFFINITY FOR THE MILITARY.
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UM, MANY OF THEM ARE VETERANS.BUT ONE OF THE REGRETS THAT I HAVE IN MY LIFE IS THAT I DID NOT ENLIST, UM, AND HIGH SCHOOL, I WAS IN JUNIOR ROTC.
I WAS THE FIRST CLASS, UM, TX 9 4 7 AIR FORCE AT ALE ELSIK HIGH SCHOOL.
OKAY? UM, AND THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WERE MY, UH, COMMANDERS HAVE SHAPED MY LIFE DEEPLY.
UM, THEY INTRODUCED ME TO LEADERSHIP.
THEY INTRODUCED ME TO DISCIPLINE, THEY INTRODUCED ME TO ALL OF THE THINGS POSSIBLE, AND I REALLY, UM, UH, CONNECT MY SUCCESS TO, UH, MY EARLY EXPERIENCE WITH THAT.
SO I WAS IN ROTC IN COLLEGE, GETTING READY TO GO TO OTC, AND THEN NINE 11 HAPPENED.
AND THEN MY DADDY SAID, YOU CAN'T GO.
AND SO I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS AN ADULT AND I COULD HAVE MADE MY OWN DECISIONS AT THE TIME.
UM, BUT THAT IS ONE REGRET, UM, THAT I HAVE, IS THAT I WAS UNABLE, UH, TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY AND LIVE OUT, UH, DUTY AND LIBERATION FOR ALL OF US.
SO LET ME TELL YOU THAT I JUST WANNA APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU THAT HAD THE WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY, UM, TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY.
UH, AND NOT JUST YOU, BUT THE CONTRIBUTION OF YOUR FAMILY, YOUR SPOUSE, AND YOUR CHILDREN, UM, BECAUSE THERE'S AN OBLIGATION THAT THEY HAVE TO PAY AS WELL.
AS WE SEND TO YOU, UH, HOUSTON IS NO SECRET A STRANGER TO OUR VETERAN COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE, UH, THE LARGEST NUMBER OF VETERANS RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND I MUST ACKNOWLEDGE DR. JONES, CAN WE GO AHEAD AND GIVE HER SOME LOVE? SHE IS A CONSTANT FIGURE, A CONSTANT VOICE AND A CONSTANT PRESENCE AND MAKING SURE WE CONTINUE TO CENTER YOUR LIKENESS, YOUR STORY, YOUR NEEDS IN THE WORK, FROM HOUSING TO JOBS, TO QUALITY OF LIFE, YOU NAME IT.
UM, SHE'S KEEPING THAT AT THE FOREFRONT.
AND SO FOR THAT, I WANNA PUBLICLY, UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UH, YOU HAVE A ROBUST PROGRAM.
UM, UH, THE HONOREES THAT ARE SLATED TODAY ARE OVERWHELMING AND HISTORY MAKERS.
UM, AND SO I KNOW WE HAVE A FULL PROGRAM, BUT IN, UH, THE WORDS OF MY LATE ADVISOR AND MENTOR, THE LATE CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE, SHE ALWAYS WOULD TALK ABOUT BEING ON THE RECORD.
AND A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE HAVE THESE TYPE OF MOMENTS, WE TRY TO MOVE THROUGH THE PROGRAM AND RUSH THE PROGRAM AND NOT, UH, YOU KNOW, GET THROUGH IT BECAUSE OF THE TIME.
BUT I WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU TO SIT IN THIS MOMENT AND LET'S MAKE SURE THAT ON THE RECORD, UM, THAT YOU ARE RECORDED.
BECAUSE THERE WILL BE A STUDENT IN HIGH SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND THEY WILL LOOK UP ON THE INTERNET THIS DAY.
AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO READ THE NAMES AND SAVOR THE EXPERIENCES IN THE STORIES THAT YOU HAVE, UM, TO SHARE.
SO IF YOU'RE UNABLE TO SHARE THEM ON THIS MIC, SHARE THEM WITH EACH OTHER TODAY.
UM, SHARE YOUR STORY BECAUSE, UH, WE ARE IN, UM, INTERESTING TIMES AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT SOMEONE WILL BE ABLE TO SAY, I MET SOMEONE WHO WAS A HUNDRED YEARS OLD TODAY.
I MET SOMEONE WHO WAS 82 YEARS OLD TODAY.
I MET SOMEONE WHO WAS 65 AND THIS WAS THEIR STORY, UM, SERVING OUR COUNTRY.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SERVE YOU AS YOUR HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
UM, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, UH, PROTECTING OUR COUNTRY AND OFFERING US THE FREEDOMS AND THE LIBERTY, UM, THAT I, WE ALL GET TO ENJOY TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS.
AND I THINK THAT WAS BEAUTIFULLY SAID.
DON'T TRY TO MOVE TOO FAST BECAUSE WHEN MIGHT WE BE IN A ROOM AGAIN WHERE THERE ARE SO MANY LEGENDS, I THINK YOU COULD SAY IN HERE, AND HISTORY MAKERS.
WELL, AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE STAND IF THEY ARE PHYSICALLY ABLE FOR THE PRESENTING OF COLORS BY THE INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP OF WINDMILL LAKES ORA MARINE COURT, J-R-O-T-C, THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THE NATIONAL ANTHEM PERFORMED BY MASTER SERGEANT ANGELA MATTHEWS OF THE 147TH ATTACK WING AIR NATIONAL GUARD.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
OH, SAY, CAN YOU SEE BY THE DAWN EARLY LIGHT.
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SO PROUDLY WE HELD THE WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIDE THROUGH THE, OR THE RAM AND THE, THE BOMBS THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE.OH, SAY, DOES THAT SAW THE LAND, THE BE GREAT.
YOU MAY BE SEATED AND THANK YOU TO THE MARINE CORPS, J-R-O-T-C AND MASTER SERGEANT ANGELA MATTHEWS.
THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.
BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL.
UH, BEFORE WE GO ON, I'D LIKE TO BRING DR. JONES BACK UP TO THE STAGE.
COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS.
WE GO DO THE GOOD THINGS OF THE COMMUNITY.
ALL RIGHT, SO I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND, UM, RECOGNIZE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT ARE HERE.
AND WE ALSO HAVE SOME CERTIFICATES THAT WERE, THAT WERE LEFT EARLIER FROM THE OFFICE OF CONGRESSWOMAN SYLVIA GARCIA FROM THE OFFICE OF CONGRESS OF CONGRESSMAN AL, UM, GREEN AND THE OFFICE OF STATE REPRESENTATIVE RON REYNOLDS.
SO WE WANNA RECOGNIZE RIGHT NOW, UM, THE OFFICE OF MAYOR PRO TEM MARTHA CASTEX.
TATUM, COUNCIL MEMBER DISTRICT K, COME ON UP.
DIDI, DID YOU WANNA READ SOMETHING? OKAY, COME ON UP.
I AM PURITA CHAVIS, UH, CHIEF OF STAFF FOR MAYOR PRO TEM MARTHA CASTEX TEEM.
SHE'S THE COUNCIL MEMBER OF DISTRICT K.
AND, UM, WHILE SHE'S UNABLE TO BE HERE THIS MORNING, UM, SHE SENDS HER WARMEST AND DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO EACH OF YOU.
UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND I'M HAPPY TO PRESENT A CERTIFICATE, UM, HONORING THE WONDERFUL TEXAS WOMEN, UM, AND, AND THE TEXAS WOMEN VETERANS DAY, UM, THIS DAY.
AND IF DR. JONES, IF YOU'LL ACCEPT THE CERTIFICATE, I'M HAPPY TO PRESENT IT ON BEHALF OF MAYOR PRO, TIM MARTHA CASTEX TATUM AND THE CERTIFICATE READS, UM, THERE'S A QUOTE, THE VALOR AND SACRIFICE OF WOMEN IN UNIFORM HAVE HELPED SHAPE THE COUNTRY, I'M SORRY, THE COURSE OF HISTORY.
AND THIS IS A QUOTE FROM TAMMY DUCKWORTH, UN, SENATOR AND ARMY VETERAN HONORING TEXAS WOMEN, VETERANS DAY 22 AND TWO WEEK FIVE, MAYOR PROTE, MARTHA CASTEX TATUM, AND THE DISTRICT, A TEAM PROUDLY RECOGNIZE TEXAS WOMEN'S VETERANS DAY 2025, COMMEMORATING 75 YEARS OF HONORING THE COURAGE, SACRIFICE, AND LEADERSHIP OF WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES.
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FROM TRAILBLAZERS TO OF THE PAST TO TODAY'S SERVICE, WOMEN, THE, AND THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS.WE CELEBRATE YOUR STRENGTH, RESILIENCE, AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING OUR NATION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE.
YOU ARE SEEN, VALUED, AND APPRECIATED, AND IS SIGNED THIS JU DAY OF JUNE 12TH, 2025 BY MARTHA CASTEX, MAYOR PROTE OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
ALRIGHT, SO WE ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TWILA CARTER.
HELLO, DID YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING? THANK YOU,
UM, ALSO WE HAVE, UH, DEBBIE TAYLOR DILLARD, COMMISSIONER TOM RAMSEY'S OFFICE.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMBER'S OFFICE AT LARGE FOUR CCC SCOTT, CC DID YOU WANNA COME ON UP? ALRIGHT, THIS IS A TALL ORDER, HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER WHO COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY.
I REPRESENT CITY COUNCIL AT LARGE FOUR CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION.
WHEREAS ON JUNE 12TH, 1948, PRESIDENT HARRY S TRUMAN SIGNED THE WOMEN'S ARMED SERVICES IMMIGRATION ACT, GRANTING WOMEN THE RIGHT TO SERVE AS PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE US ARMED FORCES AND LAYING FOUNDATION FOR TRAILBLAZERS.
LIKE MANY OF YOU TODAY, ALL ARE UN GUESTS TO ANSWER THE CALL OF DUTY, WHEREAS BORN ON JANUARY 18TH, 1925, AS WE HONOR THE OLDEST, UH, WOMEN'S VET TODAY LATER ATTENDED HUGHES BUSINESS COLLEGE IN PRAIRIE VIEW A AND M UNIVERSITY.
IN 1951, SHE JOINED THE US ARMY AND TRAINED IN FORT LEE, VIRGINIA, BECOMING A MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALIST.
AND WHEREAS SHE HONORABLY SERVED HER COUNTRY DURING A TIME WHEN OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN, ESPECIALLY BLACK WOMEN, WERE LIMITED, WORKING IN THE HOSPITAL KITCHENS AT FORT KNOX, KENTUCKY, FORT CUSTER, MICHIGAN, AND NOURISHED AND SUPPORTED HER FELLOW SERVICE MEMBERS.
AND WHEREAS FOLLOWING HER MILITARY SERVICE, MS. LEE RETURNED TO HOUSTON AND CONTINUED HER DEDICATION TO PUBLIC SERVICE AS THE PRINCIPAL'S SECRETARY AT CARDALE SCHOOL AND LATER AS A BEAUTY PROFESSIONAL, CREATING HAIRCARE PRODUCTS THAT CONTINUE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY ON THIS DAY.
AND WHEREAS ON HER HUNDREDTH BIRTHDAY, THE HONORABLE MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER PROCLAIMED JANUARY 18TH, 2025 AS BERTHA STRAI LEE DAY IN RECOGNITION OF HER REMARKABLE LEGACY OF SERVICE, RESILIENCE AND IMPACT.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA PLUMMER IN HER ABSENCE AT LARGE FOUR AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, PROUDLY RECOGNIZE ALL YOU HONORED GUESTS, ALL YOU VALUED WOMEN, AND MS. BERTHA LEE STRAIT ON TEXAS VETERANS WOMEN'S DAY FOR HER HONORABLE MILITARY SERVICE AND LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO HER COMMUNITY AND COUNTRY.
WE HAVE A CERTIFICATE FOR EACH OF YOU HONORED GUESTS TODAY.
ALL RIGHT, SO NEXT WE WANNA, SO WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE HONORING ALL OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS BECAUSE WE KNOW THEY HAVE BUSY SCHEDULES AND WE THANK THEM FOR COMING.
SO IF YOU CAN BEAR WITH US, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.
AND THE NEXT ONE WE HAVE IS COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD FROM DISTRICT JJC.
WELL, GOOD MORNING TO YOU ALL.
IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE BEFORE YOU.
I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE, UH, TO SERVE YOU ON THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL FOR DISTRICT J, WHICH I REFER TO AS J CITY.
UH, I AM THE SON OF A MARINE WHO SERVED IN THE VIETNAM WAR.
UM, AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU ALL FOR YOUR SACRIFICE AND YOUR SERVICE.
UH, THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL DAY FOR ME, UH, FOR SEVERAL REASONS.
UH, ONE I WANT TO RECOGNIZE, UH, MY GODMOTHER, UH, STELLINA EVANS, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND UP? SELENA HOOPER EVANS.
SHE'S THE DAUGHTER OF MILDRED GATES HOOPER, UH, WHO WE'LL BE RECOGNIZING TODAY.
UH, MANY OF YOU ALL HAVE SEEN THE MOVIE, THE SIX TRIPLE EIGHT, HER MOTHER SERVED IN THAT BATTALION.
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AND, UM, I CAN RECALL GROWING UP AND SEEING MS. HOOPER.SHE WAS ALWAYS A WOMAN OF, OF, OF DIGNITY IN CLASS, BUT SHE WAS ALSO A WOMAN OF, OF STATURE AND POISE.
AND AFTER WATCHING THAT MOVIE, A LOT OF THAT JUST, UM, RESONATED WITH ME OF WHERE HER BACKGROUND IS, HOW, HOW DID SHE BECOME WHO SHE WAS.
AND, UH, SHE WAS ALWAYS ACTIVE, UM, ALL THE WAY INTO HER WHAT, EIGHTIES, NINETIES, UM, GOING TO THE YMCA AND STAYING ACTIVE, KEEPING HER MIND SHARP.
AND SO I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE HER, UH, TODAY.
UH, BUT THERE'S TWO OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, ALSO RECOGNIZE.
AND ONE IS WITH US TODAY, AND WELL TWO ARE WITH US TODAY.
ONE IS ALSO GONNA BE AN HONOREE TODAY, AND IT'S MY, UH, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.
MS. JUDY HARWELL, PLEASE STAND
WELL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAND MS. HARWELL.
SO, MS. HARWELL WAS MY PRINCIPAL, UH, WHILE I ATTENDED LOVET ELEMENTARY, THAT'S IN THE MEYERLAND AREA.
AND I CAN RECALL MS. HARWELL BEING SOMEONE WHO WAS STRICT, UH, BUT ALSO VERY NURTURING.
AND SHE HAD AN AFFINITY FOR MICKEY MOUSE.
AND WHEN YOU WENT TO HER, HER OFFICE, IT WAS MICKEY MOUSE EVERYWHERE.
AND DON'T ASK ME WHY I WAS ALWAYS IN HER OFFICE
BUT, UM, BUT SHE'S, SHE WAS ALWAYS A PERSON THAT YOU FELT, UH, LOVE AND CARE FROM.
AND IT IS A HONOR TO BE BEFORE YOU TODAY, UM, TO KNOW MORE ABOUT YOUR LIFE, UM, TO SEE THE SACRIFICES THAT YOU'VE MADE, UH, NOT ONLY AS A, AS A, A VETERAN, BUT ALSO AS AN EDUCATOR.
UM, AND FOR ALL OF THE STUDENTS THAT CAN'T BE WHERE I AM TODAY.
AND I'M GOING TO READ A RECOGNITION THAT IS FOR YOU AND I'LL BRING IT TO YOU.
BORN IN NEW ORLEANS AND CALLED TO SERVE.
JUDY HARWELL ANSWERED HER COUNTRY'S CALL BY ENLISTING IN THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, WHERE SHE SERVED WITH DISTINCTION DURING THE VIETNAM WAR FROM 1971 TO 1973 AT CLARK AIRBASE IN THE PHILIPPINES.
HER CONTRIBUTIONS OFTEN BEHIND THE SCENES PROVIDED CRITICAL SUPPORT TO MILITARY FAMILIES, UPLIFTED TROOP MORALE, AND HIGHLIGHTED THE OFTEN OVERLOOKED SACRIFICES OF WOMEN DURING WARTIME.
FOLLOWING HER MILITARY SERVICE, MS. HARWELL CONTINUED HER LEGACY OF SERVICE AS A DEDICATED EDUCATOR AND SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.
THROUGH DECADES OF NURTURING, TEACHING AND LEADING, SHE LEFT AN INDELIBLE IMPACT ON COUNTLESS STUDENTS, INCLUDING MYSELF AS MY PRINCIPAL AT LEVIT ELEMENTARY AS ONE OF HER FORMER STUDENTS, AND NOW A PUBLIC SERVANT.
I'M PROUD TO HONOR MS. HARWELL UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO COMPASSION, RESILIENCE, AND EXCELLENCE.
ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND CONSTITUENTS OF DISTRICT J, I EXTEND MY HEARTFELT GRATITUDE FOR A LIFETIME OF DEDICATION AND DISTINCTION WELL DESERVED.
AND BEFORE I LEAVE, I WANNA BRING DR. JONES BACK UP TO THE STAGE.
SO MANY TIMES, DR. JONES IS THE ONE THAT IS RECOGNIZING OTHERS, AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE HER FOR HER CONTRIBUTIONS, HER SACRIFICE, HER SERVICE.
SHE IS NOW AN OFFICE OF ONE, CORRECT? SHE IS AN OFFICE OF ONE.
AND WE HEARD THAT THIS CITY HAS THE MOST VETERANS OF ANY CITY IN THE COUNTRY.
AND WHEN PEOPLE REACH OUT TO CITY HALL FOR VETERANS AFFAIRS, THEY'RE SPEAKING TO ONE PERSON.
OKAY? LET'S GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
AND SO, AS WE COMMEMORATE AND HONOR OTHERS, I WANTED TO TAKE THE PRIVILEGE TO SAY THANK YOU AND TO HONOR YOU WITH A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION THAT READS IN HONOR OF TEXAS WOMEN VETERANS DAY, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND COUNCIL DISTRICT J PROUDLY RECOGNIZED DR.
LASANDRA JONES FOR HER UNWAVERING DEDICATION, LEADERSHIP, AND ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF OUR NATION'S VETERANS, ESPECIALLY THE COURAGEOUS WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED FROM ENLISTING IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS AT THE AGE OF 17, TO EARNING A PHD FOCUSED ON JUSTICE SYSTEMS, IMPACT ON VETERANS.
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HAS LED WITH A DISTINCTION AND COMPASSION HER TIRELESS WORK, WHETHER THROUGH LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY, PUBLIC POLICY, COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, OR HER CURRENT ROLE IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS, SHE HAS TRANSFORMED LIVES IN ELEVATED VOICES TOO OFTEN OVERLOOKED DR.JONES' EFFORTS TO CHAMPION HOUSE BILL 8 67 AND SENATE BILL 8 8 0 5 DIRECTLY LED TO THE CREATION OF THE TEXAS WOMEN VETERANS PROGRAM AND TEXAS WOMEN VETERANS DAY, ENSURING GENERATIONS OF SERVICE WOMEN ARE SEEN, HEARD, AND HONORED.
HER COMMITMENT TO VOTING RIGHTS, SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND REMEMBRANCE, ESPECIALLY HER LEADERSHIP.
IN HONORING VANESSA GILLIAN DEMONSTRATES HER RARE COMBINATION OF COURAGE AND CARE ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT J IN THE ENTIRE CITY OF HOUSTON.
I COMMEND DR. JONES FOR HER EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE TO OUR VETERANS, OUR CITY, AND OUR STATE.
AND BEFORE I RUN OFF, I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY GODFATHER, UH, DR.
HE SERVED IN THE VIETNAM WAR AS A, IN THE ARMY.
AND SO I WANT TO SAY HELLO, UH, GODFATHER AS WELL.
COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD FOR THE SPEAKING.
ALRIGHT, SO WE WANNA RECOGNIZE A FEW MORE ELECTED OFFICIALS.
I SEE THE, UM, THE OFFICE OF COUNCIL MEMBER, DR.
EVAN SHABAZZ, DISTRICT D INGRAM, WHERE YOU AT INGRAM.
ALL RIGHT, UP FOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, EVAN SHABAZZ, REPRESENTATIVE INGRAM MITCHELL, DISTRICT D UH, WE HAVE CONSTABLE ALLEN ROSEN, HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT ONE COUNCIL'S OFFICE.
ERICA DAVIS, HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TRUSTEE.
CARLA WYATT HARRIS COUNTY TREASURER.
AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF MORE OF PRESENTATIONS THAT WE'RE GONNA GO ON FROM THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, UH, FROM THE OFFICE OF STATE REPRESENTATIVE HAR DUTTON, MS. VALERIE FONT.
DO WE HAVE ANY MORE ELECTED OFFICIALS? WE DON'T WANNA OVERLOOK ANYBODY.
I DON'T WANNA GET AN EMAIL TOMORROW,
IT IS INDEED AN HONOR TO BE HERE.
REPRESENTATIVE DUTTON REALLY, REALLY WISHED HE COULD HAVE BEEN HERE TODAY, AND UNFORTUNATELY HE WAS NOT ABLE TO.
BUT I WANNA POINT OUT THAT JUST RECENTLY THIS SESSION, REPRESENTATIVE DUTTON HAD THE ABSOLUTE HONOR TO RECOGNIZE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TEXAS HISTORY JOINED WITH LASHANDA, THE, UM, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MILITARY, WOMEN AND OTHERS TO RECOGNIZE THE AF THE WOMEN OF THE SIXTH TRIPLE EIGHT.
THEY HAD NEVER BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS, BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME TO BE ABSOLUTELY HONORED AND RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR SERVICE WAS A REALLY BIG DEAL.
AND MRS. HOOPER EVANS WAS THERE WITH HER FAMILY AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS.
SO I FIRST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAD A CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE WITH REPRESENTATIVE DUTTON IN THAT MONUMENTAL, UM, EVENT.
THIS SESSION, THE RESOLUTIONS THAT I HAVE TODAY RECOGNIZE ALL WOMEN WHO ARE HERE TODAY, WHO GAVE THEIR TIME AND THEIR THEIR SERVICE TO THIS GREAT COUNTRY THAT WE HAVE.
AND, UM, THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS RECOGNIZED IN THE WAY THAT THEY SHOULD.
EACH ONE OF YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR OWN PERSONALIZED RESOLUTION.
SO I'M GONNA BRIEFLY READ A SMALL PORTION OF THAT, WHEREAS ESTABLISHED BY THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE IN 2017, WOMEN VETERANS DAY IS HELD ANNUALLY ON JUNE, JUNE 12TH IN HONOR OF THE ENACTMENT OF THE WOMEN'S ARMED SERVICES INTEGRATION ACT, WHICH OPENED REGULAR MILITARY SERVICE TO ALL WOMEN SIGNED INTO LAW BY PRESIDENT HARRY S TRUMAN.
ON JUNE 12TH, 1948, THE ACT CREATED THE WOMEN'S ARMY CORPS AS APPOINTMENT, I'M SORRY, AS PART OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND AUTHORIZED THE ENLIST, 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 AND IS HOME TO MORE THAN 207, 200, 200,500 WOMEN WHO HAVE SELFISHLY SERVED
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THEIR COUNTRY.AND WHEREAS DURING HER, DURING YOUR YEARS IN UNIFORM, UM, YOU'VE ALL UP UPHELD THE HIGHEST IDEALS OF OUR NATION'S ARMS FORCES DEMONSTRATING EXEMPLARY BRAVERY AND DEDICATION AND INTEGRITY.
AND WITH YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, WE OWE YOU A LASTING DEBT OF GRATITUDE NOW.
AND THERE BE THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE WOMEN TODAY ARE HONORED ON THE OCCASION OF THE 2025 WOMEN VETERANS DAY CEREMONY AT HOUSTON CITY HALL.
AND THAT TRIBUTE BE PAID TO EACH OF YOUR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AND SACRIFICE.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE HAROLD DUTTON.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE PEOPLE THAT I NEED TO RECOGNIZE.
HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT PRECINCT SEVEN CONSTABLE'S OFFICE, UH, JAMES SMOKEY PHILLIPS, REPRESENTED BY CHIEF GRANT AND ALL THE PRECINCT, PLEASE STAND UP.
WE WANNA RECOGNIZE ALL OF YOU FOR COMING TODAY.
ANY MORE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT I NEED TO RECOGNIZE ANYMORE.
I SAID I WILL WELCOME BACK TO THE STAGE, MS. BRITTANY WILMORE, COME ON UP.
WELL, THANK YOU AGAIN SO MUCH, DR. JONES.
AND AGAIN, ONCE MORE FOR ALL OF THOSE WONDERFUL, UH, CERTIFICATES AND, UM, IN HONORING OUR HONOREES.
AND DR. JONES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND, AND ALL THAT YOU DO HERE.
BEING AN OFFICE OF ONE, I'M SURE ISN'T EASY, SO THANK YOU.
OH, WELL, FOR THE NEXT PART OF OUR PROGRAM, WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO HAVE A PROCLAMATION HERE, UH, TO HONOR THIS DAY AGAIN, TEXAS WOMEN VETERANS DAY.
SO I THINK I'LL WELCOME DR. JONES BACK FOR THAT.
Y'ALL GIVE IT UP FOR SHOSHANA JOHNSON.
WE'RE GONNA TELL YOU HER STORY A LITTLE BIT LATER, BUT IN OUR COMMUNITY, SHE IS AN ICON.
SHE'S A SURVIVOR, BUT YOU GUYS WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT HER LATER.
BUT WE GOT A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR YOU TO TAKE BACK TO EL PASO, TEXAS 2025 WOMEN VETERANS DAY HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
RO 2025 MARKS THE 77TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WOMEN WOMEN ARMED SERVICES INTEGRATION ACT, SIGNED BY HARRY TRUMAN ON JUNE 12TH, 1948, WHICH ALLOWED WOMEN TO BECOME A PERMANENT PART OF THE ARMED SERVICES.
WHEREAS DURING THE 85TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THE STATE OF TEXAS PASSED SENATE BILL 8 0 5, LATER ASSIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.
WHEREAS IN OBSERVANCE OF THIS YEAR'S WOMEN VETERANS DAY, THE CITY OF HOUSTON ENCOURAGES OUR RESIDENTS TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK WOMEN VETERANS FOR THEIR SACRIFICES AND PRESERVING THE FREEDOMS AND LIBERTIES ENJOYED BY ALL AMERICANS.
LASHANDA JONES, ON BEHALF OF JUDGE WHITMEYER, THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY RECOGNIZE JUNE 12TH, 2025 AS WOMEN VETERANS DAY.
AND WE WANT TO PRESENT THIS TO YOU TODAY.
GOT ANOTHER ELECTED OFFICIAL, Y'ALL.
ALL RIGHT, WE DON'T LEAVE ANYBODY BEHIND.
NEXT WE HAVE US STATE REPRESENTATIVE YOLANDA JOE JONES.
NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART, BECAUSE HER DAD IS A MARINE AND HER UNCLE IS A MARINE AS WELL.
AND SO WE DEFINITELY THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE.
GRANDFATHER WAS, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON.
I LITERALLY JUST LEFT A FUNERAL, SO COULDN'T MISS THAT.
UM, AND I DIDN'T WANT TO MISS THIS.
UM, AS WAS TOLD TO YOU, MY DAD WAS A MARINE, MY UNCLE WAS A MARINE.
UM, MY GRANDFATHER WAS IN THE ARMY.
AND SO MILITARY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO MY FAMILY.
ALSO, SUPPORTING THE MILITARY IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO MY FAMILY.
MY FATHER AND MY UNCLE, WHEN THEY CAME BACK FROM VIETNAM, THEY WERE NOT THE SAME AND THEY BOTH KILLED THEMSELVES.
SO I'M NOT SHOCKED AT THE SUICIDES THAT PEOPLE NOW KNOW EXIST.
AND I BELIEVE IT'S BECAUSE WE DON'T DO A GOOD ENOUGH JOB OF SUPPORTING OUR MILITARY WHEN THEY COME BACK AND SUPPORTING THEM WITH THE ISSUES, UH, THAT THEY DEAL WITH, ESPECIALLY THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
[00:35:01]
AND SO, LEMME GO.I'M THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR HOUSE DISTRICT 1 47.
UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, YOU ARE SITTING IN HOUSE DISTRICT 1 47.
I HAVE SOME CERTIFICATES THAT I WOULD LIKE, UM, TO PRESENT TO THE FAMILY OF MILDRED GATES HOOPER.
AND THESE ARE CERTIFICATES FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS, X BERTHA, STRAIGHT LEE.
AGAIN, I'M SORRY, I LITERALLY JUST CAME IN.
I'M WET, BUT THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS GONNA MISS THIS.
AND IF, IF THOSE THAT ARE HERE, AND IF YOU CAN STAND, YOU CAN, I CAN COME TO YOU AND PRESENT THEM TO YOU, OR YOU CAN COME UP HERE.
I'M PRESUMING NO RELATION, BECAUSE IF I DID, I'D BE TELLING PEOPLE THAT FAMILY MEMBER WAS IN THE MILITARY TOO, AND THE FAMILY OF DEPUTY JENNIFER L CHAVIS.
AND I'D LIKE TO READ, AND I'LL, I'LL COME DOWN AFTER I READ THIS.
IT SAYS ON BEHALF, IT'S, IT IS THE STATE OF TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION PRESENTED TO SHEILA JONES, JUDY HURST, JUDY HARWELL, PATRICIA RANKIN, BERTHA STRAI LEE, SORRY, I'LL DO THE FAMILIES AFTER THAT.
ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF OF STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOLANDA JONES, TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE HOUSE DISTRICT 1 47, THIS CERTIFICATE IS PROUDLY PRESENTED TO SHEILA JONES, LEE JUDY HEARST, JUDY HARWELL, PATRICIA RANKIN, BARBARA STRAIT LEE ON IN HONOR OF TEXAS WOMEN'S VETERANS DAY.
WE PROUDLY RECOGNIZE AND EXTEND OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE FOR YOUR COURAGEOUS SERVICE, UNWAVERING DEDICATION, AND LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR NATION AND COMMUNITIES.
ON THIS DAY, JUNE 12TH, WE PAUSE TO HONOR THE COUNTLESS SACRIFICES AND REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE WOMEN WHO HAVE WORN THE UNIFORM OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.
AND I KNOW THAT'S NOT BEEN AN EASY FEAT 'CAUSE I KNOW SOME PEOPLE DON'T WANT WOMEN IN THE MILITARY, WHICH IS WHY I'M HERE.
UM, WITH PRIDE AND DISTINCTION, UH, YOUR LEGACIES ARE ONE OF STRENGTH, RESILIENCE, AND PATRIOTISM AND ENDURING SOURCE OF INSPIRATION.
MAY YOUR LEADERSHIP CONTINUE TO LIGHT THE WAY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME ACROSS TEXAS AND BEYOND, AND TO THE FAMILIES, UH, OF MILDRED GATES HOOPER, HER COMMITMENT TO DUTY AND COUNTRY AS A MEMBER OF THE GROUNDBREAKING SIX TRIPLE EIGHT.
I WATCHED THAT ON NETFLIX, UM, CENTRAL POSTAL DIRECTORY BATTALION, AND MY MOTHER, UH, RETIRED FROM THE POST OFFICE.
SO I, I FEEL SOME CONNECTION REPRESENTS A VITAL CHAPTER IN AMERICAN MILITARY HISTORY.
AS WE COMMEMORATE TEXAS WOMEN'S VETERANS DAY ON JUNE 12TH, WE REFLECT ON HER COURAGE, RESILIENCE, AND TRAILBLAZING SPIRIT OF WOMEN LIKE HER AND WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS HELPED REDEFINE THE ROLE OF WOMEN.
AND IF I'M ALMOST CERTAIN, PROBABLY EVERYONE IN HERE SAW, UH, SIX TRIPLE EIGHT.
AND YOU HAD TO SORT THROUGH MAIL THAT OTHER PEOPLE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO SORT THROUGH, THROUGH, AND YOU HAD TO LIVE WITH RATS AND IN UNKEMPT POSITIONS, LET ME TELL YOU, THAT IS SERVICE.
AND FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T THINK IT'S SERVICE, I'M WRONG WITH THEM.
UM, AND SO I THANK YOU BECAUSE THE FAMILIES OF THE SERVICEMEN WHO WERE OVER THERE FIGHTING NEEDED TO KNOW IF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS WERE ALIVE.
AND IF THEY DIED, THEY NEEDED TO KNOW THAT, AND THEY NEEDED TO HAVE COURAGE.
AND SO THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
AND THEN TO THE FAMILY OF DEPUTY JENNIFER L CHAVIS, WITH DEEP RESPECT AND HEARTFELT GRATITUDE, THE STATE OF TEXAS HONORS A LIFE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF DEPUTY CHAVIS, A DEVOTED WIFE, MOTHER, PUBLIC SERVANT, AND VETERAN OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY ON THIS TEXAS WOMEN'S DAY ON JUNE 12TH.
AND THAT'S, I'LL SAY THE SAME THING ABOUT HER.
SO I WANT TO PRESENT, OH, I'M SORRY.
AND ALSO TO ALREADY AT HOOPER.
SO I WANT TO PRESENT THESE TO THE FAMILY.
UH, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU KNOW THAT THE STATE OF TEXAS, UM, SALUTE YOU.
UH, WE BELIEVE IN YOU, WE RECOGNIZE YOU, AND WE BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE GIVEN THEIR FLOWERS FOR THOSE WHO ARE ALIVE, WHEN THEY ARE ALIVE AND NOT DEAD.
AND YOU NEED IT TO HAVE IT HERE AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR HOSTING THIS EVENT EVERY YEAR.
I'M HERE THIS YEAR, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO BE HERE FOR AS LONG AS WE HAVE THIS.
AGAIN, MY NAME IS JOLANDA JONES,
[00:41:38]
SO THANK YOUALL RIGHT, THANK YOU REPRESENTATIVE JONES FOR THAT AND FOR THAT IMPORTANT MOMENT THERE.
NOW, BECAUSE THE MILITARY LEAVES NO ONE BEHIND, WE WILL WELCOME CAROLYN JACKSON, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, RETIRED TO THE PODIUM TO GIVE OUR INVOCATION.
WOULD EVERYONE, IF YOU'RE ABLE, PLEASE STAND.
LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE BLESSING AND GIFT OF A NEW DAY.
WE THANK YOU THAT YOU ARE GOOD, THAT YOU ARE GREAT, THAT YOU ARE AWESOME, AND YOUR MERCY ENDURED FOREVER.
WE THANK YOU FOR EVERY PERSON WHO HAS PRESSED THEIR WAY HERE TO JOIN IN SO SOLIDARITY AND UNITY, TO HONOR AND SUPPORT TEXAS WOMEN, VETERANS DAY, THE AND THE WOMEN OF THE 6 88 6 TRIPLE EIGHT, AND ALL SERVICE WOMEN, PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE.
THANK YOU FOR HOW THESE WOMEN AVAILED THEMSELVES TO BE USED BY YOU DURING CHALLENGING TIMES, TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES, TO BRAVELY INTELLECT, AND INTELLECTUALLY DEFY AND CONFRONT DANGERS SEEN AND UNSEEN, AND LEAVE A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE TO INSPIRE ALL WHO FOLLOW THEM.
LORD, WE PRAY YOUR BLESSINGS UPON ALL WHO HAVE HAD ANY PART IN PUTTING TOGETHER THIS PROGRAM, BLESS THOSE IN FRONT AND BEHIND THE SCENES TO MAKE THIS EVENT A SUCCESS.
AND FATHER, NOW WE ASK THAT YOU POUR OUT A SPECIAL BLESSING UPON DR.
WE THANK YOU FOR HER LEADERSHIP, HER VISION, AND HER HEART, THAT SHE GENEROUSLY SHARES AS SHE MINISTERS TO AND ADVOCATES FOR, NOT ONLY TO MILITARY WOMEN, BUT ALL MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN NEED.
CONTINUE TO GRANT YOUR FAVOR AND YOUR STRENGTH UPON HER AND HER MINISTRY.
SO, LORD, AS WE CELEBRATE WOMEN TODAY, WOMEN THAT HAVE SET THE FOUNDATION FOR WHERE WE STAND TODAY, WE CELEBRATE EVERY SOLDIER, EVERY SAILOR, EVERY AIRMAN, EVERY MARINE, EVERY RESERVIST, EVERY GUARD, EVERY ACTIVE DUTY, AND EVERY VETERAN.
YOU KNOW ALL ABOUT EACH ONE OF US AND WHAT WE STAND IN THE NEED OF.
SO ALLOW YOUR HAND OF MERCY AND GRACE TO COVER AND KEEP US ALL RESIDE OVER THIS EVENT.
LORD, WE PRAY IT WILL BE BLESSING AND PLEASING IN YOUR SIGHT, AND THAT ALL THAT IS SAID AND DONE WILL BRING GLORY TO YOUR NAME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT, CAROLYN.
WELL, THIS HAS BEEN SUCH A SPECIAL PROGRAM SO FAR THAT WILL ONLY CONTINUE AS WE PREPARE TO WELCOME OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER TO THE STAGE, TO SHAUNA JOHNSON.
I WILL BRIEFLY MENTION A A BIT OF HER BACKGROUND, BUT CERTAINLY NO ONE CAN TELL, TELL YOUR STORY LIKE YOU, AND IT'LL BE GREAT TO HEAR IN YOUR OWN WORDS.
UH, SHOSHANA JOHNSON IS A SECOND GENERATION US ARMY VETERAN AND NATIVE OF PANAMA.
SHE ALSO HAS TEXAS ROOTS CALLING EL PASO HOME.
IN 1998, SHE DECIDED TO ENLIST IN THE US ARMY SO THAT SHE COULD EARN TUITION FOR CULINARY SCHOOL.
IN FEBRUARY, 2003, WHILE SERVING HER SECOND MILITARY ASSIGNMENT AT FORT BLISS, TEXAS JOHNSON RECEIVED ORDERS TO DEPLOY TO IRAQ AS A QUARTER MASTER CORPS FOOD SERVICE SPECIALIST.
WITH THE 507TH MAINTENANCE COMPANY,
[00:45:01]
SHE ENLISTED WITH THE DUTY OF PREPARING MEALS.BUT ON MARCH 23RD, 2003, ONE MONTH AFTER HER ARRIVAL TO SERVE AS PART OF OPERATION IRAQI, FREEDOM JOHNSON WAS IN A CONVOY THAT WAS AMBUSHED AND TAKEN CAPTIVE.
SHOSHANA WAS HELD AS A PRISONER IN IRAQ FOR 22 DAYS, ALONG WITH FIVE OTHER MEMBERS OF HER UNIT ON APRIL 13TH, 2003, AFTER SUBSEQUENT HOUSE RAIDS CONDUCTED BY UNITED STATES MARINES OF THE THIRD LIGHT ARMORED RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION, FIRST MARINE DIVISION IN THE CITY OF SAMARA JOHNSON WAS RESCUED ALONG WITH SIX OTHER PRISONERS OF WAR.
THEY WERE WELCOMED AS HEROES IN THE UNITED STATES ON APRIL 16TH WITH A CHEERING CROWD OF OVER 3000 PEOPLE.
AGAIN, SHOSHANA'S STORY IS ONE OF RESILIENCE, SURVIVAL, AND COURAGE, AND WE ARE SO, SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU ARE HERE WITH US TODAY.
SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING TO THE STAGE SHOSHANA JOHNSON, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UM, YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME I GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, IT'S VERY HUMBLING AND VERY NERVE WRACKING.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SEE ME AS I AM HERE TODAY AND THINK, WELL, YOU KNOW, SHE'S DOING SO WELL AND, UH, AND SO FORTH.
BUT THERE ARE DAYS WHEN I STRUGGLE WITH THE WEIGHT OF WHAT HAPPENED TO ME AND THE THINGS WE SAW AND ENDURED.
AND THE FACT THAT YOU CAN SEE ME AS I AM RIGHT NOW IS NOT BECAUSE I DID IT ALL ON MY OWN.
I HAVE A WONDERFUL MILITARY FAMILY.
UM, MY FAMILY IMMIGRATED TO THE US AND MOST OF THE MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY THE MALE AND QUITE A FEW OF THE FEMALES SERVED IN THE MILITARY.
AND THEY GIVE ME LOVE AND SUPPORT ALL THE DAYS.
AND MY SIS, MY CITY OF EL PASO ALSO SUPPORTS ME IN A WAY THAT I CANNOT DESCRIBE.
UM, JOINING ME HERE TODAY ARE SOME OF MY HIGH SCHOOL FRIENDS.
THEY'RE SITTING BACK THERE, SOME OF A COUPLE LIVING IN HOUSTON, AREA TWO FLEW IN WITH ME TO GIVE ME SUPPORT.
AND I, I STILL HAVE A BIG PANAMANIAN COMMUNITY THAT GIVES ME LOVE AND SUPPORT.
BUT EVEN WITH THAT SUPPORT, I STILL BREAK DOWN AND THE STRUGGLE IS REAL.
SO I WONDER ALL THE TIME FROM MY FELLOW BROTHERS AND SISTER VETERANS, HOW DO THEY MAKE IT THROUGH DAY BY DAY IF THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE HALF OF THE SUPPORT? I DO A 10TH OF THE SUPPORT I DO.
HOW ARE THEY GETTING THROUGH? AND SOME OF THEM AREN'T.
SOME OF 'EM AREN'T MAKING IT THROUGH.
I APPRECIATE THE LOVE AND THE SUPPORT WE GET ON THESE DAYS WHEN WE THINK BACK OF THE SERVICE PEOPLE THAT CAME BEFORE US.
BUT I NEED PEOPLE TO THINK EVERY DAY OF WHAT WE ENDURE.
WE MADE A CONTRACT WITH THE UNITED STATES AND ITS PEOPLE.
WE WILL STAND AT THE FRONT LINES AND DO WHAT'S NECESSARY TO PROTECT YOU.
WHEN WE COME HOME, WE ASK THAT YOU GIVE US RESPECT THAT WE HAVE EARNED AND TAKE CARE OF US SO WE CAN HELP TAKE CARE OF OUR FAMILIES.
I'M SORRY TO SAY ON MANY LEVELS, YOU'RE FAILING AND MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS ARE SUFFERING.
SO WHEN I GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, I MUST SPEAK OUT LOUD TO REMIND YOU OF THE OBLIGATION THAT YOU OWE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO DO WHAT WE HAD TO DO.
WE DID THE BEST WE COULD EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND WE DESERVE THE DIGNITY AND RESPECT FOR IT.
NOW, AS I THINK ABOUT THE WOMEN WHO CAME BEFORE ME, ESPECIALLY THESE LADIES HERE, I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WOMEN IN SERVICE DIDN'T START WHEN HARRY TRUMAN SIGNED THAT PAPER.
WE HAVE BEEN SERVING SINCE THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
WOMEN HAD THE COURAGE TO PUT ON A MAN'S UNIFORM AND STAND UP AND FIGHT WHITE, KNOWING THAT THEIR SACRIFICE
[00:50:02]
MAY NEVER BE RECOGNIZED.THEIR NAMES MAY NEVER BE CALLED.
I WAS ABLE TO LOOK UP SOME OF THE NAMES.
MARGARET CORBIN PUT ON A UNIFORM AND SERVED WITH HER HUSBAND, HELPED LOADING CANNONS IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
DEBORAH SIMS SAMSON JOINED THE CONTINENTAL ARMY JUST AS A MAN, KATHY WILLIAMSON, DRESSED AS A MAN TO JOIN THE BUFFALO SOLDIERS.
WE HAVE THE WOMEN OF WORLD WAR II AND WORLD WAR I, WORLD WAR I.
AND THEN IN WORLD WAR I WITH THE SIX TRIPLE EIGHT, WE HAD NURSES DURING WORLD WAR II.
THERE WERE PRISONERS OF WAR IN THE PACIFIC.
I KNOW PEOPLE LIKE TO THINK OF MYSELF AND JESSICA AND LORI, BUT THEY WERE PRISONERS OF WAR IN DESERT STORM.
ALSO TOO, MELISSA AND GENERAL, UM, OH GEEZ, TIP OF MY TONGUE.
I CAN'T REMEMBER HER NAME, WHO SERVED AND WERE PRISONERS, BUT THEY ALWAYS FORGET THE ONES FROM WORLD WAR II.
AND SOME OF THEM DIDN'T SURVIVE AND DON'T GET THE SAME HONORS AS THE MEN WHO SERVED AND WERE IN PRISONERS OF WAR.
THESE WOMEN PUT ON A UNIFORM AND SERVED KNOWING THAT THEIR NAMES MAY NEVER BE MENTIONED.
THEIR SACRIFICE MAY NEVER BE RECOGNIZED.
BUT KNOWING THAT THEY WERE GIVING THEMSELVES FOR SOMETHING BIGGER, WE NEED TO SAY THEIR NAMES.
WE NEED TO REMEMBER THEIR SACRIFICE.
WE NEED TO EDUCATE OUR MEN, YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN, NOT JUST THE YOUNG GIRLS TO INSPIRE THEM, BUT FOR ALSO THE YOUNG MEN SO THEY CAN RECOGNIZE THAT THEY DON'T DO IT ALONE.
WE LIKE TO WATCH THEM OLD MOVIES, OR AT LEAST I DO, JIMMY STEWART, GARY COOPER, JOHN WAYNE.
THOSE STORIES, THOSE MOVIES ARE INSPIRED BY TRUE EVENTS, BUT THEY'RE NOT TELLING THE WHOLE STORY.
WE NEED OUR YOUNG MEN AND YOUNG WOMEN TO SEE THE WHOLE STORY.
SO THEY UNDERSTAND THAT WOMEN DON'T JUST STAND IN THE BACKGROUND.
AND YOU WOULD NOT BE HERE ENJOYING THE FREEDOM IF THEY DIDN'T.
WE ARE HAPPY TO HELP YOU ALWAYS, BUT I DON'T NEED TO BE IN THE BACKGROUND.
I RECENTLY, THIS YEAR, I WAS ABLE TO GO TO ARLINGTON AND SEE THE WOMEN'S MEMORIAL, THE THE WOMEN'S, THE MILITARY WOMEN'S MEMORIAL, UH, THE DIRECTOR OVER THERE, PHYLLIS WILSON IS DOING A WONDERFUL JOB OF PRESERVING THE HISTORY OF WOMEN WHO FOUGHT FOR THIS NATION.
IF YOU GET THE OPPORTUNITY, PLEASE GO UP THERE AND TAKE A LOOK.
SHE DOESN'T KNOW I'M RUNNING MY MOUTH ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW,
I ONLY GOT TO SEE A PIECE OF IT, AND I HAVE TO GO BACK AND TAKE MY DAUGHTER AND MY NIECES AND MY NEPHEWS AND, AND SO THEY CAN TAKE A LOOK.
UM, AND IF YOU ARE A FEMALE VETERAN, PLEASE CONTACT THEM.
THEY ARE RECORDING ALL OF OUR HISTORY, NOT JUST THE ONES THAT SERVED AT CERTAIN TIMES, NOT JUST THE ONES THAT SERVED DURING ACTIVE COMBAT, ALL OF OUR HISTORY.
SO THEY CAN KEEP THAT RECORD TO INSPIRE THE ONES THAT COME AFTER US AND KNOW WHAT THEY ARE CAPABLE OF INSIDE.
PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AND IF YOU ARE A WOMAN, PLEASE CONTRIBUTE YOUR STORY.
I AM HUMBLED BY THE PEOPLE THAT CAME BEFORE ME.
I STAND VERY TALL BECAUSE I STAND ON THE SHOULDERS THAT THAT CAME OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE ME.
YOU KNOW, 22 DAYS WAS A LONG 22 DAYS, BUT I THINK OF THE WOMEN OF THE SIX TRIPLE EIGHT AND ALL THE WHO CAME BEFORE ME WHO ENDURED NOT FROM THE ENEMY UNFORTUNATELY, BUT FROM OUR OWN WHO THOUGHT WE WERE INCAPABLE OF DOING THE JOB.
AND I MUST RECOGNIZE THAT, UM, THOSE 22 DAYS ARE NOTHING COMPARED TO THE YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS OF LIVING WITH YOUR OWN, NOT GIVING YOU THE LOVE, SUPPORT, AND RESPECT YOU DESERVE.
SO BEFORE I STAND UP HERE CRYING, UH, UH, I WANT TO CLOSE OUT AND SAY THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS, UH, UH,
[00:55:01]
LADIES DOING SUCH OUTSTANDING WORK.THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE LOVE AND THE PRAYERS, AND PLEASE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR VETERANS.
WE STILL HAVE SO MUCH TO CONTRIBUTE, UM, AS FAR AS DOCUMENTING AND EDUCATING THE YOUTH, IF YOU GIVE US THE CHANCE AND THE LOVE, THE SUPPORT THAT WE NEED, AND ALWAYS REMEMBER THOSE OLD MOVIES ARE WONDERFUL TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, BUT THE REALIZATION IS THIS COUNTRY IS BUILT ON PEOPLE OF ALL CULTURES, ALL RACES, ALL SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS, ALL RELIGIONS.
WE ALL COME TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS COUNTRY GREAT AND MOST OF US DON'T LOOK LIKE JOHN WAYNE.
Y'ALL GIVE IT UP FOR US, SHOSHANA.
SO A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, UM, I WAS INVITED TO, UH, ATTEND A CEREMONY, UH, BY THE WOMEN'S MILITARY MEMORIAL AND LARE AND I AND MATILDA MONTGOMERY, WE TOOK THAT DRIVE BECAUSE WE SAW THAT SHOSHANA JOHNSON WAS GONNA BE THERE.
UM, THERE'S SOME DAYS IN HISTORY.
I KNOW MANY OF US REMEMBER SOME OF US, UM, 2001, I THINK ALL OF US REMEMBER THAT WHEN THE TOWERS WERE HIT IN MARCH, 2003, WHEN WE SAW THAT FACE, THAT FACE THAT WAS CAPTURED, THAT FACE, THAT WAS WITH HER PLATOON, THAT WAS CAPTURED.
AND WE REMEMBER THOSE WHO DIDN'T MAKE IT BACK.
SO WHEN SHE TOLD HER STORY, SHE WAS JUST A FACE OF A RESILIENCE AND EMBODIED SOMEONE WHO HAS MADE IT THROUGH THE STRUGGLE.
SO I SAID, LIKE ASIA, I THINK WE GOT OUR SPEAKER FOR JUNE 12TH.
AND SO WHEN WE CORNERED HER AND WE ASKED HER WOULD SHE BE WILLING TO FLY FROM EL PASO TO GRACE US WITH HER PRESENCE, SHE, UM, QUICKLY SAID YES.
SO TODAY, SHOSHANA, WE WANNA THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SPEECH TODAY.
I KNEW I LIKED FOR SOMETHING
THANK YOU AGAIN, SHOSHANA, ESPECIALLY FOR BEING SO OPEN AND HONEST AND POURING YOUR HEART OUT TO ALL OF US.
SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
NEXT, PLEASE WELCOME THE WOMEN VETERANS DAY COMMITTEE WHO WILL PRESENT OUR HONOREES FOR ALL OF Y'ALL GOOD ARMY FOLKS OUT THERE.
IT IS SUCH AN HONOR TO BE BEFORE YOU TO HONOR THESE BEAUTIFUL LADIES TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME AN ARMY VETERAN TO WALK ON YOUR SHOULDERS AND COME BEHIND YOU.
AND THANK YOU FOR JOB WELL DONE.
UM, I'LL, UH, READ THE BIO OF MS. BERTHA STRAIGHT LEE.
AT 100 YEARS OLD, I GOT A CHANCE TO BE AT HER 100TH BIRTHDAY WHEN SHE DANCED THE NIGHT AWAY.
AND I'M HOPING I GET TO DANCE ON MY 100TH BIRTHDAY.
BERTHA STRAIGHT LEE WAS BORN JANUARY 18TH, 1925 IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
SHE GRADUATED IN 1943, CLASS OF BOOKER T WASHINGTON, AND LATER WENT ON TO ATTEND HUGHES BUSINESS COLLEGE IN PRAIRIE VIEW A AND M UNIVERSITY.
BERTHA JOINED THE ARMY IN 1951 AND SOON AFTER ATTENDED BASIC TRAINING AND MOS TRAINING AT FORT LEE VIRGINIA.
UPON COMPLETION, SHE RECEIVED ORDERS TO FORT KNOX, KENTUCKY AND FORT CUSTER, MICHIGAN, WHERE SHE WORKED IN THE HOSPITAL KITCHEN SERVING ARMY SOLDIERS.
AFTER FIVE YEARS OF HONORABLE SERVICE TO HER NATION, SHE RETURNED TO HER HOUSTON COMMUNITY AND BECAME THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY AT CARDALE SCHOOL.
BERTHA WORKED AT THE SCHOOL UNTIL IT CLOSED.
BECAUSE OF INTEGRATION, BECAUSE OF HER LOVE OF BEAUTY AND HAIRCARE, SHE DECIDED TO ENROLL IN BEAUTY SCHOOL AND BEGIN WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY STYLING HAIR AND MAKING BEAUTY PRODUCTS THAT ARE STILL SUCCESSFUL.
ON JANUARY 18TH, 2025, THE HONORABLE MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER PROCLAIMED THE DAY BERTHA STRAIGHT LEE DAY IN HONOR OF HER HUNDREDTH BIRTHDAY.
[01:00:02]
SO TODAY WE RECOGNIZE MS. BERTHA STRAIGHT LEE AND WE HONOR YOU TODAY ON TEXAS WOMEN VETERANS DAY.RIGHT NOW I HAVE THE HONOR OF READING MS. PATRICIA RANKINS BIO.
AT 84 YEARS OLD, PATRICIA WAS BORN ON APRIL 1ST, 1941 IN KINGSTON, JAMAICA.
AS A TEENAGER, SHE IMMIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES WITH HER PARENTS SETTLING IN NEW YORK WHERE SHE COMPLETED HER HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION.
AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, SHE DECIDED TO JOIN THE ARMY IN 1960.
DURING THE VIETNAM WAR ERA, SHE COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AT FORT MCCLELLAN, ALABAMA, A TRAINING CENTER, HISTORICALLY KNOWN FOR TRAINING WOMEN IN THE WOMAN ARMY'S CORPS.
FOLLOWING BASIC TRAINING, SHE RECEIVED ORDERS TO FORT KNOX, KENTUCKY WHERE SHE TRAINED AS A FOOD SERVICE SPECIALIST.
UPON COMPLETION, SHE WAS STATIONED AT FORT BENNING, GEORGIA, SERVING TROOPS AND MESS HALLS AND IN FIELD OPERATIONS.
SHE FELT THAT HAVING A COOK, WELL MOST FEEL, 'CAUSE I KNOW HOW I FELT WHEN I WAS IN THE ARMY FOR 23 YEARS.
IT WAS ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE A COOK AS A BATTLE BUDDY.
'CAUSE YOU KNOW, YOU'LL NEVER GO HUNGRY
AND SO, UM, THAT MEANT A HOT MEAL FOR YOU IN A LITTLE COMFORT.
UH, AFTER HER DISCHARGE FROM THE MILITARY, SHE ATTENDED MANHATTAN COLLEGE WHERE SHE COMPLETED HER NURSING DEGREE AND LATER BECAME A CPR INSTRUCTOR.
SHE AND HER HUSBAND BOTH SPENT SIX YEARS IN SAUDI ARABIA AND LATER RETURNED HOME TO HOUSTON.
TODAY WE RECOGNIZE AND WE HONOR YOUR SERVICE, MISS PATRICIA RAVEN.
I GET THE HONOR OF INTRODUCING THE BEST FORCE.
WHERE'S MY AIRMAN AT MY AIR FORCE OUT IN THE AUDIENCE.
I KNOW WE ARE NOT AS LOUD AS THE ARMY, BUT IT'S BECAUSE WHEN WE SPEAK PEOPLE LISTEN.
SO I HAVE THE HONOR OF INTRODUCING MS. JUDY HARTWELL.
SO MS. JUDY WAS BORN FEBRUARY 18TH IN 1942 IN NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.
I GOTTA GET SOME RECIPES FROM YOU.
MOTIVATED BY A DEEP SENSE OF DUTY AND HEART TO SERVE.
SHE JOINED THE BEST FORCE, THE AIR FORCE, WHERE SHE WOULD GO MAKE A MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION DURING A CRITICAL PART OF AMERICAN HISTORY.
DURING THE VIETNAM WAR, SHE SERVED FROM 1971 TO 1973.
HER ROLE WAS SUPPORTING FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAD BEEN SENT TO THE BASE.
UM, SO SHE HAD TO HELP THEM ADJUST TO LIFE OVERSEAS DURING, DURING TIME OF WAR.
AND SHE LET ME KNOW THAT SHE WAS STATIONED IN THE PHILIPPINES AND BECAUSE OF THE WAR, THEY COULD NOT LEAVE.
SO HER JOB WAS BOOSTING MORALE TO THE MILITARY TROOPS ON THE BASE AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILIES.
SHE CONTINUED HER SERVICE AND DEDICATION BY TEACHING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND HIGH SCHOOL.
EVENTUALLY SHE BECAME AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRE, UH, PRINCIPAL.
WELL, WE HEARD SHE MADE A LASTING IMPACT, A MEANINGFUL IMPACT, UM, ON PEOPLE LIVES TO REMEMBER YOUR ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL SO MANY YEARS LATER, WE ALL PROBABLY HAVE THOSE
[01:05:01]
TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS THAT WE WISH WE COULD FORGET.BUT SO WHEN YOU HONOR THOSE WHO WHO SERVED AND REMEMBER THAT LETS YOU KNOW THE COMMITMENT THAT SHE HAVE TO COMMUNITY AND SERVICE HER LIFE IS A TESTAMENT OF COMPASSION, RESILIENCE, AND SERVICE, BOTH IN UNIFORM AND THE CLASSROOM.
SO WHEN WE WERE DECIDING, YOU KNOW, WHO WAS GOING TO, UH, RECOGNIZE WHO, I DON'T THINK I HAD ANY OPPOSITION 'CAUSE I GET TO ANNOUNCE MY FELLOW DEVIL DOG ROCK, RETIRED MASTER GUNNERY SERGEANT JUDY HURST HEARS WAS BORN ON MAY 31ST, 1955 IN AKRON, OHIO.
IT BEGINS, BEGAN HER DISTINGUISHED CAREER IN UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS ON MAY 28TH, 1980, THE REAGAN YEARS FOLLOWING HER SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF BASIC TRAINING AT MARINE CORPS, RECRUIT DEPOT, PARIS ISLAND, AND HER MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY TRAINING AT CAMP JU JUNE, PRIVATE FIRST CLASS T WENT ON TO RECEIVE ORDERS TO HER FIRST DUTY ST.
DUTY STATION AT THIRD FORCE SERVICE SUPPORT GROUP IN OKINAWA, JAPAN, DEMONSTRATING EARLY LEADERSHIP AND EXCELLENCE.
SHE EARNED HER MERITORIOUS PROMOTIONS TO CORPORAL AND SUBSEQUENTLY TO SERGEANT ON JANUARY 2ND, 1982.
SHORTLY THEREAFTER, AFTER ALL OF THIS THAT SHE WENT THROUGH IN JANUARY, 1989, STAFF SERGEANT HEARST RETURNED TO CAMP PENDLETON AND TOOK ON THE ROLE OF MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT CHIEF WITH THE SABBATH MOTOR TRANSPORT BATTALION.
IN DECEMBER, 1990, SHE DEPLOYED WITH THE BATTALION TO SAUDI ARABIA IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION DESERT SHIELD.
SHE LATER PARTICIPATED IN COMBAT OPERATIONS DURING THE GULF WAR, RETURNING TO THE US IN APRIL, 1991.
SHE REQUESTED AND RECEIVE ORDERS TO MCRD SAN DIEGO AND BECAME A MASTER SERGEANT CHIEF AND ACTING AS A DEPOT RIDE SHARE COORDINATOR.
IN LATE 1993, GUNNERY SERGEANT HERE RETURNED TO OKINAWA TO SERVE AS CHIEF INSTRUCTOR, INSTRUCTOR AT THE DIVISION M SCHOOL, THIRD MARINE DIVISION.
AND UPON PROMOTION, SHE WAS ASSIGNED TO COMBAT ASSAULT BATTALION AT THE MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT OFFICE.
AND DUE TO HER VACANCY, SHE SERVED AS THE ACTING FOR SERGEANT FOR H AND S COMPANY BEFORE RETURNING TO HER ROLE AS MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT OFFICE.
HER FINAL ASSIGNMENT IS, UM, WAS IN OKINAWA AS A HEADQUARTERS BATTALION MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT OFFICER.
IN 1997, RETURNING STATESIDE, SHE WENT ON TO, TO, UH, HAVE A ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REMEMBER MOST ABOUT HER IS SHE WAS A DRILL INSTRUCTOR.
SO SHE MADE ROOM TO MAKE SURE ALL THE NEW MARINES, NEW, NEW WOMEN MARINES WERE COMING THROUGH TO, UH, TO REPRESENT THIS COUNTRY.
IN 2004, SHE DEPLOYED TO OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM AS A LOGISTICS CHIEF AND SENIOR ENLISTED ADVISOR STATIONED AT BAGRAM AIR FORCE BASE, I'M SORRY, BAGRAM AIR BASE AND AFGHANISTAN IN 2006, CAPTAIN CAREER MARKED BY OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE, MENTORSHIP AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THE CORPS.
SHE CONTINUES TO SERVE AS A MARINE CORPS, AS A MARINE CORPS FIELD SOFTWARE SUPPORT AFTER HER RETIREMENT.
SO TODAY WE WANNA RECOGNIZE UNITED STATES MARINE.
I OFTEN TELL PEOPLE, UM, BECAUSE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES ASSUME WHEN YOU SEE THE, THE, THE DV TAGS OR THE MILITARY TAGS AND THEY COME OUT AND THEY SAY, OH, DID YOUR HUSBAND, YOUR HUSBAND SERVED, OR TELL YOUR HUSBAND AND YOUR BOYFRIEND YOUR DAD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I TELL PEOPLE, WATCH WHAT YOU SAY.
'CAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW IF THAT LITTLE LADY THAT'S STANDING NEXT TO YOU SERVED WHETHER SHE WAS AN AIRMAN, THAT SHE WAS A SAILOR, WHETHER SHE WAS IN COAST GUARD, WHETHER SHE WAS IN THE ARMY OR NOW SPACE FORCE.
WE NEVER WANNA SAY TO HIM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
'CAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHO WAS STANDING BESIDE HIM, WHO WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF HIM AND WHO WAS STANDING BEHIND HIM MAY HAVE ALSO SERVED AS WELL.
SO FOR, SO FOR THE HISTORY OF THESE CEREMONIES, WE ALWAYS TRY TO FIND THOSE WOMEN WHO ARE OVER A HUNDRED OR WHO IN THEIR NINETIES OR IN THEIR EIGHTIES, BECAUSE WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE GIVE THEM THEIR FLOWERS.
SO FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, BACK IN THE DAY, WE WEREN'T ALLOWED TO STAY.
IF YOU MET THAT GOOD LOOKING GI AND GOT MARRIED, THEY SAID, NO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, BUT YOU'RE FREE TO GO.
OR IF YOU GOT PREGNANT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, YOU'RE FREE TO GO.
OR WHEN THE WAR ENDED, THEY SAID, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, YOU'RE FREE TO GO.
AND SO FOR THIS CEREMONY, WE ALWAYS TRY TO GIVE THOSE WOMEN THEIR FLOWERS.
AND FOR THE MOST OF THE ONES THAT WE
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HAVE HONORED SINCE 2018 ARE NO LONGER HERE.BUT WE GAVE THEM THEIR FLOWERS JUST IN TIME.
BUT FOR THIS NEXT ONE, AND I ALWAYS GET THESE TEXT MESSAGES WHEN THEY SAY, HEY, DID YOU SEE THAT SHE WAS A, SHE SERVED THAT SHE WAS A VETERAN? HEY, DID YOU KNOW THAT SHE SERVED? AND SO I SAW IT FOR MYSELF, DEPUTY CONSTABLE SHEILA JONES, UNITED STATES ARMY AGE 59.
SO WHEN I SAW HER FACE, WHEN I SAW HER STORY ON BREAKING NEWS, I SAID, WE GOT OUR LAST HONOREE.
SHEILA WAS BORN ON DECEMBER 31ST, 1965.
SHE'S A BABY OF THE GROUP, Y'ALL.
SHE'S 59 IN THE SOUTH ACRES COMMUNITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.
SHE BEGAN HER CAREER IN 1994 WHEN SHE ELICITED THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
SHEILA COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AT FORT CLELL OF ALABAMA AND ADVANCED IN INDIVIDUAL TRAINING AT FORT GEOR FORT GORDON, GEORGIA.
SHE RECEIVED ORDERS TO GERMANY AND LATER COMPLETED ADDITIONAL TOURS IN HEIDELBERG, BURG, KISSINGER, GERMANY.
AND AT THE END OF HER OVERSEAS DUTIES, SHE RETURNED TO THE US AND IN 1988 DECIDES TO END HER ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY CAREER.
SHE CONTINUED HER MILITARY COMMITMENT BY JOINING THE TEXAS ARMY NATIONAL GUARD WHERE SHE SERVED AN HONORABLY DISCHARGE IN 1990.
SHE WASN'T FINISHED AFTER HER MILITARY SERVICE, SHE TRANSITIONED INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT DEDICATING 30 YEARS TO THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE BEFORE RETIRING.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF HER COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE, SHE GOT BACK UP AND SHE GOT BACK INTO THE FIGHT AND SHE HAD RE SHE'S REMAINED AND HAS RETURNED TO DO THE WITH PRECINCT ONE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE.
SO YOU SEE ALL THOSE CONSTABLES HERE, THEY'RE IN SUPPORT OF YOU.
SO SOMETHING I READ ON APRIL 21ST, 2025, ACCORDING TO THE HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT, ONE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE LAW ENFORCEMENT RECEIVED INFORMATION AROUND 12:20 PM THAT A MAN WITH A WEAPON WAS WALKING FROM 2001 CAROLINE, THE HARRIS COUNTY CIVIL, CIVIL COURTHOUSE.
AND HE WAS WALKING TOWARDS THE FAMILY LAW CENTER ON CONGRESS.
A DEPUTY SPOTTED THE SUSPECT AND STARTED TO CHASE HIM TOWARD CONGRESS.
SEVEN MORE DEPUTIES ENCOUNTERED THE MAN.
THE PLAZA OF THE FOLLOW, THE, THE FAMILY LAW CENTER AT 1 11 15 CONGRESS WAS WHERE IT ALL HAPPENED.
AND ACCORDING TO THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE, A DEPUTY AND THE SUSPECT WERE BOTH SHOT.
THE CONSTABLE DEPUTY WHO WAS SHOT IN THE BACK, WAS INITIALLY TAKEN TO A NEARBY HOSPITAL IN THE PATROL CAR, BUT WAS LATER TRANSPORT TRANSPORTED TO ANOTHER HOSPITAL AND THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER.
GUESS WHO THAT WAS? Y'ALL? CONSTABLE DEPUTY SHEILA JONES.
AND SHE'S STILL NOT THROUGH TO HER SERVICE.
DON'T STAND UP FOR DEPUTY CONSTABLE JONES.
SHE TOOK A LICK AND KEPT ON TICKING Y'ALL.
SO I GUESS THAT DIDN'T, Y'ALL DON'T, DON'T QUOTE ME ON THIS, BUT I GUESS SHE'S ARMY STRONG.
CAN I HAVE ALL MY ACTIVE ARMY AND VETERANS TO THE FRONT ON EACH SIDE OF THE PODIUM OR VETERANS? BOTH.
AND AFTER YOU GET ON EACH SIDE, THE CHAVIS FAMILY IN THE MIDDLE LEAVE, LEAVE ROOM IN THE MIDDLE FOR THE CHAVIS FAMILY.
YEAH, THE CHAVIS FAMILY IN THE MIDDLE.
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JENNIFER LAUREN CHAVIS WAS BORN TO TANYA CHILDRESS AND JOHNNY FOWLER III ON MAY 4TH, 1989 IN BAYTOWN, TEXAS, AND GREW UP IN AMES, TEXAS, WHERE SHE WAS SURROUNDED BY THE LOVE AND SUPPORT OF HER EXTENDED FAMILY.ONE OF JENNIFER'S TRUE PASSIONS IN LIFE WAS BEING A BIG SISTER TO HER YOUNGER SISTER AND BROTHER.
SHE GRADUATED FROM LIBERTY HIGH IN MAY OF 2007 AND LEFT FOR BASIC TRAINING FOR THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
AFTER GRADUATION, JENNIFER SERVED IN THE MILITARY FOR SIX YEARS AS A 42 ALPHA HUMAN RESOURCE SPECIALIST AND WAS STATIONED IN GERMANY.
SHE REPRESENTED THE UNITED STATES MILITARY IN GERMANY, SEVERAL AFRICAN NATIONS, AND COMPETED, COMPLETED A TOUR IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
WHILE IN GERMANY, JENNIFER MET THE LOVE OF HER LIFE, QUINCY CHAVIS.
SHE COMPLETED HER MILITARY SERVICE IN 2013 UNDER HONORABLE CONDITIONS AND RETURNED TO HER FAMILY IN TEXAS.
SHE MARRIED QUINCY CHAVIS ON JULY 11TH, 2015, AND THE COUPLE MADE THEIR HOME IN PEARLAND, TEXAS.
SHE GAVE BIRTH TO THEIR SON, VIAN ANDREW CHAVIS ON MAY 1ST, 2017.
ALTHOUGH JENNIFER HAD LEFT THE MILITARY, SHE CONTINUED TO SERVE HER COUNTRY AND HER COMMUNITY.
SHE ENROLLED IN COLLEGE TO PURSUE HER BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE WHILE WORKING FULL-TIME WITH THE TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION.
JENNIFER WAS A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR DISABLED VETERANS IN HER PROFESSIONAL AND HER PERSONAL LIFE.
IN 2014, SHE ESTABLISHED A NONPROFIT TO HELP VETERANS DEFRA COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH ADOPTING AND TRAINING SERVICE ANIMALS.
JENNIFER GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON DOWNTOWN ON DECEMBER 19TH, 2015 WITH HER BACHELOR'S ASSIGNMENT, SCIENCE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
AND IMMEDIATELY SHE JOINED THE POLICE ACADEMY.
ON MAY 18TH, 2019, SHE RECEIVED HER EXECUTIVE MASTER OF ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE FROM TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.
SHE WAS CURRENTLY PURSUING HER PHD.
SHE LIVED AN EXEMPLARY LIFE DEVOTED TO THE SERVICE OF OTHERS AND LIVING HER FAMILY.
TODAY, DEPUTY CONSTABLE JENNIFER CHAVIS IS BEING HONORED AFTER SHE TRAGICALLY LOST HER LIFE IN THE LINE OF DUTY WHEN HER PATROL CAR WAS STRUCK BY A DRUNK DRIVER ON BELTWAY EIGHT NEAR FONDREN ROAD TO ENSURE THAT DEPUTY CONSTABLE AND ARMY VETERAN JENNIFER CHAVIS IS NEVER FORGOTTEN.
APRIL 13TH HAS BEEN DECLARED DEPUTY CONSTABLE JENNIFER CHAVIS DAY.
ADDITIONALLY, THE HARRIS COUNTY TOLL BOARD AUTHORITY HAS RENAMED THE SOUTHWEST TALL PLAZA, THE DEPUTY CONSTABLE JENNIFER L CHAVIS MEMORIAL BUILDING IN HER HONOR.
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WE WILL GIVE IT A SECOND FOR THE CHAVIS FAMILY TO BE SEATED.ARMY HALL Y'ALL COME BACK, BACK, COME BACK.
I SEE SOME AIRBORNE, SOME AOL, SOME ROCKET SIGNS UP IN HERE, SOME SIGNAL.
YOU CAN TALK ABOUT US, BUT YOU CAN'T TALK WITHOUT US.
WE ALWAYS HAVE THE HONOR TO, TO BRING, WE SAY THE BEST FEL LAST.
MILDRED GATES HOOPER, A LEGACY OF SERVICE AND STRENGTH.
MILD GATES HOOPER WAS BORN ON FEBRUARY 2ND, 1922 IN CARTHAGE, TEXAS, AND RAISED IN MARSHALL AS THE YOUNGEST OF NINE CHILDREN.
AFTER GRADUATING FROM CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL IN 1940, SHE MARRIED MARVIN HOOPER IN LONGVIEW, TEXAS.
JUST DAYS BEFORE THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR, AS WORLD WAR II ESCALATED, MARVIN ALONG WITH MILDRED'S, TWO BROTHERS AND TWO NEPHEWS WERE DRAFTED.
MILDRED, LIKE MANY WOMEN OF HER GENERATION, WERE DETERMINED TO SERVE IN 1943.
AT THE AGE OF 21, SHE ENLISTED IN THE WOMEN'S ARMY CORPS.
AFTER TRAINING IN IOWA AND OKLAHOMA, SHE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE HISTORY MAKING UNIT, THE SIX TRIPLE EIGHT CENTRAL POSTAL BATTALION, KNOWN AS THE SIX TRIPLE EIGHT.
THIS WAS THE ONLY ALL AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN'S UNIT SENT OVERSEAS DURING THE WAR.
THEIR MISSION WAS CRITICAL DELIVERING MAIL TO THE US TROOPS STATIONED IN EUROPE.
WHEN THE SIX TRIPLE EIGHT ARRIVED IN BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, THEY FOUND MOUNTAINS OF UNDELIVERED MAIL WAREHOUSE AFTER WAREHOUSE FILLED WITH LETTERS AND PACKAGES MEANT FOR THE SERVICE MEMBER FAR FROM HOME.
THE MOTTO THEY ADOPTED WAS SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL, NO MAIL, LOW MORALE.
THEY KNEW THAT THE MAIL WAS THE, WAS MORE THAN PAPER AND PACKAGES.
IT WAS HOW SOLDIERS HELD HOPE, FAMILY, AND THE IDEA OF GOING HOME.
THE ARMY ESTIMATED IT WOULD TAKE THEM SIX MONTHS TO SORT AND DELIVER THAT BACKLOG OF MAIL, BUT IT TOOK MILDRED AND THE FELLOW WAX WHO WORKED AROUND THE CLOCK IN THREE SHIFTS SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, AND COMPLETED THIS TASK IN JUST THREE MONTHS.
THEY DELIVERED AN EFFICIENT TRACKING SYSTEM THAT MAINTAINED OVER 7 MILLION SERVICE RECORDS, AND THEY PROCESSED OVER TWO THOU 200,000 PIECES OF MAIL PER DAY.
IN MAY, 1945, THEY WERE TRANSFERRED TORO, FRANCE TO CLEAR ANOTHER BACKLOG.
THEY WORKED ALONGSIDE FRENCH CIVILIANS AND EVEN GERMAN POWS.
LATER THAT YEAR, MILDRED RETURNED TO UNITED STATES AND WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED.
SHE REUNITED WITH MARVIN, WHO HAD RETURNED FROM SERVING IN AFRICA AND ITALY JUST DAYS PRIOR.
THE COUPLE MOVED TO CHICAGO AND THEN HERE TO HOUSTON, WHERE THEY'VE RAISED THEIR THREE DAUGHTERS.
MILDRED ENROLLED AT TEXAS SOUTHERN, AND LATER WORKED IN THE CIVIL AS A CIVIL ENGINEER SERVICE, INCLUDING 10 YEARS AT ELLINGTON AIR FORCE BASE, AND EVENTUALLY IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT OF DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.
MILDRED GATES HOOPER PASSED AWAY IN 2018.
AT THE AGE OF 96, SHE WAS LAID TO REST HERE IN PEARLAND, TEXAS, LEAVING BEHIND A LEGACY OF PATRIOTISM, PERSEVERANCE, AND PRIDE.
SHE SERVED NOT JUST WITH HONOR, BUT WITH HER HEART.
HER WORK REMINDED A GENERATION OF SOLDIERS THAT THEY WERE REMEMBERED, LOVED, AND NEVER ALONE.
NO MALE LOW MORALE WAS THEIR MOTTO AND IS HER MISSION AND OURS TODAY, STANDING BEFORE YOU, OTHER WOMEN OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK MILITARY WOMEN IN 19 76, 21 OF THOSE WOMEN FROM THE SIX AAA CAME TOGETHER AND FOUNDED OUR ORGANIZATION.
OUR REGIONAL DIRECTOR HERE, MS. BETTY, IS HERE WITH US TODAY.
BUT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HONOR THE FOLKS WHO CAME BEFORE US AS THOSE SHOULDERS THAT WE STAND UPON TODAY.
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THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT, THOSE WONDERFUL PRESENTATIONS.UM, SO BEFORE I CALL OUR MC C BACK UP, UM, IF YOU GUYS COULD TAKE A LOOK AT THE THREE EMPTY CHAIRS ON THE FRONT ROW.
UM, ONE OF THEM IS IN HONOR, UH, MS. HOOPER WHO DIDN'T GET HER FLOWERS.
THE NEXT ONE IS, UH, DEPUTY JENNIFER CHAVIS, WHO DIDN'T GET HER FLOWERS.
AND SO LAST NIGHT WHEN I WAS HERE, ABOUT 10 30 IN THIS ROOM BY MYSELF, I HEARD A VOICE.
IT'S TIME TO ADD A THIRD CHAIR.
SO JUST THIS WEEK, I RECEIVED TEXT MESSAGE FROM MYRA, GILLIAN, VANESSA GILLIAN'S SISTER, AND SAID, HEY, DID YOU SEE THIS ANGELINA RESENDEZ, UNITED STATES NAVY LOST HER LIFE THIS WEEK? AND SEE, PEOPLE ASK ME ALL THE TIME, WHY SHOULD WE HAVE WOMEN VETERANS DAY? THIS IS WHY 'CAUSE WOMEN CONTINUE TO ANSWER THE CALL OF DUTY.
WE DON'T TRAIN TO FIGHT EACH OTHER.
SO IT ALWAYS, IT ALWAYS SADDENS ME TO SEE ANOTHER WOMAN WHO'S GONE AT THE HANDS OF ANOTHER, ANOTHER PERSON FROM HER UNIT.
SO, UH, AND SHE WAS A TEXAN, BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS.
SO OUR FAMILY'S ABOUT TO RECEIVE THE REMAINS OF THEIR LOVED ONE.
UM, SO TODAY I ASKED THAT YOU, UH, THINK OF THIS DAY AND THINK OF THOSE WOMEN WHO WERE NOT HERE.
SO THE MOVIE CAME OUT IN DECEMBER, SO WE GOT CHANCE TO SEE WHO THEY WERE.
AND OF 855 AS OF LAST WEEK, THERE WERE TWO LEFT.
AS OF THIS WEEK, THERE'S ONE LEFT.
SO THESE CHAIRS STAND IN HONOR OF THOSE WOMEN WHO ARE NO LONGER WITH US.
SO AFTER THE CEREMONY TODAY, WE'RE GONNA RELEASE THE NAVY BALLOONS IN HONOR OF MS. ANGELINA RESENDEZ.
I'M GONNA BRING MS, UH, MS. WILMORE BACK UP TO CLOSE US OUT.
THESE PRESENTATIONS HAVE BEEN JUST ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.
UM, AND JUST A MOMENT THAT'S TO ME, INDESCRIBABLE.
SO, OH, DO WE HAVE A, A PRESENTATION? YES.
BUT, UH, YEAH, JUST IT'S A REAL, REAL HONOR TO TO BE HERE WITH ALL OF YOU DURING THIS.
UM, NOW I WANNA INVITE ANOTHER PERSON UP WHO IS TRANSFORMING VETERANS' LIVES.
THIS PERSON I'M TALKING ABOUT IS HELPING VETERANS FIND HEALING THROUGH THE POWER OF THE ARTS.
PLEASE WELCOME US ARMY VETERAN TIM S STRAU, FOUNDER OF STAY TUNED FOR VETS FOR A SPECIAL PRESENTATION.
THAT WAS JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF APPLAUSE.
HE SERVES ON OUR BOARD WITH, UH, STAY TUNED FOR VETS.
IT IS OUR HONOR TO BE UP HERE TODAY, AND IT IS OUR DUTY TO RAISE THE VIBRATIONS IN THIS ROOM ON A POSITIVE LEVEL SO YOU CAN GO OUT AND INSPIRE OTHER LADIES AND GO THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE.
SO I'M GONNA SAY THE PREPARATORY, UH, BEGINNING OF THE, UH, THE PHRASE AND YOU SAY WHAT YOU LEARNED IN THE MILITARY, IF IT AIN'T RAINING, THERE WE GO.
AND I'M GLAD IT'S RAINING OUTSIDE BECAUSE IT, ALL OF THOSE RAINDROPS.
REMIND ME OF THE MILLIONS OF STEPS THAT YOU LADIES HAVE TAKEN ALONG THE WAY WITH YOU.
I LOVE THE STORIES AND I LOVE SERVING ALONGSIDE YOU AS A COMBAT MEDIC IN KUWAIT, GERMANY, IRAQ, AND AT FORT HOOD.
AND I'M SO PROUD TO BE HERE BECAUSE LAST YEAR WE RECOGNIZED DR.
LASHONDA JONES, WHO IS MAKING HER WAY BACK TO THE STAGE.
UH, SHE RECEIVED THE, THE FIRST STAY TUNED FOR VETERANS WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP AWARD, AND IT WAS RENAMED THE DR. JONES LEADERSHIP AWARD.
YOU HAVE TO COME UP BECAUSE SHE IS GOING TO WELCOME THE, UH, WE HAD, UH, A LOT OF LADIES WHO WERE RECOMMENDED FOR THIS AWARD AND NOW WE ARE GOING TO PRESENT.
ARE YOU GONNA COME UP HERE AND PRESENT IT? SHE SAID NO.
SO THIS LADY, JUST LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, CONTINUE TO SERVE AFTER THE SERVICE.
UH, YOU'VE GOT JUDY WITH, UH, ROTARY SERVICE ABOVE SELF.
YOU'VE GOT CASSIE WITH, UH, HOUSTON,
[01:30:02]
I'M SORRY, ALL WOMEN VETERANS.PLEASE STAND UP AND BE RECOGNIZE MANY OF THEM CONTINUE TO SERVE IN THE COMMUNITY.
LINDA, I SAW YOU UP HERE AS WELL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.
UH, WE HAD AN OUTPOURING FROM THE COMMUNITY TO RECOGNIZE ANOTHER WOMAN VETERAN WHO WAS DOING SO MUCH TO TRANSFORM, UH, WOMEN, VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAD THE RESOURCES THAT THEY FOUGHT FOR AND THAT THEY EARNED WHILE WEARING THE UNIFORM.
PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME THE 2025 RECIPIENT OF THE STAY TUNED FOR VETS WOMEN'S VETERAN OF THE YEAR AWARD, LA GARE MURPHY.
I'D LOVE FOR YOU TO SAY A COUPLE WORDS.
Y'ALL KNOW HOW DR. JONES IS IF YOU'VE BEEN AROUND HER, BUT I DO WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
UM, EVERY TIME SHE CALLS, EVERY TIME SHE TEXTS, I'M THERE.
UM, AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR VOICE.
SO MANY TIMES WE ARE SILENCED.
AND THE ONE THING THAT SHE TOLD ME, SHE SAID, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO BE THE VOICE FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN'T SPEAK UP.
SO THOSE DAYS THAT I'M TIRED, I DON'T WANT TO, I'M ON MY COUCH WATCHING TV, IT'S RAINING.
I GET UP FOR THOSE LADIES WHO CAN'T.
SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALWAYS SUPPORTING.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY AND THE WORK THAT YOU PUT FORWARD AND THANK YOU TO MY WONDERFUL CHILDREN.
SO I WOKE THEM UP THIS MORNING BECAUSE WE NEEDED VOLUNTEERS.
I HAD NO IDEA THAT I WAS GETTING AN AWARD.
AND ON THE BACK, OUR TWO VIP TICKETS TO OUR UPCOMING EVENT.
WELL, AS WE NEAR THE END OF OUR PROGRAM HERE, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE NICK MILLER, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS VETERAN TO PLAY TAPS FOR THOSE WHO ARE ABLE, PLEASE STAND.
WELL, THAT CONCLUDES OUR PROGRAM.
I JUST WANNA THANK YOU AGAIN, DR. JONES, AND TO EVERYONE WHO MADE THIS DAY HAPPEN.
IT CONTINUES TO MAKE IT HAPPEN EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
AND TO ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE FOR THIS OCCASION, LET'S CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE OUR WOMEN VETERANS IN TEXAS AND BEYOND.
AND I THINK, LIKE SHOSHANA SAID, NOT JUST ON ONE DAY, BUT EVERY SINGLE DAY TO REMEMBER THEM, THEIR SERVICE, WHAT THEY'RE STILL GOING THROUGH, AND HOW THEY CONTINUE TO SERVE AFTER THE SERVICE.
SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
I GOT THAT TIP FROM, UH, MS. JUDY HARWELL BECAUSE SHE MENTIONED ABSOLUTELY THANK YOUR VETERANS, BUT THEIR FAMILIES ALSO ALLOW THEM TO SERVE, AND THEY'RE THE ONES WHO MISS THEIR LOVED ONES AS THEY PROTECT US AND DEFEND OUR COUNTRY.
THIS CONCLUDES OUR CEREMONY AND HAVE A BLESSED REST OF THE DAY.