* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:31] GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. ISN'T IT A BEAUTIFUL DAY TODAY? Y'ALL CLAIM IT OUT FOR THE SUN SHINING? IT'S NOT THAT COLD. AND IF THERE'S SEATS UP HERE, IF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SEATS, WE, TRUST ME, WE'RE GUARDED SO WE DON'T HAVE TO GUARD THE WALL TODAY. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. SO FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY WELCOME TO THE 2025 CITY OF HOUSTON SALUTES OUR VETERANS COMMEMORATION AND PARADE TODAY. SO MY NAME IS DR. DEANDRA JONES. I AM WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, OFFICE OF VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS. WHAT IS MY ROLE TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF 300,000? I SAID 300,000 VETERANS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND ITS REGION. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, HOUSTON HAS THE LARGEST POPULATION OF VETERANS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. SO, AGAIN, WELCOME. SO THERE'S A FEW BIRTHDAYS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE. ARMY. ARMY. WHERE'S THE ARMY AT? ANYBODY IN THE ARMY? THE ARMY CELEBRATED HIS 250TH BIRTHDAY THIS YEAR. CLAP IT OFF OF THE ARMY, UNITED STATES NAVY WHERE YOU AT CELEBRATED 250 YEARS THIS YEAR. THE COAST GUARD WHERE MY COAST GUARDS AT COAST GUARD, 235 YEARS THIS YEAR. AIR FORCE IS 78 THIS YEAR. SPACE FORCE IN DECEMBER. THEY WILL BE FIVE YEARS OLD THIS YEAR. AND ON YESTERDAY, NOVEMBER THE 10TH, MY BELOVED MARINE CORPS CELEBRATED 250 YEARS WHERE MY MARINES AT. SO AGAIN, I WANNA THANK YOU TO MY ELECTED OFFICIALS. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TODAY. FOR ALL THE VETERANS WHO'VE SERVED, WHAT ARE MY VETERANS WHO SERVED OR CURRENTLY SERVING? THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING. AND WE'RE GONNA BRING UP MR. TIM STROUD, COME BACK. MET FROM UNITED STATES ARMY. COME UP TIM. THANK YOU, DR. JONES. THANK YOU, DR. JONES. I THINK SHE ALWAYS LOOKS DOWN WHEN SHE HUGS ME. LIKE SHE'S HUGGING A LITTLE BABY. SHE WEARS FIVE INCH HEELS. JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, I'M USUALLY A LITTLE BIT TALLER. I AM PROUD TO REPRESENT, STAY TUNED FOR VETS AS A FORMER COMBAT MEDIC OF THE U NODDED STATES ARMY. IT'S MY, MY HONOR TO SERVE AS MASTER OF CEREMONIES. I HEARD A HOA. THAT'S RIGHT. YOU CAN WHO IT UP. UH, FOR THE, UH, FOR THE SEAT OF HOUSTON CEREMONY TODAY, PLEASE STAND IF YOU ARE ABLE FOR THE POSTING OF THE COLORS. THOSE WILL BE POSTED BY THE E STEM. THAT IS THE ENERGIZED STEM ACADEMY. MARINE CORPS, J-R-O-T-C UNIT, FOLLOWED BY THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, AND IT WILL BE SUNG BY NAVY CHIEF CINDY ARGUETA, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BY THE J-R-O-T-C STUDENTS. AND TODAY'S PROGRAM INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY CHAPLAIN VINCENT JOHNSON. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WHEN YOU'RE RENDERING PROPER HONORS TO, UH, TO OUR FLAG, UH, WHEN THE ANTHEM IS SUNG, YOU CAN EITHER, IF YOU'RE A CIVILIAN, YOUR HAND OVER YOUR HEART. AND IF YOU'RE A VETERAN, YOU CAN DO THE SAME OR RENDER SALUTE WHETHER YOU'RE WEARING A HAT OR NOT. PLEASE POST THE COLORS. FOUR, FOUR COLOGUARD. HOLD MARK. TIME FOUR. READY TURN. COLOGUARD HOLD THREE. STAND COLOR. OH, SEE, KENNY, CAN YOU SEE BY THE DONS EARLY LIGHT WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HELD AT THE TWILIGHT LAST GLEAMING, WHO'S BROUGHT STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS THROUGH THE FIGHT FOR THE ROUND PARTS WE WATCHED WERE SO [00:05:01] WE STREAMING AND THE ROCK, THE MOMS BURST AIR GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT A FLAG WAS STILL THERE. WHO SAVED US THAT STAR NIGHT? THE AND THE TIME MARK. READY? MARKER FORWARD. MARK. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. OH, WAIT A MINUTE. ARE WE STILL ASLEEP? GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I AM A PROUD UNITED STATES MARINE, AND IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY. WOULD YOU PLEASE PRAY WITH ME? OUR FATHER AND OUR GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER DAY. WE THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER IN REMEMBRANCE AND IN CELEBRATION, REMEMBERING THOSE WHO SERVE THIS COUNTRY, SOME GIVING THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. SO WE THANK YOU FOR THESE VETERANS WHO ARE HERE TODAY AND IN REMEMBRANCE, WE THANK YOU FOR THE VETERANS WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR BROTHERS AND FOR THIS COUNTRY. WE PRAY THAT THIS PARADE AND THIS CEREMONY BE PLEASING IN THY SIGHT. AND WE ASK THAT YOU KEEP US SAFE AS WE CELEBRATE AND MOVE THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WE THANK YOU FOR THE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO ARE HERE TODAY, TAKING TIME OUT OF THEIR BUSY SCHEDULES TO CELEBRATE WITH US. AND WE ASK THAT YOU JUST CONTINUE TO KEEP YOUR LOVING ARMS AROUND THE CITY OF HOUSTON KEEPING US SAFE. AND WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE DONE. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACE, AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR MERCY. IT IS IN YOUR PRECIOUS NAME THAT WE PRAY AND GIVE THANKS WITH EVERYONE. SAY AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU. THAT'S RIGHT. YOU BETTER CLAP FOR JESUS. PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS. AS YOU NOTICE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME FUN TODAY. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE GET VETERANS DAY CONFUSED WITH MEMORIAL DAY. I KNOW CIVILIANS THAT DIDN'T HAVE SOMEBODY SERVE IN THEIR FAMILY, BUT THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE GET TO EDUCATE THEM ON VETERANS DAY IS FOR THE LIVING SUCH AS STEVE BENEVIDES, UH, ONE OF MY FAVORITE VIETNAM VETERANS, AND BOB GEPHART AND BILL ALCO, WHO CAME HOME TO A NATION THAT DID NOT WELCOME THEM WITH OPEN ARMS. BUT TODAY WE GET TO CELEBRATE THEIR SERVICE AND IT'S A SPECIAL, UH, PLACE IN MY HEART. PLEASE, IF YOU SERVED DURING VIETNAM OR DEPLOYED, WOULD YOU PLEASE, IF YOU'RE ABLE TO STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED, STEVE, THERE WE GO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND WELCOME HOME. AND TODAY WE GATHER NOT JUST TO CELEBRATE OUR HEROES, BUT TO REMEMBER THAT FREEDOM ISN'T SOMETHING WE INHERIT, IT'S SOMETHING WE DEFEND, CHERISH, AND PASS ON TO THE NEXT GENERATION. AMBER, ACROSS THE GREAT CITY. FROM THE BIOS TO THE BOARDROOMS, HOUSTON STANDS PROUD BECAUSE THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO RAISED THEIR RIGHT HAND AND SAID, SEND ME WHETHER YOU SERVED IN WORLD WAR II, KOREA, VIETNAM, DESERT SHIELD, DESERT STORM, IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, OR IF YOU WEAR THE UNIFORM PROUDLY TODAY, THIS IS YOUR DAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, YOUR SACRIFICE, AND YOUR EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN AMERICAN. NOW, DR. JONES AND THE TEAM TOLD ME, KEEP IT SHORT, JUST LIKE MY HAIRCUT . SO, BUT TODAY'S REMIND ME OF HOW PROUD I AM TO BE AN AMERICAN AND A HOUSTONIAN AND WHY HOUSTON IS THE MOST VETERAN FRIENDLY CITY IN AMERICA. WE JUST DON'T SAY THANK YOU. WE SHOW IT. PLEASE ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE YOUR NEXT SPEAKER. HE IS PART OF [00:10:01] THE HOUSTON COUNCIL. HE IS HOUSTON AT LARGE. NUMBER TWO, HE'S REPRESENTING THE MAYOR AND THE REST OF THE COUNCIL. POLICE GIVE A HOUSTON TEXANS WELCOME FOR COUNCILMAN WILLIE DAVIS. HELLO TO ALL OF OUR VETERANS TODAY. WE WANT TO CERTAINLY HONOR YOU. WHAT A BLESSING IT IS TO BE HERE. I AM A VIETNAM ARMY VET, AIRBORNE, ALL RIGHT. I I AM PROUD OF IT. AND, UH, CERTAINLY I'M ONE OF THE 300,000 VETERANS THAT LOVED THIS GREAT CITY THAT WE ALL LOVE CALLED HOUSTON, TEXAS. I, I WAS A PROUD SERVICEMAN AND I UNDERSTAND NOT ONLY THE SACRIFICES OF ALL OF OUR VETERANS, MEN AND WOMEN, BUT ALSO THE FAMILIES. MANY OF OUR FAMILIES GAVE A LOT. I REMEMBER AFTER, BEFORE I SWORE IN, I LEFT MY HOME HEARING A CRYING MOTHER BECAUSE I WAS THE FIRST OF HER SIX BOYS TO SERVE. BUT BY THE GRACE OF GOD, I MADE IT BACK DURING THE VIETNAM ERA. AND I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF SUCH A GREAT ARMED FORCES ALL OVER THESE UNITED STATES. SO OBVIOUSLY I'M CERTAINLY NOT THE MAYOR, BUT I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE A MAYOR WHO SUPPORTS OUR MEN AND WOMEN VETERANS AND ALL OF THE SERVICE PEOPLE WHO GIVE THEIR LIVES. AND I SERVE WITH COLLEAGUES WHO FEEL THE SAME WAY THAT MANY OF THEM MAY NOT HAVE BEEN VETERANS, BUT THEY HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE VETERANS IN HOUSTON. WE HAVE A, A LOT TO BE PROUD OF, SO MUCH TO BE PROUD OF. SO TODAY I TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS ON THE BEHALF, UH, OF OUR MAYOR. AND I'M GONNA ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO STAND ALL OF THE CITY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, MEN AND WOMEN THAT ARE HERE TO STAND WITH ME WHILE WE ARE READING THIS PROCLAMATION, BECAUSE IT REPRESENT ALL OF HOUSTON VETERANS DAY. WHEREAS ON NOVEMBER 11TH, 2025, OUR NATION WILL COMMEMORATE THE ANNIVERSARY OF ARMISTED DAY, MARKING THE CONCLUSION OF WORLD WAR I, AS WELL AS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN OFFICIAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR VETERANS NEARLY NINE DECADES AGO NOW KNOWN AS VETERANS DAY. AND WHEREAS THE UNITED STATES RECOGNIZES THE PROFOUND SACRIFICES ASSOCIATED WITH WARFARE AND ACKNOWLEDGES THE DEBT OWED TO THOSE WHO HAVE BRAVELY SERVED ON THE BATTLEFIELD. THE ANNUAL OBSERVANCE OF VETERAN DAY HONORS OUR COURAGEOUS VETERANS AND PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE DEDICATED MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY WITH DISTINCTION. AND WHEREAS IN HOUSTON, THERE ARE OVER 300,000 VETERANS RESIDING IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA, HAVING SERVED IN CONFLICTS INCLUDING WORLD WAR II, THE KOREAN WAR, THE VIETNAM WAR, DESERT SHIELD, DESERT STORM, AND THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR, WHICH ENCOMPASSES OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, OEF AND OPERATION IRAQ FREEDOM, OIF. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECOGNIZED THE SIGNIFICANCE AND THE LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR ARMED FORCES, VETERANS APPRECIATES THEIR COURAGE AND DEDICATION AND EXTENDS HEARTFELT WISHES FOR A MEANINGFUL VETERANS DAY. WE URGE ALL CITIZENS TO REMEMBER AND TO HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED OUR GREAT NATION AS BRAVE INDIVIDUALS CONTINUE TO OPERATE IN HARM'S WAY ON BEHALF OF OUR COUNTRY AND AROUND THE GLOBE. AND I, ON THE BEHALF OF OUR MAYOR, THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY RECOGNIZES NOVEMBER 11TH, 2025 AS VETERANS DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. COME ON, GIVE IT UP. WHERE'S THE SARGE? WHERE IS SHE? YEAH. , WE GONNA PRESENT THIS TO OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR TODAY. WELL, THANK YOU, SIR. I APPRECIATE YOU MY TURN NOW. AND AS OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER MAKES OUR WAY BACK TO THE PODIUM, UH, YOU'RE IN FOR A REALTOR. I LOVE GOING TO EVENTS WHERE YOU HEAR NOT ONLY GOOD SPEAKERS, GREAT SPEAKERS, THE ONES THAT BRING A HEARTFELT MESSAGE AND MAKE US FEEL LIKE A A COMMUNITY. PLEASE GIVE A HUGE WELCOME TO [00:15:01] SERGEANT MAJOR ANGELA MENEZ OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. MORNING. YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO GIMME A MINUTE HERE BECAUSE, UM, IT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN ASKED TO SPEAK TO THIS GROUP OF ESTEEM LEADERS AND VETERANS. SO I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT AND JUST EMBRACE IT. WHEW. WE ARE VETERANS. WE HAVE SEEN AND DONE MANY THINGS THAT PSALM MAY NOT UNDERSTAND. WE ARE WARRIORS. WE WILL NEVER ACCEPT DEFEAT. WE WILL NEVER QUIT. WE WILL NEVER LEAVE A FELLOW VETERAN BROTHER, SISTER, AND FRIEND. IF THEY ARE HURT, WE WILL CARRY THEM. IF WE CAN'T CARRY THEM, WE WILL DRAG THEM. WE WILL HELP THEM FACE THEIR ENEMIES TO INCLUDE THE DEMONS WITHIN. THEY ARE OUR BROTHERS. THEY ARE OUR SISTERS, AND WE ARE VETERANS. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GIVE YOURSELF A HAND IF YOU ARE A VETERAN OR YOU ARE IN LOVE WITH A VETERAN. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, HONORED VETERANS, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AS WE GATHER HERE TODAY TO COMMEMORATE VETERANS DAY. WE STAND UNITED IN OUR PROFOUND RESPECT FOR ENDURING GRATITUDE FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED IN OUR NATION'S ARMED FORCES. THIS DAY SERVES AS A REMINDER OF THE SACRIFICES MADE BY THOSE WHO HAVE DAWNED THE UNIFORM STANDING AS GUARDIANS OF OUR FREEDOM AND OUR DEMOCRACY ON VETERANS DAY, WE COME TOGETHER NOT JUST TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE, BUT TO REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO THE IDEAS FOR WHICH WE STAND AND FOR WHAT WE HAVE FOUGHT FOR. WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT AMERICA'S HISTORY UNLESS WE TALK ABOUT VETERANS FROM THE FROZEN FIELDS OF VALLEY FORGE TO THE BEACHES OF NORMANDY, FROM THE RICE PATTIES OF VIETNAM TO THE MOUNTAINS OF AFGHANISTAN, GENERATIONS OF AMERICANS HAVE ANSWERED THE CALL TO SERVE. THEY'VE STOOD AS GUARDIANS OF OUR FREEDOM, DEFENDERS OF OUR VALUES, AND PROTECTORS OF THE WEAK. WHAT DOES THAT TRULY MEAN TO A VETERAN? IT MEANS MORE THAN JUST HAVING WORN THE UNIFORM OR SERVED OVERSEAS, OR EVEN ON MULTIPLE DEPLOYMENTS. BEING A VETERAN MEANS HAVING DECIDED TO PUT THE NEEDS OF OUR NATION FIRST. IT MEANS HAVING WRITTEN A BLANK CHECK TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, PAYABLE WITH YOUR LIFE. IT MEANS HAVING BEEN PART OF SOMETHING GREATER THAN YOURSELF. BOUND BY CODE OF HONOR, COMMITMENT, DUTY, SACRIFICE. SO WITH THAT, ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I'M GRATEFUL TO BE PART OF THE 1% WHO HAS SERVED THIS COUNTRY IN A TIME OF NEED, SERVING AS AN ACTIVE DUTY MARINE FOR OVER 30 YEARS. IT WAS MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE I WILL ALWAYS HAVE IN MY HEART, BUT I WOULD'VE NOT TAKEN THAT STEP, THAT LEAP OF FAITH HAD I NOT SEEN IT BEFORE. SOMEHOW, SOME WAY. THOSE OF YOU THAT CAME BEFORE ME, ONE OF THEM THAT HAVE COME BEFORE ME WAS MY FATHER AND MY MOTHER. MY MOTHER WAS A DENTAL TECHNICIAN BACK IN 1960. MY FATHER SERVED AROUND THE SAME TIME, US MARINE, 27 YEARS RETIRED MASTER SERGEANT REN AND WARNER. MY FATHER SERVED IN VIETNAM, MULTIPLE TOURISTS. [00:20:01] I HAVE AN OLDER BROTHER SERVED IN THE ARMY, 82ND AIRBORNE. I HAVE A YOUNGER SISTER WHO IS ALSO A RETIRED MARINE, 20 YEARS, SHE'S MY ROCK. SO AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE A LONG LINEAGE OF SERVICE TO THIS COUNTRY AND WE ARE VERY PROUD OF IT. SO AS I STAND BEFORE THIS HUMBLE AUDIENCE HERE, I AM HUMBLED. I'M HUMBLED AT YOUR SERVICE. I WISH THAT I COULD HAVE SERVED LONGER FOR YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSPIRATION. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT, THAT YOU DID THAT NO ONE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT. AND THAT'S CALLED YOUR SERVICE TO THIS CORE, THAT LIKE I SAID, YOU HAD COMMITTED YOURSELF WAY BEFORE YOU KNEW WHAT YOU WERE GONNA HAVE TO DO. WE MUST ENSURE THAT THE SACRIFICES MADE BY OUR VETERANS ARE ALWAYS REMEMBERED. THIS MEANS SUPPORTING OUR MUSEUMS, OUR MEMORIALS, BUT ALSO ENCOURAGING VETERANS TO SHARE THEIR STORIES AND EXPERIENCES. SO VETERANS, IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TELL YOUR STORY AND HELP ANOTHER VETERAN, I HOPE THAT YOU DO. SO AS WE LEAVE HERE TODAY, LET US EACH ASK OURSELVES, HOW CAN WE HONOR THE LEGACY OF THE VETERANS THAT HAVE GONE BEFORE US? HOW CAN I BE WORTHY OF THE FREEDOMS THAT THEY HAVE PROTECTED YEAR AFTER YEAR, CENTURY AFTER CENTURY? LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE GREATEST TRIBUTE WE CAN PAY TO OUR VETERANS IS TO BE ACTIVE, ENGAGED CITIZENS WHO WORK TIRELESSLY TO BUILD A NATION WORTH SACRIFICING A NATION THAT TAKES CARE OF ITS OWN AND STANDS AS A BEACON OF HOPE FOR OTHERS. MAY GOD BLESS OUR VETERANS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY. ENJOY YOUR SPECIAL DAY VETERANS. EMRA. FIDELIS. COME ON. WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT. HOUSTON, BRING IT. THERE WE GO. GIVE HER SOME WOOS. EXCELLENT. I LOVE YOU GUYS AND GALS. THIS IS AWESOME. THE PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT OUT. AND YOU KNOW WHAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE ABOUT ANOTHER 1200 MARINES, UH, MAKE IT, BUT THE THE BARS WERE JUST CLOSING. OH, I'M SERIOUS. WELL, IT STARTED IN A BAR, RIGHT? YEAH. YOU GUYS KNOW, UM, I YOU WE DON'T GET THIS FAR IN HOUSTON WITHOUT EVERYBODY. WHAT I'VE LEARNED FROM MY MENTOR PAUL MEYER, THAT IS THAT NONE OF US ARE AS SMART AS ALL OF US. AND IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'VE GOT AN RAD OR AN I BEHIND YOUR NAME FOR IF YOU'RE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL. AND WE'LL GET TO THEM, UH, IN A MOMENT. IT'S THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT MAKE A SMALL DIFFERENCE. AND THEY'RE PART OF HOUSTON THAT, UH, BUILD THIS COHESIVE UNIT. SOME OF THOSE GROUPS ARE THE WAVES PROJECT RUN BY PURPLE HEART RECIPIENT, UH, JEFF PICARD. AND, UH, NO, HE DID NOT FLY IN SPACE, NOT PART OF THE, UH, SPACE PATROL. HE IS A NAVY AND AN, UM, AND AN ARMY VETERAN, UH, CAMP SHIELD CAMP HOPE SERVE THE YELLOW RIBBON FUND, A COMBINED ARMED AND SO MANY MORE THAT COME TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS DO NOT FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS. I THINK WE HAD A HUGE WAKE UP, UH, FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA OVER THE LAST MONTH AND A HALF AS, UH, GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN. THANKFULLY, THINGS ARE IN A FORWARD MOTION AND OUR NATION WILL REVIVE AGAIN. BUT IT'S OUR SMALL GROUPS THAT BANDED TOGETHER WITH BAKE SALES, UH, GOT TOGETHER WITH OUR POPUP FOOD PANTRIES TO FEED OUR VETERANS AND FAMILY MEMBERS THAT WERE CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE, UH, STICKING STRONG WITH OUR VETERAN SERVICE GROUPS. IN FACT, WE HAD TWO OTHER GROUPS THAT MADE IT HAPPEN TODAY, AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THEM. AND, UH, WHEN I I MOUNT YOUR NAMES, IF YOU WOULD JUST PLEASE STAND, SO, SO WE CAN, UH, RECOGNIZE YOU VERY QUICKLY. THERE ARE TWO GROUPS IN THE RED AND THAT'S THE MIRACLES ARE REAL AND THE ASTROS FOUNDATION THAT HAVE BEEN QUIETLY WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES TODAY, MAKING SURE THAT SERVICE WAS THERE. GAIL, I SEE YOU IN THE BAG. THANK YOU LADIES AND GENTLEMEN FOR, FOR HELPING OUT AND DOING STUFF TODAY. I MENTIONED THESE GROUPS BY NAME TODAY BECAUSE IF YOU OR YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER, SAW THAT, UH, IVY PATCH OUT THERE. FOURTH ID, I SEE YOU, UM, PLEASE CONNECT WITH ONE OF THESE GROUPS TODAY. [00:25:01] THAT'S WHAT OUR COMMUNITY'S ABOUT. A FEW OF THEM HAVE BOOTHS HERE TODAY, BUT ALL OF 'EM HAVE SMILES AND A HANDSHAKE TO GIVE IF YOU SIMPLY CONNECT WITH THEM TO SEE WHAT THE NEXT PRO PROJECT IS. COULD BE SOMETHING LIKE OPERATION TURKEY, WHERE WE'LL FEED OVER 13,000 HOUSTONIANS, UH, FOR THANKSGIVING. AND, AND THAT MAIN PUSH IS FROM, UH, ROTARY CLUB. AND YOU CAN JOIN ONE OF THE 44 CLUBS, UH, IN THE AREA. AND SO AS YOU PONDER ON THAT, I'M GONNA BRING BACK UP TO THE PODIUM, MISS TAMIKA HARDISON FROM THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT AND SHE'S GONNA SING AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL. YES, YOU CAN CLAP FOR HER. GOOD MORNING. I'M SO HONORED TO BE A PARTICIPANT HERE, SO I'M DEFINITELY GONNA ASK FOR SOME CROWD PARTICIPATION TOWARDS THE END OF THE SONG. OKAY. OH, BEAUTIFUL. FOR SPACIOUS SKIES FOR AMBER, WAVE OF GRAIN FOR PURPLE MOUND. TONS OF MAJESTY ABOVE THE AMERICA. GOD SHED HIS GRACE ON THE AND COR THY GOOD WITH FROM SEA TO SHINE. AMERICA. AMERICA, GOD SHED HIS GRACE ON THE O AND CROWN THY GOOD WITH BROTHERHOOD FROM SEA TO SHINE. SEE? OH, I KNOW YOU HEARD IT. HOUSTON, DID YOU FEEL IT? YEAH. HOLY SMOKES. I LOVE IT. I WAS JUST TELLING DR. JONES I GOT GOOSEBUMPS. I LOVE IT WHEN WE HAVE GREAT SPEAKERS THAT JUST DIG DOWN. SHE PUT A LITTLE CHURCH ON IT, DIDN'T SHE? . I KNOW SHE DID. GOOD. I LOVE IT. THAT IS GREAT. I DID WANNA RECOGNIZE, UH, OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS BECAUSE DID YOU KNOW THAT, UH, TO BE A DOG CATCHER IN THE, UH, STATE OF TEXAS MOST, UH, MUNICIPALITIES YOU HAVE TO RUN FOR DOG CATCHER. I KNOW, RIGHT? SO FROM DOG CATCHER ALL THE WAY TO, TO PRESIDENT, OUR COMMUNITY RUNS ON ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS. ALLOW ME JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO RECOGNIZE THOSE AND IF THEY WOULD, IF THEY'RE ABLE TO PLEASE STAND WHEN I RECOGNIZE, UH, THEM AND THEIR OFFICE. UH, HOUSTON COUNCIL MEMBERS PECK, HUFFMAN. 'CAUSE YEAH, CLAP. WHOOP COLLAR CASTILLO MARTINEZ PLUMBER, ALCORN DAVIS, WHO YOU SAW UP HERE. AND RAMIREZ. OH, I LOVE ROLLING THE ARTS. HOW'D I DO? DID I DO OKAY ON THAT ONE? THERE WE GO. ALSO FROM CONGRESS, US REPRESENTATIVE GARCIA, SHE'S HERE. EXCELLENT. SHE'S ACTUALLY MINE. AND FROM THE TVC, TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION. KEVIN BARBER, SIR STANDUP COMMISSIONER. DO WE CALL YOU COMMISSION? IS THAT WHAT IT IS? I'M GONNA GET AWAY WITH THAT TODAY FROM OUR DISTRICT CLERK. WE HAVE BURGESS HERE AND FROM THE DA'S OFFICE TIER AND ALSO FROM THE FRENCH CONSULATE. I WILL NOT BE SPEAKING IN FRENCH, UH, TODAY, EVEN THOUGH, UH, I LEARNED A COUPLE THINGS FROM MS. LOVETT IN EIGHTH GRADE. THAT'S AS FAR AS IT GOT. UM, BUT FROM THE FRENCH CONSULATE, MR. FRANK MARTI. THANK YOU FRANK. AND ALL OF OUR CHIEFS FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, POLICE METRO, AND EMS, IF THEY'RE ON STAGE BEHIND ME, PLEASE STAND PROUD IN FRONT OF THAT US FLAG. AND NOW I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP, I DID NOT FORGET THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT CHIEF MUNOZ, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE WELCOME YOU TO THE PODIUM. GOOD MORNING. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU. AS A VETERAN MYSELF, IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT DAY FOR US TODAY. AS ONE COMMUNITY, WE COME TOGETHER TO HONOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE WARNED A UNIFORM OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY. WHAT STARTED OFF AS A MOMENT OF [00:30:01] SILENCE FOR PEACE GREW INTO A NATIONAL TRADITION OF GRATITUDE. ONE THAT REMINDS US THAT EVERY GENERATION HAS ITS ZEROES HONORING OUR VETERANS AS PROFOUND MEANING, THESE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS. YOU ARE THE INDIVIDUALS WHO STEP FORWARD TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY, WHO ACCEPTED THE HARDSHIP, THE DISTANCE AND DANGER, SO THAT OUR NATION COULD REMAIN FREE. THEY SERVED WITH COURAGE, CONVICTION, AND UNBREAKABLE LOYALTY TO THE PERSON STANDING NEXT TO THEM AND TO OUR COUNTRY. VALUES THAT DEFINE OUR SERVICE. BEHIND EVERY VETERAN IS A FAMILY WHO ALSO SACRIFICED, WHO WAITED, PRAYED, AND STOOD STRONG. TODAY WE HONOR THEM AS WELL BECAUSE NO ONE SERVES ALONE AND NO ONE SACRIFICES ALONE. BUT AGAIN, TO OUR VETERANS, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE COURAGE ON DISTANT SHORES AND FOREIGN FIELDS. THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING THE FREEDOMS THAT WE HAVE TODAY. YOUR EXAMPLE REMINDS US THAT FREEDOM HAS A COST PAID IN TIME, SEPARATION AND IN LIVES. WHEN THE ENEMY ATTACKED US, THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD BROKEN OUR SPIRIT. SOMETIMES THEY SAW US ON OUR KNEES, WHAT THEY THOUGHT. AND WHEN THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD DEFEATED US, LITTLE DID THEY REALIZE WE'RE PRAYING FOR STRENGTH. THAT VERY SAME STRENGTH THAT LIFTED US FROM OUR KNEES INTO THE GROUNDS OF BATTLE THAT LIFTED US AND REMINDED THEM THAT WHEN THEY TRIED TO BREAK US, THEY REALIZED THEY COULDN'T. AND YES, WE HAVE SCARS, BUT THAT IS A REMINDER TO US FOR THE WHAT WE'VE PAID. AND AGAIN, IT'S A REMINDER THAT WHEN THEY TRIED TO BREAK US, THEY COULDN'T. IN AMERICA. IN AMERICA, THEY THOUGHT THAT WE AS ONE. AND THEY UNDERESTIMATED THAT. THE REASON WE CAN SAY THAT TODAY IS BECAUSE OF EACH AND EVERY BRE THAT SITS AMONGST US AND IS GONE BEFORE US. TO OUR CURRENT ACTIVE MEMBERS. WE PRAY FOR YOUR PROTECTION ON AS YOU FIGHT ON AND ON THE LAST DAY, YOU SIGN YOUR ORDERS, YOU WILL CARRY A TITLE THAT COMES WITH HONOR, WITH BRAVERY. WITH A LEGACY. THE TITLE IS A US VETERAN. ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I TAKE WITH GREAT PRIDE THAT MY OLDEST SON WILL CARRY THAT TITLE SOON AS COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS SAID, MAYOR WHITMEYER DEFINITELY SUPPORTS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. AND AS A CITY, WE PROMISE THIS, WE CARRY YOUR VALUES FORWARD. WE WILL HONOR YOU NOT ONLY IN CEREMONIES, BUT WITH OUR DAILY COMMITMENT TO OUR CITIZENS TO BE WORTHY OF YOUR SACRIFICE. WHICH IS NOT FORGOTTEN TODAY. WE HONOR YOU. I CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH. WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR ME, FOR A GREAT, GREAT COUNTRY. AND IT IS BESTOWED ON US AS THIS WHAT YOU HAVE PAID THAT I KNOW IS I WALK THE GRAVES TO PAY MY RESPECT. I WILL FOREVER HAVE. AND EACH AND EVERY WAY, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU WILL TOO. THE HONOR OF HAVING YOU AS A VETERAN ON OUR FINAL, ON OUR FINAL NOTICE. SO ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, ON BEHALF OF THIS GREAT COUNTRY, THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE FREEDOM AND THE HONOR TO CALL OURSELVES AMERICANS. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR THAT J BESTOWED ON US AS WE RECOGNIZE YOU, A VETERAN. SAME FOR APPARATUS. BRAVO, ZULU, GOD BLESS. THANK YOU. [00:35:02] THANK YOU CHIEF. 24 YEARS IN THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD. YES. AND HE PERFECTED THE SHY IN THE SHOES IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS. THAT'S WHAT HE TOLD ME. HE DID NOT TELL ME THAT I MADE THAT UP. THANK YOU SIR, VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE, YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE AS WELL. HAD A COUPLE PEOPLE SLIDE IN ON ME. WANTED TO ALSO THANK, UH, ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, UH, THAT IS JAMAY FISHBACK ARDINE FROM CAREER GEAR. SHE BROUGHT SOME OF HER TEAM. SHE'S YES, GLAD FOR HER. SHE'S ALWAYS SUITING UP VETERANS AND UH, AND YOUNG MEN FOR THEIR NEXT, UH, CAREER, THEIR NEXT CHAPTER, MAKING SURE THEY'RE STANDING TALL, LOOKING GOOD. AND SO DOES DAVE LEWIS AND JASON WILLIAMS FROM HARRIS COUNTY. THEY SAID THEY'RE RIGHT THERE BEHIND ME. AM I POINTING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION? HELP ME OUT. I'M GOING THIS WAY. IT'S ONE OF THOSE MIRRORED THINGS. I'M PATTON OSWALD ON THE 1% CLUB. I CANNOT BACK THAT UP. UM, AND THEN ALSO, DO WE HAVE ANY OF OUR RODEO COMMITTEE MEMBERS HERE TODAY? YES. EXCELLENT. THANK YOU GUYS. EXCELLENT. SO THAT IS ONE OF THE LARGEST GROUPS OF VOLUNTEERS. THEY HAVE OVER 30,000 VOLUNTEERS TO THROW ONE OF THE BIGGEST PARTIES THAT TEXAS HAS EVER SEEN. UH, SO WE CAN SEND OUR YOUNG MEN AND LADIES TO COLLEGE AND KEEP THINGS, UH, MOVING ALONG. I PERSONALLY LOVE THE, UH, THE CONCERTS AS WELL. AND I I, EVERY YEAR I TRY TO GET MY DAUGHTER TO LOVE THE RODEO A LITTLE BIT MORE. 'CAUSE SHE, UH, SHE HAD SOME TIME IN GERMANY, BUT SHE, SHE'S GETTING THERE. SHE'S, SHE'S WARMING UP TO IT. SO THANK YOU. AND UM, ALSO, UM, I WANTED TO THANK ONE OF THE MEN BEHIND ME AND I'M POINTING TO THE RIGHT SIDE. THIS I'M GONNA KNIFE HAND HIM. IT IS A MARINE AND HE IS IN UNIFORM TODAY. UH, MAJOR O'BRIEN FROM THE UNITED STATES MILITARY CORPS. RECRUITING. THERE HE IS. HOLY SMOKES. ARE YOU OLD ENOUGH, SIR? WOW. HE STILL LOOKS 18, DOESN'T HE? I KNOW, BUT HE LOOKS GREAT. AND YOU TELL ME THAT'S NOT THE BEST UNIFORM. I MEAN, I SERVED IN THE ARMY. WE CAN'T HOLD A CANDLE TO THAT. I KNOW TERRY CHUNG, I THINK STILL WEARS HIS PANTS EVERY DAY. IS TERRY HERE TODAY? OH NO. IS THERE'S A BAR OPENING. I LOVE TERRY. HE'S GOT, HE'S GOT THE, UH, THE 1111 VETERANS DAY, UH, MEALS DOWN ON POINT. I MEAN, HE'S AT DENNY'S AT SIX 30 AND THEN HE GOES TO IHOP AND THEN HE GOES TO APPLEBEE'S. STOP ME IF I'M WRONG. AND THEN HE'S GOT IT DOWN. BUT WHAT GREAT. OH, DOWN. YEAH. AND WHAT GREAT COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE THAT S SLEW OUR VETERANS ON, UH, THIS SPECIAL DAY. BUT WE ALSO HAVE, UH, GREAT COMPANIES LIKE GRINGO, 50% FOR EVERYBODY IN UNIFORM FROM OUR FIRE AND EMS AND POLICE. BUT ALSO IF YOU'RE A VETERAN, I DIDN'T SAY 15, I SAID FIVE ZERO ON YOUR MEAL, NOT YOUR DRINKS, FRANK OR BERT. UM, AND IT'S NOT FOR THE WHOLE, BUT FREQUENT THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND COMPANIES, UH, BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE SALUTING OUR HEROES AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE SUPPORTING AND THAT WE'RE PUTTING THINGS, UH, ON THE RIGHT PATH. AND ALSO, UM, OH, NEXT ON THE LIST IS, UH, CONGRESSIONAL, UM, UH, REMARKS. AND THOSE ARE GONNA BE BY MISS SYL. UH, SYLVIA GARCIA, WELCOME HER TO THE STAGE AND SHE'LL TELL YOU IF YOU'RE GONNA RUN, RUN ON A POST. WHERE'S SHE AT? SHE'S COMING. RIGHT? THERE YOU GO, MA'AM. THANK YOU. WELL, HE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. THE BEST WAY TO RUN IS RUN UNOPPOSED, BUT WE ALWAYS HAVE TO BE READY FOR A FIGHT. AND I CAN TELL YOU, UH, THAT VETERANS HAVE BEEN THERE FOR US IN THIS FIGHT TO PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY FROM DAY ONE. SO THANK YOU TODAY, UH, TO ALL THE VETERANS. SO THIS SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR GUEST SPEAKER. DIDN'T SHE JUST DO A GREAT JOB? YOU KNOW, SHE SAID SHE WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS, BUT I COULDN'T TELL. COULD YOU? SHE DID JUST FINE. AND THAT JUST TELLS YOU LADIES, AND I'M GONNA SPEAK TO THE LADIES NOW, WHAT A GREAT JOB IN CONTRIBUTION WOMEN MAKE IN THE MILITARY. WE HAVE BEEN THERE, WE HAVE BEEN THERE ALL THE TIME IN SUPPORT, SIDE BY SIDE, SHOULDER TO SHOULDER. AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT BECAUSE ALL OF US HAVE A PLACE IN PROTECTING OUR DEMOCRACY AND TO ALL THE VETERANS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STEPPING UP. I KNOW YESTERDAY I JUST GOT HOME FROM, UM, MY HOMETOWN IN SOUTH TEXAS. AND WE WERE AT CHURCH BECAUSE, UH, WE WERE THERE TO CELEBRATE MY MOTHER AND FATHER'S, UH, ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR DEATH. AND THE PRIEST, I'M CATHOLIC, THE PRIEST CALLED ALL THE VETERANS UP TO SAY THANK YOU. AND I WAS SO PROUD. WE ARE A SMALL CHURCH Y'ALL. 'CAUSE IN MY HOMETOWN THERE'S ONLY ABOUT A HUNDRED PEOPLE. [00:40:02] FOUR PEOPLE GOT UP, TWO OF THEM WERE BROTHERS AND TWO OF THEM WERE BROTHERS-IN-LAW. THAT JUST TELLS YOU THAT ALL OF US, WHETHER YOU'RE FROM A SMALL TOWN, A BIG TOWN, OR FROM OUT OF TOWN, PEOPLE SERVE AND THEY DO IT FROM THE HEART AND THEY DO IT BECAUSE IT IS A FAMILY TRADITION. AND I KNOW THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN ABLE TO CALL THEMSELVES A VETERAN, OVER 45 MILLION PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTRY THROUGHOUT THE YEARS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SAY, I AM A VETERAN. IMAGINE THAT 45 MILLION. AND BUT FOR THEM, WE WOULD NOT BE HERE WITH OUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH, FREEDOM OF RELIGION, FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION, ALL THE FREEDOMS THAT WE ENJOY. AND WHEN WE SAY THAT PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, Y'ALL REMEMBER THE END. YOU WANT TO SAY IT TOGETHER? YES. JUSTICE FOR ALL. THAT'S THE KEY. JUSTICE FOR ALL. AND WE ALL HAVE A RIGHT TO PICK AND CHOOSE OUR LEADERS. AND THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. BECAUSE AGAIN, WE ARE A DEMOCRACY. OUR JOB TODAY, Y'ALL MAY RECALL I WAS AN IMPEACHMENT MANAGER. I SAID DURING THAT, THE, THAT TRIAL THAT DEMOCRACY IS A GIFT THAT ONE GENERATION PASSES ON TO THE NEXT. MY QUESTION TO Y'ALL TODAY, WILL YOU JOIN ALL THE VETERANS WHO FIGHT EVERY DAY TO PROTECT THAT DEMOCRACY, TO MAKE SURE WE PROTECT THAT DEMOCRACY SO THAT WE CAN PASS THAT GIFT ON TO OUR NEXT GENERATION, TO OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN? DO YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN YOUR GRAND BABIES GROW UP, THEY CAN STILL PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE AND THEY CAN STILL HAVE ALL THOSE FREEDOMS? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT. AND IT'S VETERANS ARE THEIR EVERYDAY FIGHTING TO MAKE SURE THAT'S DONE. BUT WE'VE GOT TO SUPPORT THEM. WE'VE GOTTA MAKE SURE THEY'VE GOT THE PAY THAT THEY NEED, THE HEALTHCARE THAT THEY DESERVE, AND THE HOUSING THAT THEY NEED TO KEEP THEIR FAMILIES TOGETHER. AND THAT'S OUR JOB IN CONGRESS. I'M GOING BACK AFTER ANOTHER VETERAN'S DAY EVENT THAT I'M DOING IN GALENA PARK, HEADING TO THE AIRPORT. 'CAUSE YOU MAY HAVE READ, WE'RE VOTING TOMORROW AND WE'RE GONNA KEEP VOTING AND FIGHTING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR DEMOCRACY SANS SANS AND THAT OUR FLAG CONTINUES TO FLY HIGH. WE WILL BE LIKE THE VETERANS FIGHTING FOR YOU EVERY SINGLE DAY. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. AND GOD BLESS. THANK YOU CONGRESSWOMAN. I I SHARE THIS NEXT PART, UM, BECAUSE I, I WANTED TO BE VULNERABLE WITH YOU BECAUSE WHEN I WAS FIVE YEARS OLD, MY FATHER WHO HAS SERVED IN VIETNAM, THE UNITED STATES ARMY, CAME BACK TO A GRATEFUL NATION TO WHERE, UH, HIS POCKET OF THE COMMUNITY IN THE WORLD AND TRANSITIONED TO BE A, A POLICE OFFICER. SADLY, 18 MONTHS INTO HIS SERVICE, HE WAS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY. AND I STILL REMEMBER THAT FUNERAL AND THAT SPECIAL DAY IN MY HEART BECAUSE OF THE SONG AND HOW IT, IT STILL ECHOES IN MY HEART. AND OUR NEXT PERFORMER IS GOING TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE TASTE OF THAT AND PERFORM A MEDLEY FOR YOU. AND I HOPE IT STAYS WITH YOU, BUT IN A HOPEFUL AND JOYOUS FASHION TO WHERE AS YOU LEAVE HERE TODAY, UH, WHEN WE WRAP UP IN ABOUT 15 MINUTES TO WHERE YOU GO TO THE PARADE, YOU TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF A LIGHTER STEP. SO PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME A US MARINE CORPS VETERAN. HE'S A HIGHLANDER. THERE'S ONLY ONE, RIGHT? MR. KELLY FAIR. [00:47:17] THANK YOU MR. KELLY. AND IF, UH, I MENTIONED OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE GET EVERY ONE OF THEM. AND SO IF YOU ARE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT I HAVE NOT MENTIONED YET, OR YOU'RE A REPRESENTATIVE OF ONE OF OUR REPRESENTATIVES, I KNOW DOC HOLIDAYS IS, UH, HERE AS WELL. IF YOU WOULD PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED. ANYBODY IN THE FIELD, ANYBODY STANDING BEHIND ME OR AM I CLAPPING FOR MYSELF? IT'S HAPPENED. IT HAS HAPPENED. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO AS YOU RISE, IF YOU ARE ABLE TO STAND, PLEASE STAND 'CAUSE WE'RE AT THE END, UH, ALMOST AT THE END OF OUR PRESENTATION TODAY. BUT I WANTED TO PREPARE YOU BECAUSE, UH, SOMETIMES YOU HEAR THE, THE LOUD NOISES AND WHETHER YOU DEPLOYED TWO WEEKS AGO OR 22 YEARS AGO, UH, OR HALF A DECADE, UH, SOME OF THESE SOUNDS MAY BE A LITTLE BIT TRIGGERING. WANNA LET YOU KNOW YOU'RE MONKS FRIENDS. WE'RE HERE TO TALK. THERE'S EVEN A SERVICE DOG OVER HERE. UM, I KNOW MY DOG WOULD BE, UH, SOUNDING OFF, UH, IF HE HEARD THE, THE VOLLEY OF THE 21 GUN, GUN SALUTE THAT WILL BE DONE TODAY, UH, BY ALPHA COMPANY OF THE 13TH, US INFANTRY. AND THEY WERE GIVING THE, THE PROPER SALUTE. THIS STARTED IN THE 16TH CENTURY. IF YOU'RE NOT FAM UH, FAMILIAR WITH IT, IT STARTED WITH THE, THE NAVAL SHIPS. AND WHAT THEY WOULD DO IS THEY WOULD FIRE AND THEY WOULD LET KNOW, UH, THE, THEIR ENEMIES KNOW WHEN THERE WAS GOING TO BE PEACE, THAT THEY WEREN'T TRICKING THEM. SO THEY WOULD FIRE THEIR VOLLEYS AND THEN THE FORT BASES WOULD FIRE THEIR VOLLEYS, NOT AIMING AT THEM, BUT LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY'RE OUT OF AMMO OVER THE COURSE OF HISTORY. UH, WE'VE INCORPORATED THAT INTO PRESIDENTIAL OR ANY OF THE, UH, THE GREAT REGALIA THAT WE HAVE OF THE 21 GUN SALUTE, WHICH IS DIFFERENT FROM THE FUNERAL HONORS. AND THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY TAPS, BY NICK MILLER. PREPARE YOURSELF AND 180 DEGREE DEGREES TO YOUR SOUTH. AT THE REFLECTION POOL IS THE US INFANTRY CHARLIE COMPANY, OR ALPHA COMPANY OF THE 13TH. [00:52:26] IT IS NOW TIME FOR THE BENEDICTION. I ASK THAT YOU PRAY WITH ME AGAIN. OUR FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. WE PRAY FOR TRAVELING. GRACE, AS WE DEPART FROM THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION, MAY THE WORDS OF OUR MOUTHS, THE MEDITATION OF OUR HEARTS, BE ACCEPTABLE IN THY SIGHT. OH LORD, OUR STRENGTH AND OUR REDEEMER. WOULD EVERYONE PLEASE SAY AMEN? AMEN. THANK YOU TO EVERY VETERAN HERE. YOUR SERVICE STILL MATTERS. YOUR STORY STILL INSPIRES, AND YOUR STRENGTH STILL SHAPES THIS CITY THAT WE LOVE. AS WE LEAVE, LET'S CARRY THE SAME DUTY, HONOR, AND UNITY THAT OUR VETERANS CARRIED INTO EVERY MISSION. AS A QUICK REMINDER, THE VETERANS DAY PARADE WILL BEGIN MOMENTARILY. AFTER WE CONCLUDE THIS CEREMONY. PLEASE JOIN US ALONG THE ROUTE TO CHEER ON OUR VETERANS, OUR OUR FAMILY MEMBERS, AND OUR SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS. GOD BLESS OUR VETERANS. GOD BLESS HOUSTON AND GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WITH JUST MY CHILDREN. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.