[00:00:16]
I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SERVING ON THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL, UH, FOR DISTRICT J, WHICH I CALL J CITY, WHERE YOU ARE LOCATED RIGHT NOW.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT.
WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE AND COMMEMORATE, UH, THE NATIONAL VIETNAM WAR VETERANS DAY HERE AT THE HOUSTON VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL.
UM, THIS MEMORIAL, UH, WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS CONCEIVED YEARS AGO.
UH, MY FATHER, WHO IS PRESENT, UH, SERVED AS A MARINE IN THE VIETNAM WAR DANCE.
MY GODFATHER, RONNIE EVANS SR.
ALSO SERVED IN THE ARMY IN THE VIETNAM WAR.
THEY BOTH ALWAYS TOLD ME STORIES ABOUT THEIR SERVICE AND MORE SO ABOUT HOW THEY WERE TREATED, UH, WHEN THEY CAME BACK HOME, AND THAT THEY DID NOT GET A PROPER HERO'S WELCOME AND NEITHER DID MANY OF THEIR, UH, FELLOW SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN WHO ALSO, UH, SERVED IN THE WAR.
AND I ALWAYS TOLD MYSELF IF I WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO SERVE IN ELECTED CAPACITY, THAT I WOULD DO ALL THAT I COULD, UH, TO CONSTRUCT A MEMORIAL, UH, THAT WOULD GIVE A PROPER HERO'S WELCOME TO ALL WHO SACRIFICED AND SERVED IN THE WAR.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE HERE TODAY AT THE CLUB CREEK PARK.
THIS IS A $15 MILLION INVESTMENT AS A PARK, NOT ONLY FOR GREEN SPACE AND RECREATION, BUT ALSO FOR FLOOD MITIGATION.
UH, AND THIS MEMORIAL IS A $1.5 MILLION INVESTMENT IN OUR VETERANS AND THOSE WHO SERVE, UH, WE HAVE A STACKED PROGRAM.
SO I'M NOT GOING TO HOLD YOU ALL ALONG FOR THE WELCOME, BUT I DO WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, THE PROGRAM FORWARD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILMAN POLLARD.
AND GOOD MORNING AGAIN TO ALL OF YOU.
AS COUNCILMAN SAID, WE DO HAVE AN IMPACTFUL PROGRAM.
SO TO START, WE WILL GO WITH THE PRESENTATION OF COLORS BY THE EAST STEM MARINE CORPS, J-R-O-T-C, THEN REMAIN STANDING HERE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BY EDWARD POLLARD II AND RAIN EVANS, AND THE SINGING OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM BY MS. SKYLER DARRINGTON SURVIVOR OF CAMP MYSTIC.
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 DANCER LIGHT WHAT'S SO PROUDLY WE AT THE LIGHTS.
LASTLY, MINK WHO HAS BROUGHT STRIPES AND BRIDE STARS THROUGH THE PIT FIGHT, OR THE S WE WATCHED WERE SO LY STREAMING AND THE ROCK, THE BOMBS BURST IN THERE, GAVE THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT ARE BLACK, WAS STILL THERE.
OH, SAY, DOES THAT STAR SPAN, WAVE OR THE LAND, THE FREE AND THE BRAVE
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RIGHT FORWARD.MARK, THANK YOU TO THE EAST STEM MARINE CORPS, J-R-O-T-C, EDWARD POLLARD II AND RAIN EVANS AND MS. SKYLER DARRINGTON FOR THOSE PRESENTATIONS.
WE ARE ALL HERE TODAY TO RECOGNIZE NATIONAL VIETNAM WAR VETERANS DAY, WHICH CALLS ON US TO REMEMBER THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVED OUR COUNTRY DURING WAR AND TO HONOR THEIR SELFLESS SACRIFICE AND THAT OF THEIR FAMILIES.
WE ALSO MUST NOT FORGET THE LIVES LOST AND THOSE LIVING WITH THE WOUNDS OF WAR.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY ELECTED OFFICIALS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF ELECTED OFFICIALS JOINING US TODAY.
IF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE STAND.
I'D ALSO BE REMISS NOT TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK DR.
LASHANDA JONES, AN INCREDIBLE LEADER AND VETERAN WHO EMBODIES SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO HER COMMUNITY.
DR. JONES IS WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S MAYOR'S OFFICE OF VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS.
AND WITHOUT HERE, WITHOUT HER, THE CEREMONY WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE.
NEXT, PLEASE WELCOME TO THE PODIUM, MS. TOIA JOHNSON, AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS LADY J, THE FIRST LADY OF HIGHER DIMENSION CHURCH FOR OUR INVOCATION COUNCIL.
ACTUALLY, COUNCILMAN DAVIS IS GOING TO HANDLE IT.
ALL PRAYERS GO UP TO GOD JUST THE SAME.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GETTING READY TO DO THIS.
HEAVEN, FATHER, WE DO THANK YOU AS ALWAYS FOR YOUR DIVINE PURPOSE, FOR ALL OF US.
WE WOKE UP TODAY TO SEE A BEAUTIFUL DAY BRIGHT, AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL AS WE STAND ON THESE GROUNDS TO GIVE HONOR TO ALL OF THOSE WHO GAVE AND SERVED IN VIETNAM.
WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR THOSE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE TO SACRIFICE FOR THIS GREAT NATION.
AND THANK YOU LORD FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF COUNCILMAN EDWARD POLLARD FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND REPRESENTATION TO REMEMBER THOSE OF US WHO GAVE THE BEST THAT WE COULD.
THEN GOD, WE PRAY AND BLESS AND THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE FAMILIES WHO SUPPORTED EVEN GIVING HONOR TO THOSE MEN AND WOMEN WHO DID NOT MAKE IT HOME.
BUT WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF WHAT OUR NATION HAS TO OFFER.
AND WE BLESS ALL OF THOSE WHO ADDRESS THIS PLACE, WHO ARE GATHERED IN THIS PLACE, THAT YOUR GRACE AND MERCY WILL GO TOWARD THEM.
AS WE REMEMBER THESE GREAT SACRIFICES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE FOR THIS GREAT NATION THAT WE CALL HOME THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WE PRAY THOU BLESSINGS UPON US THROUGHOUT THIS DAY THAT NO HURT OR HARM OR DANGER SHALL COME TO US.
THESE WE ASK IN THE WONDERFUL NAME OF OUR LORD AND OUR SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, AND LET ALL THE PEOPLE SAY AMEN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILMAN.
NOW PLEASE JOIN ME IN INVITING BACK TO THE PODIUM, COUNCILMAN EDWARD POLLARD, WHO WILL INTRODUCE TODAY'S GUEST SPEAKERS COUNCILMAN POLLARD.
OKAY,
UM, I WANTED TO ALSO GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE BACKGROUND ON, ON HOW, UM, THIS MEMORIAL CAME TO BE.
UM, AS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, UH, MY FATHER AND MY GODFATHER SERVED HONORABLY IN THE VIETNAM WAR, AND WE WERE THINKING AS A OFFICE, HOW COULD WE, UH, PAY TRIBUTE, UM, AND GIVE THANKS IN A, A PROPER WELCOME HOME TO ALL THOSE WHO SERVED.
AND SO WE THOUGHT ABOUT CONSTRUCTING THIS MEMORIAL, AND IT WAS PROBABLY MY SECOND YEAR IN OFFICE.
I HAD NO IDEA HOW TO ACCOMPLISH THIS.
AND SO, UH, WE JUST STARTED BRAINSTORMING.
AND I WENT ON GOOGLE AND I STARTED LOOKING AT OTHER MEMORIALS AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND I FOUND ONE AT THE STATE CEMETERY.
AND, UH, I WAS VERY IMPRESSED BY, UH, HOW IT TURNED OUT.
AND I FOUND OUT WHO THE SCULPTOR WAS, AND I JUST COLD CALLED THE SCULPTOR AND I TOLD HIM WHO I WAS, AND I TOLD
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HIM HOW MUCH I WAS IMPRESSED BY THE SCULPTOR AT THE STATE CEMETERY AND ASKED, WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FOR US TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN HOUSTON? AND WHAT TURNED INTO A $100,000 COMMITMENT FROM MY OFFICE TURNED INTO A $1.5 MILLION INVESTMENT IN THIS PARK.UM, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M EXTREMELY PROUD ABOUT, AND I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL AFTER THE CEREMONY TO PLEASE TAKE YOUR TIME TO, UH, LOOK AT THE MEMORIAL.
UH, IT WILL DEPICT THE HOUSTON STORY.
UH, A STORY OF THOSE FROM THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA WHO SACRIFICED AND SERVED, UH, IN THE WAR.
AND LIVING AMONG US ARE SO MANY VETERANS.
MANY TIMES WE DON'T KNOW THEIR STORY OR THEIR BACKGROUND.
WE DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE OR WHAT THEY DID TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY AND TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE FREEDOMS THAT WE ENJOY TODAY.
THESE ARE YOUR, YOUR COLLEAGUES.
THESE ARE FOLKS THAT YOU WALK BY IN THE GROCERY STORE.
THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT YOU SEE AT THE MALL.
UH, YOU DON'T ALWAYS RECOGNIZE THEM.
THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS GONNA BE ON THE FRONT LINES OR IN THE UNIFORM, BUT THEY ARE OUR EVERYDAY HEROES WHO HAVE SACRIFICED SO MUCH, UH, FOR US, AND THEIR STORY SHOULD BE SHARED AND SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED.
TWO OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE WILL HEAR FROM TODAY ARE VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE IN MY LIFE.
ONE IS MY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, JUDY HARWELL.
I WENT TO LUT ELEMENTARY IN THE MEYERLAND AREA, AND MS. HARWELL WAS KNOWN AS SOMEONE WHO WAS VERY STRICT, BUT VERY NURTURING.
AND, UM, SOMEONE WHO I HAVE LEANED ON TO THIS DAY, SHE HAS REMAINED EXTREMELY ACTIVE, UH, EVEN AFTER RETIREMENT IN THE TEACHER'S UNION, UH, THE ROTARY CLUB AND MANY OTHER CIVIC AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
AND SO YOU'LL BE HEARING FROM HER TODAY, UH, SHE SERVED, UM, IN THE AIR FORCE DURING THE VIETNAM WAR.
AND THEN YOU'LL ALSO HEAR FROM, UH, DARIEN BOWIE, WHO, UH, HIS FAMILY HAS A VERY, UM, SPECIAL STORY THAT HE WILL SHARE ABOUT, UH, THEIR JOURNEY FROM VIETNAM HERE TO HOUSTON.
AND DARIEN HAS BEEN, UH, NOT ONLY A, UH, RESPECTED BUSINESSMAN, BUT A TREMENDOUS COMMUNITY LEADER IN JAY CITY.
AND SO THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS YOU WILL HEAR FROM WILL BE FROM MS. JUDY HARWELL, FOLLOWED BY DARIEN BOWIE, PRINCIPAL HARWELL.
IT LOOKS FUNNY TO SEE ONE OF MY KIDS WITH GRAY, WITH A GRAY HAIRED BEARD
AND I WILL SAY HIS SON LOOKS JUST LIKE HIM.
UH, LIKE HE SAID, I WAS IN THE AIR FORCE I DURING 19 70, 72, I WAS AT CLARK AIRBASE AND CLARK, UH, IN THE PHILIPPINES.
WHEN I GOT MY ORDERS, I WENT, WHERE ARE THE PHILIPPINES? SO I HAD TO GO LOOK IT UP, AND ALL I COULD SAY WAS, OH MY GOSH, IT'S SO CLOSE TO VIETNAM.
BUT, UH, CLARK WAS THE LARGEST MILITARY INSTALLATION.
BUT, UH, AND SO I, I'M GONNA TELL YOU KIND OF ABOUT MY FLIGHT GETTING THERE.
AND THEN WHEN I GOT WHAT I DID WHEN I GOT THERE, UH, OF COURSE BACK THEN WE ONLY HAD MAC FLIGHTS.
WE DIDN'T FLY PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, TRANSPORTATION.
AND I KIND OF STARTED MY JOB THERE BECAUSE THE PARENTS, THE MOTHERS WOULD GET ON THOSE AIRPLANES WITH THEIR KIDS.
UM, WE GOT TO CLARK AND THEY PUT US ON A BUS.
AND AFTER 24 HOURS, WE WERE KIND OF TIRED.
UH, BUT WE GOT THERE JUST AT DUSK WHEN THEY WERE LOWERING THE FLAG, WHICH THEY DON'T DO ANYMORE, BUT THEY LOWERED THE FLAG.
WE HAD TO GET OUT OF THE BUS, THEY LOWERED THE FLAG, PLAYED TAPS.
AND THAT WAS VERY HEARTWARMING TO ME AND HAS PUT FLAGS THE AMERICAN FLAG ON MY AGENDA.
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'CAUSE I GET VERY UPSET ABOUT THE WAY PEOPLE TREAT THE AMERICAN FLAG.UH, BUT I'LL GET INTO, I'LL DO THAT SOME OTHER TIME.
UH, THEY SENT THE WHOLE FAMILIES BACK THEN.
AND SO MY JOB WAS, I WORKED WITH DOD AND THE SCHOOLS TO WORK WITH THE CHILDREN AND THE, MAINLY THE MOTHERS AND THE SOLDIERS, BECAUSE I LOOK AT VETERANS AND I HONOR THEM, BUT I KNOW WHAT THEIR FAMILIES WENT THROUGH.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHO WE SHOULD ALSO BE HONORING ARE THOSE FAMILIES.
BECAUSE THEY COME AND THEY PACK YOUR HOME GOODS A MONTH BEFORE YOU LEAVE.
THERE WAS NO PLACE FOR US TO LIVE.
EVERYBODY, EVERYTHING WAS FULL.
SO THEY PUT US IN HOTELS AND HERE ARE KIDS THAT ARE TRYING TO GO TO SCHOOL, WHICH WAS A SPLIT SESSION, SIX TO 11 AND 12 TO FIVE.
AND SO, AND THEN, SO MOTHER HAD TO DO ALL OF THAT.
THEN SHE WAS LEFT WITH THE LITTLE ONES.
WE COULDN'T GO, UH, WE WERE OFF BASE, BUT WE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ON BASE BECAUSE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES AT THAT TIME,
AND, UH, SO ESPECIALLY IF YOU DID, YOU DIDN'T WEAR ANY JEWELRY 'CAUSE THEY'D CUT YOUR HAND OFF AND GET YOUR RINGS AND YOUR WATCHES AND EVERYTHING.
SO IT WASN'T A PLEASANT PLACE, BUT THE AIR BASE WAS.
AND SO I WORKED WITH THE KIDS BECAUSE ALSO EDWARD TALKING ABOUT BEING BAD
AND THAT WAS NOT A PLEASANT THING WHEN YOUR COMMANDING OFFICER WAS CALLED BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO CONTROL YOUR KIDS.
AND SO IT, YOU KNOW, THE KIDS KNEW THAT THEY, IT KIND OF GREW ON THEM.
SO WE HAD TO WORK WITH THEM ON THAT AND GIVE THEM THE LOVE THAT THEY REALLY, REALLY DESERVED AND THEY NEEDED.
UM, I COULD GO ON ABOUT THAT, SOME OF THE STORIES ABOUT THE FAMILIES AND STUFF, BUT I DO WANNA SAY THAT I WAS ABLE TO TRAVEL QUITE A BIT ON SPACE, AVAILABLE FLIGHTS.
AND UH, I WAS IN BANGKOK DURING THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS AND I'M STANDING THERE AT THE HOTEL AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THIS ARM IS AROUND MY SHOULDERS.
AND I LOOKED UP AND IT WAS BOB HOPE
AND YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE KIND LIKE ONE OF THOSE THINGS YOU WANNA RELIVE IN YOUR LIFE IS SEEING BOB HOPE.
BUT WHAT HE DID FOR DURING VIETNAM AND THE SHOWS HE PRESENTED WERE JUST FANTASTIC.
THE BAD THING ABOUT THAT NOW IS OUR KIDS DO NOT KNOW WHO BOB HOPE WAS.
AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO KEEP GOING BECAUSE PRETTY SOON THEY'RE GOING TO BE SAYING VIETNAM WAR, WHAT WAS THAT? YOU KNOW? SO WE'VE GOT TO KEEP THESE THINGS GOING.
AND OUR KIND OF, UH, CLOSE WITH THE THREE THINGS THAT THE AIR FORCE TAUGHT ME, IT WAS TO SMOKE
LUCKILY I GAVE UP THE SMOKING
BUT THE OTHER TWO THINGS I STILL DO
THANK YOU SO MUCH MS. HARWELL.
I WILL REMEMBER THOSE THINGS FOR SURE.
[00:20:09]
HELLO.THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.
IT IS AN HONOR TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY IN THIS VETERAN VIETNAMESE VETERAN MEMORIAL, A DAY DEDICATED TO REMEMBERING AND HONORING THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED AND SACRIFICE FOR THE FREEDOM WE CHERISH.
MY NAME IS SUAN DARIN BOWIE, AND MY JOURNEY TO THIS COUNTRY IS DEEPLY TIED TO THE IDEA OF FREEDOM, PRECEDENCE, AND GRATITUDE.
LIKE MANY OF YOU HERE, I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO FIGHT FOR A BETTER FUTURE, NOT THROUGH WAR, BUT THROUGH SURVIVAL.
AFTER THE VIETNAM WAR, MY FAMILY OF SEVEN, AMONG THE 2 MILLION VIETNAMESE WHO RISKED THEIR LIFE TO ESCAPE OPPRESSION, WE FLED BY BOTH LIKE SO MANY OTHER NOT KNOWING IF WE MAKE IT TO SAFETY, SOME WERE WERE CAPTURED AND FACED BRUTAL PUNISHMENT.
MANY NEVER SURVIVED THE JOURNEY.
WE BECAME KNOWN AS THE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN 1978.
AS WE DRIFTED TO UNCERTAINTY, WE WERE RESCUED BY A JAPANESE CARGO SHIP.
THE ACT OF CLIMATE CHANGED OUR LIFE FOREVER.
WE SPENT TWO YEARS IN A REFUGEE CAMP IN JAPAN BEFORE FINALLY ARRIVED IN OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA IN NOVEMBER, 1980.
AS A FIRST GENERATION IMMIGRANT, WE WERE RESILIENT.
WE HAD SEEN HARDSHIP AND LOSS, SO WE KNEW THERE'S NOCO THAT GREATER THAN OUR DETERMINATION TO SUCCEED.
GROWING UP, I FACED POVERTY, DISCRIMINATION, AND UNCERTAINTY.
BUT MY STORY IS NOT JUST ABOUT STRUGGLE, IT'S ABOUT GRATITUDE.
GRATITUDE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY IN THIS COUNTRY HAS GIVEN ME GRATITUDE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE MADE IT POSSIBLE.
THAT IS WHY I STAND HERE TODAY AS A PROUD MEMBER OF VIETNAMESE COMMUNITY TO EXPRESS MY DEEPEST APPRECIATION TO ALL THE VETERAN WHO HAS SERVED THIS NATION.
OUR VETERAN UNDERSTANDS SACRIFICE.
THEY KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO PUT EVERYTHING LINE ON THE LINE FOR SOMETHING GREATER THAN THEMSELF.
THEY FOUGHT FOR SO MANY FAMILY LIKE MINE COULD HAVE A CHANCE AT FREEDOM, THEY DEFEND THE VALUE THAT ALLOW US TO STAND HERE TODAY IN A COUNTRY WHERE DREAM CAN COME TRUE.
I WANT TO REPRESENT THE VIETNAMESE COMMUNITY IN THANK THANKING YOU AND HONORING YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
WE'LL NEVER FORGET YOUR SACRIFICE.
AND WE WILL ALWAYS FOREVER GRATEFUL TODAY AS WE HONOR OUR VETERAN.
LET US REMEMBER THAT FREEDOM IS NEVER FREE.
IT IS EARNED THROUGH COURAGE, RESILIENT AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT.
WE MUST NOT ONLY RECOGNIZE THEIR SACRIFICE, BUT ALSO CONTINUE THEIR LEGACY BY GIVING BACK, BY LIFTING UP OTHERS AND ENSURING THAT EVERY GENERATION UNDERSTAND THE TRUE COST OF LIBERTY TO ALL THE VETERANS HERE TODAY.
AND TO ALL THOSE WE HAVE LOST, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, YOUR SACRIFICE, AND YOUR UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO THIS GREAT NATION.
MAY WE NEVER TAKE OUR FREEDOM FOR GRANTED, AND MAY WE ALWAYS STAND UNITED AND UNDER FOR WHO, WHO FOUGHT FOR IT.
IF YOU COULD, COULD YOU JUST DO ONE MORE CLAP OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR MR. BOWIE FOR GETTING UP HERE AND FOR MS. HARWELL.
IT CAN TAKE A LOT TO COME UP HERE AND SHARE YOUR STORIES AND PERSONALLY, PERSONALLY RECOUNT WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH.
SO I JUST THANK YOU BOTH AGAIN AND, AND I AGREE THIS IS SOMETHING WE ABSOLUTELY SHOULD NOT FORGET AND NEED TO CONTINUE SHARING THESE SACRIFICES WITH THE NEXT GENERATIONS.
WELL, WE'VE COME TO ANOTHER VERY SPECIAL PART OF OUR PROGRAM HERE WHERE WE WILL HEAR TAPS.
TAPS IS PLAYED ON A BUGLE, SIGNIFYING LIGHTS OUT AND SERVES AS A MOMENT OF REFLECTION AND RESPECT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED AND SACRIFICED.
EVERYONE, PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLAYING OF TAPS BY UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS VETERAN NICK MILLER.
THEN REMAIN STANDING FOR THE SINGING OF AMAZING GRACE BY MS. SKYLER DARRINGTON.
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AMAZING GRACE.HOW SWEET THE SOUND THAT SAVED A RAT LIKE ME, I WAS, WAS LOST, BUT NOW I'M FOUND WAS BLIND, BUT NOW I SEE WAS GRACE THAT TAUGHT MY HEART TO FEAR AND GRACE MY HOW PRECIOUS, THE GRAY HERE, THE WI BE BELIEVED THROUGH MANYS TOOLS AND SNARES WE HAVE ALREADY COME.
SORRY WAS GRAY THAT ROD US SAVED THUS FAR AND GRAY SWEET LEAD US HOME WHEN WE'VE BEEN HERE 10,000 YEARS.
WE'VE NO THE STATES TO SING GOD'S PRAISE THEN WHEN WE FIRST BE GONE.
THANK YOU SKYLAR AND NICK, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
NEXT, PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING BACK TO THE PODIUM, COUNCILMAN WILLIE DAVIS, HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL AT LARGE POSITION TWO, WHO WILL GIVE OUR BENEDICTION BEFORE GIVING THE BENEDICTION.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE JUST A FEW SECONDS TO THANK COUNCILMAN EDWARD POLLARD.
CERTAINLY FIRST FOR THE INVITATION TO COME AND TO EXTEND PRAYER.
UH, THIS IS MY SECOND TIME, UH, HERE ON THESE GROUNDS.
AND I MUST GIVE ALL RESPECT AND HONOR TOWARD YOU, MY FRIEND, UH, ONE FOR RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF YOUR FATHER AND YOUR GODFATHER, AND ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE HERE AS A VIETNAM VETERAN MYSELF.
UM, I'M ALWAYS REMINDED OF THE STRUGGLES THAT MY MOTHER HAD AND THE FAMILY AND MY COMMITMENT TO VOLUNTEER TO GO TO VIETNAM.
AND SO I WANT TO CERTAINLY GIVE YOU HIGH HONORS, MY FRIEND.
'CAUSE THERE ARE MANY WHO NOT ONLY DID NOT WELCOME 'EM BACK, WELCOME US BACK, BUT, UH, FAILED TO REMEMBER THE SACRIFICES THAT WE'VE COMMITTED.
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY HOLIDAYS.
WE THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS PRIVILEGE TODAY TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.
AND FOR THOSE WHO LIVED TODAY, EVEN WHEN THEY WERE NOT WELCOME HOME FOR THEIR SERVICE TO THEIR NATION, BUT THEN GOD, BUT WE REMEMBER THEM AND THEY LOVE TOWARD THEIR NATION, EVEN IN THROUGH SOME STRUGGLING TIMES.
NOW, AS WE PREPARE TO LEAVE THIS PLACE, THAT NO HURT HARM OR DANGER WILL COME TO US.
THAT THE GRACE THAT HAVE KEPT US WHO WE ARE WILL KEEP US THROUGHOUT THIS DAY.
WE PRAY BLESSES UPON THE LIFE OF OUR DEAR BELOVED BROTHER, COUNCILMAN EDWARD POLLARD, FOR HIS REMEMBRANCE AND THE SACRIFICE OF THOSE.
AND WE BE KIND AND CAREFUL TO GIVE YOU THE PRAISE, THE HONOR AND THE GLORY.
IN JESUS CHRIST'S NAME WE PRAY.
AND TO EVERYONE WHO MADE THIS DAY AND CEREMONY POSSIBLE.
DR. JONES, OUR VETERANS, COUNCILMAN POLLARD, OUR ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU AS WE RECOGNIZE THE COURAGEOUS SERVICE MEMBERS WHO FOUGHT TO ENSURE OUR FREEDOMS. YOU'RE INVITED AFTER THE CEREMONY TO VISIT AND REFLECT AT THE VIETNAM
[00:30:01]
VETERANS MEMORIAL HERE IN THE PARK.BUT FIRST, PLEASE WELCOME BACK TO THE PODIUM, COUNCILMAN EDWARD POLLARD FOR FINAL REMARKS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
LET'S ALSO GIVE MS. BRITTANY WILMORE, UH, WITH A BC 13, A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
SHE'S DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB AS OUR MC TODAY WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE, UH, WITHOUT, UH, MANY WHO HAVE HELPED CONTRIBUTE, UH, NOT ONLY TO TODAY, BUT THIS PARK.
UH, I DO WANT TO THANK, UH, THE ASTROS FOUNDATION WHO IS HERE AND VOLUNTEERING.
LET'S GIVE THEM A HAND OF ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO THE SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, TO HPD, TO HFD, UH, ALL THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, UH, PERSONNEL AND FIRST RESPONDERS, UH, TO THE HOUSTON PARKS DEPARTMENT.
UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT, UH, TO THIS SPACE.
UH, HOUSTON TELEVISION, WHICH IS BROADCASTING.
UH, TODAY I'M GONNA GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO MY STAFF, UH, SPECIFICALLY, UH, MY CHIEF OF STAFF, PAUL YOUNG.
HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL POSSIBLE, UH, TO TUR 20 IN THEIR ENTIRE BOARD.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMITMENT.
UH, THIS MEMORIAL WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE, UH, WITHOUT YOU ALL.
I KNOW WE HAVE DON HUMMEL HERE.
WE HAVE ANY OTHER, UM, BOARD MEMBERS OF JUROR 20.
WILL YOU PLEASE STAND? THE ELECTED OFFICIALS WERE RECOGNIZED EARLIER, BUT I DO WANT TO ENSURE YOU ALL KNOW WHO'S HERE AND WHO IS SUPPORTING VETERANS.
WE HAVE, UH, CONGRESSWOMAN SYLVIA GARCIA, WHO'S HERE, CONGRESSMAN CHRISTIAN MENIFEE IS HERE, AND WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS, WILLIE DAVIS, SALLY ALCORN AND JULIAN RAMIREZ.
TODAY WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE, UH, WITHOUT THE LEADERSHIP OF DR.
SHE PLAYS THE BACKGROUND MANY TIMES, BUT AS, AS, AS YOU ALL KNOW, UH, WHO, WHO LEAN ON HER AND WHO CALL ON HER.
UH, SHE IS A OFFICE OF ONE, A OFFICE OF ONE, UH, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF VETERANS AFFAIRS NOW UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
UM, EVERY CALL THAT COMES INTO CITY HALL THAT IS, UM, VETERAN RELATED GOES THROUGH DR. JONES.
UM, MY OFFICE LEANS ON HER FOR, UH, COUNTLESS THINGS.
UH, SHE DOESN'T ALWAYS, UH, PLAY THE FOREGROUND FOR YOU TO SEE WHO SHE IS AND WHAT SHE'S DOING, BUT THOSE WHO KNOW, KNOW, AND I WANT YOU ALL TO UNDERSTAND THAT TODAY COULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT HER LEADERSHIP.
UH, THE CITY IS BETTER BECAUSE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE ALL APPRECIATE YOU.
LET'S GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
AND TO THE VETERANS AND THE FAMILIES, UM, TODAY IS ABOUT YOU COMMEMORATING AND THANKING YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, YOUR DEDICATION, YOUR SACRIFICE.
AS PRINCIPAL HARWELL SAID, WE DON'T WANT THERE TO BE GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE SAYING, WHAT WAS THE VIETNAM WAR? THERE'S TOO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SACRIFICED AND LAID THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR US TO BE HERE TODAY.
FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, THIS MEMORIAL IS HERE AS A WAY TO NOT ONLY REMEMBER, BUT TO EDUCATE FOR PEOPLE TO COME HERE AND LEARN ABOUT THE HOUSTON STORY.
ON THE FRONT OF THE MEMORIAL, YOU WILL READ THAT HOUSTON STORY, NOT ONLY OF THOSE WHO SERVED, UH, BUT THOSE WHO HAD TO TRAVEL FROM VIETNAM TO HOUSTON AND THEIR JOURNEY.
ON THE BACK OF THE MEMORIAL, YOU'LL FIND THE, THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO, UH, PASSED AND TRANSITIONED AS A RESULT OF THE WAR FROM THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA.
SO, NOT ONLY JUST TODAY, BUT ALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, I WANT YOU ALL TO PLEASE GO BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITIES, TO YOUR PLACES OF WORSHIP, TO YOUR, TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND TELL PEOPLE ABOUT THIS MEMORIAL.
MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THEY TAKE TIME TO UNDERSTAND, UH, THE IMPORTANCE OF THOSE
[00:35:01]
WHO SACRIFICED AND THEIR STORY AND HOW THEY WEREN'T GIVEN A PROPER HERO'S WELCOME.IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU SEE THIS MEMORIAL AND YOU SEE ON THE BACKGROUND OF THAT MEMORIAL, A PLATE THAT SAYS, WELCOME HOME.
UH, WE WANT THOSE WHO SERVED IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA KNOW THAT WE REMEMBER.
WE UNDERSTAND, AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, ALTHOUGH IT WAS BORN OUT OF THE SERVICE OF MY FATHER.
HIS STORY IS SIMILAR TO MANY OF YOU ALL.
AND THIS MEMORIAL IS HERE IN DEDICATION TO YOU.
AND SO I'M ASKING FOR EVERY SERVICE, MAN AND WOMAN WHO SERVED IN THE VIETNAM WAR, TO PLEASE STAND UP AND BE RECOGNIZED.
I'LL ALSO ASK THOSE WHO MAY NOT HAVE SERVED IN THE VIETNAM WAR BUT HAVE SERVED IN OUR MILITARY, PLEASE RISE.
SO WE CAN GIVE YOU A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
I AM GONNA BRING UP, UH, BACK UP TO THE PODIUM, DR. JONES, FOR THOSE WHO, FOR THOSE WHO SERVE, WHO ARE NOT PROPERLY PINNED, UH, DR. JONES HAS SOME COMMEMORATIVE PENS FOR YOU ALL THAT SHE WILL PASS OUT.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE TWO PROCLAMATIONS, MR. SO I'M GOING TO BRING UP, UH, PRINCIPAL HARWELL AND MR. BOWIE, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE COME FORWARD.
BOTH THESE PROCLAMATIONS ARE, UH, FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, WHICH ARE FOR VIETNAM WAR VETERANS APPRECIATION DAY.
AND I WON'T READ THE WHOLE THING, BUT I, I, I DO WANT TO READ THAT.
WHEREAS AS THE WAR PROGRESSED, AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY WITH MORE THAN 3.4 MILLION TROOPS DEPLOYED NEARLY 60,000 KILLED IN ACTION, INCLUDING MORE THAN 350 HOUSTONIANS AND OVER 150,000 WOUNDED.
AND TODAY, AN ESTIMATED 2000 SERVICE MEMBERS REMAIN UNACCOUNTED FOR.
AND WHEREAS WE CANNOT MEASURE THE DEBT OF GRATITUDE OWED TO THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVED, WERE WOUNDED OR GAVE THEIR LIVES IN DEFENSE OF THE VALUES WE HOLD DEAR.
AND WHEREAS VIETNAM VETERANS APPRECIATION DAY PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON TO HONOR AND THANK OUR VIETNAM VETERANS FOR THEIR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE TO OUR COUNTRY.
AND SO THEREFORE, I, COUNCIL MEMBER EDWARD POLLARD ON BEHALF OF JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY RECOGNIZE MARCH 29TH, 2026 AS VIETNAM WAR, VETERANS APPRECIATION DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON
AND THIS IS OFF SCHEDULE, BUT WE DO HAVE TWO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HERE.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO AFFORD THEM AN OPPORTUNITY JUST TO GIVE SOME BRIEF REMARKS.
AND SO, UH, IF CONGRESSWOMAN SYLVIA GARCIA WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND GIVE BRIEF REMARKS AS WELL AS CONGRESSMAN CHRISTIAN MENEFEE.
WELL, I WILL BE BRIEF 'CAUSE I THINK ALL HAS BEEN SAID.
THIS IS A TIME I, I'VE KNOWN, I KNEW I MADE A GREAT SPEECH, BUT
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ALL OF VIETNAM VETERANS.AND FOR ME, I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD MY STORY WHEN I TALK ABOUT BEING, UM, IN THE TOP 15 OF MY CLASS.
AND THE PUNCHLINE, OF COURSE, IS THAT THERE WAS ONLY 15 IN MY CLASS.
AND REGRETTABLY, ONE OF THOSE, ONE OF THOSE 15, IMMEDIATELY AFTER GRADUATION IN MAY, UM, VOLUNTEERED, UH, IN AND WENT TO VIETNAM.
SO VERY QUICKLY, OUR SMALL CLASS OF 15 TURNED TO 14.
UH, BUT WE KNEW WHY HE HAD DID IT.
YOU KNOW, YES, WE WERE JUST A SMALL, HE WAS JUST A COUNTRY KID FROM A SOUTH TEXAS TOWN, LESS THAN 100 PEOPLE.
BUT JUST THINK THAT EVEN OUR SMALL COMMUNITY WAS IMPACTED BY THIS WAR, NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF HIS DEDICATION TO FAMILY AND LOYALTY AND SERVICE TO COUNTRY, BUT ALSO KNOWING THAT HE HAD BEEN ONE OF OUR FIRST CASUALTIES IN TEXAS.
SO OUR, OUR LITTLE TOWN ALMOST NEVER REALLY GOT OVER IT.
AND I KNOW MY CLASS NEVER REALLY HAS.
SO I KNOW THAT THIS WAR IMPACTED SO MANY.
I KNOW SOME OF US DEMONSTRATED AGAINST IT.
IT WAS A WAR THAT WE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND MUCH, LIKE, QUITE FRANKLY, THE WAR WE WE'RE ENGAGED IN, IN, IN IRAN RIGHT NOW.
BUT WHEN THEY CAME BACK, WE HAD TO SAY THANK YOU.
WE HAD TO SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE THEY MADE THE SACRIFICE TO LEAVE THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS AND GO FIGHT FOR THE AMER FOR AMERICA.
AND FOR US, KNOWING THAT WE LOST ONE, IT WAS EVEN, EVEN A DEEPER LOSS, BUT ALSO A DEEPER GRATITUDE FOR ALL THE SERVICE MEMBERS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN ANY ONE OF THEM.
SO FOR ME, THIS IS A VERY SOLEMN OCCASION, UH, AND I'M PLEASED TO BE HERE.
AND NOW I PASS IT OVER, UH, TO MY COLLEAGUE, CHRISTIAN MENIFEE.
I WANNA START WITH A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO COUNCILMAN EDWARD POLLARD FOR PULLING THIS TOGETHER.
UH, THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THING TO ACKNOWLEDGE BOTH OF MY PARENTS SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.
MY BROTHER SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES, MY FATHER-IN-LAW SERVED IN VIETNAM.
TOO OFTEN WE SEND FOLKS TO FIGHT WARS ABROAD, ONLY TO COME HOME, TO BE WITHOUT HEALTHCARE, TO BE STRUGGLING, TO MAKE ENDS MEET, AND TO HAVE A GOVERNMENT THAT DOESN'T RECOGNIZE THEM.
UH, MY COMMITMENT TO Y'ALL IS TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR A GOVERNMENT WHERE THE POLITICIANS FEEL COMFORTABLE SENDING THEIR OWN FAMILY MEMBERS OVER TO FIGHT WARS BEFORE THEY TRY TO FORCE IT ON THE COMMON MAN AND THE COMMON WOMAN.
I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, FOR YOUR SACRIFICE, FOR THE FRIENDS THAT YOU LOST, FOR THE DAYS THAT YOU WENT WITHOUT SLEEP.
FOR ALL OF THE HARDSHIP THAT CAME WITH ENSURING THAT WE WERE A COUNTRY, UH, THAT LIVED UP TO OUR GREATEST IDEALS.
I KNOW THAT THAT SACRIFICE IS ON SO MANY PEOPLE AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE, AND WE ARE HERE ALONGSIDE YOU MOVING FORWARD INTO THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU GENUINELY FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR YOUR SERVICE.
AND THANK YOU COUNCILMAN POLLARD.
WE NOW HAVE A, UM, RECOGNITION, RECOGNITION FROM, UM, COMMISSIONER LESLIE BRIAN'S OFFICE.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONER LESLIE, BRIAN OF HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT FOUR.
AND SOMETHING THAT I ALWAYS LIKE TO SAY ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS LIKE THIS, IT'S BEEN SAID, POOR IS A NATION THAT HAS NO HEROES.
SHAMEFUL IS A NATION THAT HAVING THEM FORGETS THEM.
AND SO I WANT TO COMMEND COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD AND EVERYONE ELSE HERE THAT IS REMEMBERING OUR HEROES.
AND WE ALSO WANTED TO SAY A SPECIAL THANK YOU, MS. HARRELL.
I'LL TELL YOU WHEN YOU WERE TALKING, I THOUGHT YOU WERE A MARINE.
SO AS A FELLOW MARINE, AND ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONER LESLIE BRIANIS, WE WANNA RECOGNIZE YOU TODAY ON NATIONAL VIETNAM WAR VETERANS DAY, FOR YOUR STORY, FOR YOUR SERVICE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILIES AND SUPPORTING OUR VETERANS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. HARRELL.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I APPRECIATE THAT WE RECOGNIZE THE SACRIFICE OF MANY VIETNAMESE.
NOT ONLY DID THEY BECOME AMERICANS THROUGH THE PROCESS, BUT ALSO SOME OF OUR MOST DEDICATED AMERICAN CITIZENS.
SO ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONER LESLIE BRIANIS, DARREN BUI, KAMAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILMAN POLLEN.
NOW AS WE CONCLUDE THE PROGRAM, UH,
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AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US HERE TODAY.UH, PLEASE TAKE TIME TO, UH, READ AND REFLECT AT THE MEMORIAL.
UH, LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED AFTER THIS.
UH, SO PLEASE STAY IF YOU CAN.
UH, THANK YOU TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS AND THOSE WHO PROVIDED THE MEALS, UH, AND AGAIN TO DR. JONES, UH, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
UH, SHE WILL DO HAVE A PENDING CEREMONY, UM, DIRECTLY AFTER THE PROGRAM.
UM, AS WE CONCLUDE, AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS WILLIE DAVIS, SALLY ALCORN AND JULIAN RAMIREZ.
THEY ARE YOUR AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE HAVE, UH, STAFF FROM TWILA CARTER'S OFFICE HERE AS WELL.
UH, SO THE WORK THAT WE DO IN JAY CITY IS, UH, SUPPORTED AND AND SUPPLEMENTED BY THE WORK OF YOUR AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND SO I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND THAT FOR THEM BEING HERE TODAY AS WELL.
AND NOW, THIS CONCLUDES THE PROGRAM.