* 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. [00:00:09] SAYS, I LOVE IT. I DO WANT TO BE COMPLETELY HONEST WITH YOU. WE TRIED TO GET THE ROOTS. WE COULDN'T BOOK 'EM, BUT YOU KNOW, THEY, WE WENT, WE WENT LOCAL. WE LOVE THAT, YOU GUYS, AND WE LOVE THAT YOU BROUGHT YOUR KIDDOS OUT HERE AND THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME FUN TODAY. GREAT ENERGY FROM JJ AND THE KIDS OUT THERE. SO IF YOU GUYS SEE JJ THE YOUNGEST WITH ALL THE CURLS, DO A STAGE DIVE, SOMEBODY CATCH HIM. 'CAUSE HE'S GOT A LOT OF ENERGY. AND I, HI SWEETIE, HOW YOU DOING? WE GOT, WE GOT SOME FUN, GOOD, FUN THINGS GOING ON TODAY. AS YOU KNOW, WOMEN'S VETERANS DAY IS NOT A HOLIDAY, BUT IT'S HERE TO, IT'S A DAY TO EDUCATE, VALIDATE, AND COMMEMORATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF WOMEN WHO HAVE AND ARE CURRENTLY SERVING IN THE MILITARY. WE'VE GOT SOME FORM AND SOME FUNCTION TODAY. IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TRIP TO, UH, CITY HALL AND THE REFLECTION POND AFTERWARDS, WE WANT YOU TO GO OUTSIDE, TAKE SOME PICTURES, SEE THE SOCCER BALLS. I THINK WE WERE GIVING AWAY TWO TICKETS TO FIFA. IS THAT CORRECT? I CAN'T BACK THAT UP. I KNOW YOU'RE, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO ON VET TICKS AND GO THROUGH THE COIN STUFF THERE AND HAVE SOME FUN. I KNOW THOSE TICKETS AREN'T CHEAP. UH, BUT KUDOS TO ALL OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS FOR MAKING FIFA, UH, HAPPEN IN HOUSTON BECAUSE WHAT A CELEBRATION. WE GET TO SHOW THE WORLD WHAT HOUSTON IS LIKE, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF OUR VETERANS. AND TODAY WE GET TO HONOR OUR WOMEN VETERANS. AND IF YOU'RE ABLE TO PLEASE STAND AS WE GO THROUGH SOME OF OUR CEREMONY, AND WE HAVE THE PRESENTATION OF THE COLORS BY THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT HONOR GUARD, FOLLOWED BY THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. THERE ARE 50 BRIGHT STARS AND 13 STRIPES ON OLD GLORY POLICE HELP ME HONOR HER. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION ON GOD, INDIVISIBLE, LIBERT, AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. O SAY, CAN YOU SEE BY THE DAWN, EARLY LIGHT WOULD SO PROUDLY WE AT THE G WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT THROUGH THE, OR THE, AND THE THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE OR SAVE US THAT THE LAND AND THE THANK YOU. PLEASE STAY STANDING AS WE BRING UP TO THE PODIUM, CHAPLAIN AND LUNA FROM THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE. AND I KNOW YOU HEARD THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, BUT DID YOU FEEL IT? I GOT GOOSEBUMPS. SHE TOTALLY ROCKED IT, AND I LOVE IT WHEN YOU JUST FEEL THAT, UH, THAT, THAT PATRIOTISM. THANK YOU, JACQUELIN. OH, YOU'RE WELCOME. GOOD MORNING, WILL YOU PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS WITH ME? GRACIOUS GOD, WE COME BEFORE YOU WITH THANKFUL HEARTS FOR THE BRAVE WOMEN WHO ANSWERED THE CALL TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY. [00:05:01] THANK YOU FOR THE STRENGTH, COURAGE, AND DEDICATION THAT THEY BROUGHT TO OUR ARMED FORCES. LORD, BLESS THESE WOMEN ABUNDANTLY. WE PRAY FOR HEALING, FOR ANY HIDDEN WOUNDS THAT THEY MAY CARRY. WRAP THEM IN YOUR PEACE AND SURROUND THEM WITH YOUR LOVE. WE ASK THAT YOU COMFORT THEIR FAMILIES, WHO ARE THE QUIET HEROES THAT STOOD BY THEM? GIVE THESE WOMEN CONTINUED PURPOSE, JOY AND GRACE IN THEIR DAILY LIVES. MAY WE ALWAYS HONOR THEIR SACRIFICES AND NEVER TAKE OUR FREEDOM FOR GRANTED. AND WE ASK ALL THESE THINGS IN YOUR HOLY NAME. AMEN. THANK YOU, LY, PLEASE BE SEATED. I WAS GETTING SOME FINAL NOTES. IF YOU'VE EVER GONE TO A PUBLIC EVENT BEFORE, YOU KNOW THERE ARE FRAGO, LAST MINUTE CHANGES AND ALL KINDS OF FUN STUFF. LET ME PREFACE IT THAT I HAVE, UH, BEEN A PART OF SOME GREAT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE PAST AND I, I, UH, HAD THE HONOR OF GIVING AWAY EIGHT VEHICLES. WE'RE NOT GONNA DO THAT TODAY, BUT THE CITY IMPOUND MAY TAKE THREE VEHICLES. , UM, SOMEBODY PARKED IN THE WRONG SPOT. UM, AND I CAN'T HAVE EVERYBODY GET UP AND LEAVE. I'M GONNA DO MY BEST TO GET THE LICENSE PLATES, NUMBERS, OR AT LEAST A DESCRIPTION OF THE VEHICLE. UM, I GET TO HAVE A LOT OF FUN, BUT, UH, THE POLICE OFFICER CAME IN AND SAID, SOMEBODY PARKED IN THE MAYOR'S DROP OFF SPOT. AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS. AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT. AND SO WE'RE, WE'LL GET THERE IF YOU GET TOWED. UM, IT'S ONLY LIKE $12, RIGHT? OH, I'VE GOTTEN TOWED BEFORE. IT IS NOT $12. ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO. DO, DO, DO, DO. ALRIGHT, WE ARE STARTING WITH, UH, MORE OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT GET TO COME UP AND CELEBRATE, UH, WHAT WOMEN BRING TO AMERICA, UH, IN UNIFORM AND THEIR SERVICE AFTERWARDS. PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME MAYOR PRO TEM MARTHA CASTEK TATUM, TO OFFER REMARKS AND READ A PROCLAMATION. GOOD MORNING. MORNING. IT IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING TO BE HERE THIS MORNING TO OUR WOMEN VETERANS ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS, TO OUR MILITARY FAMILIES, TO THE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT ARE HERE AND OUR GUESTS. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING. TODAY WE ARE GATHERED TO RECOGNIZE A GROUP OF WOMEN WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR NATION HAVE TOO OFTEN BEEN UNDERSTATED. TEXAS WOMEN'S VETERANS DAY IS MORE THAN JUST ANY DATE ON THE CALENDAR. IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO PAUSE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE TRUE COURAGE, SACRIFICE, AND LEADERSHIP OF WOMEN WHO HAVE ANSWERED THE CALL TO SERVE WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY IN EVERY BRANCH OF THE MILITARY. IN TIMES OF WAR, IN TIMES OF PEACE, ON THE FRONT LINES, BEHIND THE SCENES, THEY HAVE LED TROOPS, THEY HAVE FLOWN AIRCRAFT, THEY HAVE PROVIDED MEDICAL CARE, THEY HAVE GATHERED INTELLIGENCE, PROTECTED OUR FREEDOMS, AND STRENGTHENED OUR NATIONAL SECURITY. AND THEY HAVE DONE SO WHILE BREAKING BARRIERS FOR GENERATIONS TO FOLLOW. HERE IN HOUSTON. WE ARE EXTREMELY PROUD TO BE HOME TO THOUSANDS OF WOMEN VETERANS WHOSE COMMITMENT TO SERVICE CONTINUES TO SHAPE OUR CITY EVERY SINGLE DAY. AS WE CELEBRATE TEXAS WOMEN'S VETERANS DAY, LET US RECOMMIT OURSELVES TO ENSURING THAT WOMEN VETERANS RECEIVE THE RECOGNITION, THE SUPPORT, THE HEALTHCARE, THE RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES THEY HAVE EARNED THROUGH THEIR SERVICE AND THEIR SACRIFICE. AND TO EVERY WOMAN VETERAN IN THE ROOM TODAY, WE SEE YOU. WE THANK YOU, WE HONOR YOUR SERVICE, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE EXAMPLE YOU CONTINUE TO SET FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US. THE STORY OF AMERICA HAS ALWAYS INCLUDED WOMEN WHO ARE WILLING TO SERVE TODAY. WE MAKE SURE THEIR SERVICE IS NOT ONLY REMEMBERED, BUT WE ARE CELEBRATING EACH ONE OF THESE REMARKABLE WOMEN. SO IT IS NOW MY PRIVILEGE TO READ THE CITY OF HOUSTON PROCLAMATION. ON BEHALF OF MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER, I WILL ASK MY COLLEAGUE TWILA CARTER TO JOIN ME, UM, ON STAGE. AND DR. JONES, UH, WE WOULD, UH, OFFER THE PROCLAMATION, UM, TO, UH, THE COLONEL TO COME UP AND WE WILL SHARE THE PROCLAMATION WITH YOU AND THE PROCLAMATION READS, WHEREAS ON JUNE 12TH, 2026, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TOGETHER WITH ALL HOUSTONIANS JOINS THE STATE OF TEXAS [00:10:01] IN OBSERVING TEXAS WOMEN'S VETERANS DAY AND RECOGNIZING MORE THAN 207,000 WOMEN VETERANS WHO RESIDE IN THE STATE HONORING THEIR DEDICATION, SACRIFICE, AND SERVICE TO THIS GREAT NATION AND THE FREEDOMS IT REPRESENTS. AND WHEREAS TEXAS IS HOME TO THE LARGEST POPULATION OF WOMEN VETERANS IN THE UNITED STATES. JUNE 12TH MARKS THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE WOMEN'S ARMED SERVICES INTEGRATION ACT SIGNED INTO LAW BY PRESIDENT HARRY S TRUMAN ON JUNE 12TH, 1948, WHICH ALLOWED WOMEN TO BECOME PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES. IT IS ALSO THE DATE DESIGNATED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS TO HONOR ITS WOMEN VETERANS FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF SENATE BILL 8 0 5 DURING THE 85TH TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION. AND ITS SUBSEQUENT SIGNING BY THE GOVERNOR, OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZING JUNE 12TH AS TEXAS WOMEN VETERANS DAY. AND WHEREAS ON THE TEXAS WOMEN VETERANS DAY, THE CITY OF HOUSTON PROUDLY RECOGNIZES AND EXTENDS ITS SINCERE APPRECIATION TO THE COURAGEOUS WOMEN WHO HAVE ANSWERED THE NATION'S CALL TO SERVE, DEFEND, AND PROTECT THE FREEDOMS ENJOYED BY ALL AMERICANS. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES THE LIVES, ACHIEVEMENTS AND INSPIRING STORIES OF TEXAS WOMEN VETERANS WHOSE COURAGE, LEADERSHIP, AND PERSEVERANCE CONTINUE TO EMPOWER FUTURE GENERATIONS OF WOMEN AND BUILD UPON A LEGACY OF SERVICE STRENGTH AND VALOR. THEREFORE, I, MARTHA CASTEX TATUM MAYOR PRO TEM OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ON BEHALF OF JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY RECOGNIZE JUNE 12TH, 2026 AS TEXAS WOMEN VETERANS DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU LADIES. AND I AM OFTEN WRONG AND I DO LOVE, UH, CORRECTION. AND, UH, WHEN I SAID THAT WOMEN'S VETERANS DAY IS NOT A HOLIDAY, I MEAN, IT'S NOT A PAID NATIONAL HOLIDAY. SO WE'RE ALL HERE TO, TO CELEBRATE. UM, AND SOMEBODY WHO'S NOT GONNA BE, UH, CELEBRATING TOO MUCH, UH, IS THE PERSON WHO IS DRIVING A, A WHITE CHEVROLET SUV, UM, TRAVERSE. AND IT IS, UH, THE LICENSE PLATE IS WHISKEY VICTOR TANGO 1 6 7 1 W VT 1, 6, 7, 1. NOBODY'S MOVING. NOBODY, NOBODY. OKAY, WE, WE GAVE IT OUR BEST SHOT. DON'T BE EMBARRASSED IF IT'S YOURS. YOU CAN GO NOW AND MOVE IT. AND WE, WE PROMISE WE'RE NOT GONNA WAIT ON YOU, BUT WE WILL BE HERE WHEN YOU GET BACK. I KNOW. WE GOTTA KEEP GOING. WE GOTTA HAVE SOME FUN. AND SO AS YOU LOOK AROUND THE ROOM, I HOPE THAT YOU TAKE A MOMENT AND THAT YOU LOOK AT ME, UH, CARVING OUT THE, UH, THE MICROPHONE. BUT YOU SEE THE VFW HERE, THE AMERICAN LEGION, UH, THE LEGACY GROUPS, THE DAVS, BUT YOU ALSO SEE GROUPS LIKE SERVE GRACE AFTER FIRE, CAMP SHIELD AND THE VA AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS THEY'RE TAKING PROGRESSIVE STEPS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE 20% OF OUR ARMED FORCES ARE WOMEN WHEN THEY, UH, EXIT THE MILITARY. THEY'RE GETTING THE SERVICES, UH, AND THE ACTIVITIES THAT WILL HELP THEM TAKE THAT STEP FORWARD. SO IF YOU HAVEN'T CONNECTED WITH ONE OF THEM, MAKE SURE BEFORE YOU LEAVE AND YOU RUSH OUT, YOU TAKE A BREAK, GET SOME OF THAT DELICIOUS CAKE AND SOME OF THE FOOD OVER HERE, AND WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT OUR SPONSORS AND THE FOOD IN A LITTLE BIT. BUT TAKE A MOMENT. SLOW DOWN, MEET SOMEBODY NEW, MAKE SURE YOU SHAKE THEIR HANDS. BLESS YOU. THIS IS NOTHING TO SNEEZE THAT, COLONEL, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE YOUR TIME UP HERE. THIS IS WHAT A, WHAT A GREAT, UH, LITTLE TRANSITION BECAUSE, UH, OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER TODAY, AND I LOVE GREAT SPEAKERS BECAUSE IT'S TIME WHERE I GET TO LISTEN ACTIVELY AND TAKE JUST A PIECE OF HER CAREER WITH ME AND SHARE IT WITH OTHER WOMEN WHO EITHER WANNA BE IN THE MILITARY OR THEY'RE STRUGGLING TO HELP THEM FIND THEIR ROAD TO RECOVERY. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS THE REMARKABLE LEADER WHO HAS SPENT MORE THAN TWO DECADES SERVING THE NATION, LEADING AIRMEN AT EVERY LEVEL. COLONEL JULIE HONEYCUTT, GRADUATED FROM THE UNITED STATES, UH, AIR FORCE ACADEMY AND SHE'S DEPLOYED IN MULTIPLE MILITARY OPERATIONS AROUND THE GLOBE. SHE HAS STEADILY RISEN THROUGH THE RANKS BY EARNING THE TRUST AND RESPECT OF THOSE SHE SERVES. ALONGSIDE THAT, HOW DO I KNOW THAT? BECAUSE JUST LAST WEEK, SHE WAS LIEUTENANT COLONEL AND SHE JUST RECENTLY GOT PINNED BERG COLONEL I KNOW. ROUND OF APPLAUSE WHERE SHE EVEN GETS UP HERE. AND THAT'S BECAUSE SHE MENTORS SO MANY OTHERS, ESPECIALLY, UM, DEVELOPING WOMEN LEADERS AND GUIDING [00:15:01] THE COMPLEX ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH CHANGE IN GROWTH. TODAY, SHE SERVES AS COMMANDER OF THE HUNDRED 47TH, A OPERATIONS GROUP AT ELLINGTON FIELD. YES, WE DO HAVE A MILITARY BASE AROUND HERE LEADING HUNDREDS OF DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS WHO SUPPORT MISSIONS BOTH HERE AT HOME AND AROUND THE GLOBE. PLEASE HELP ME GIVE HER A TEXAS WELCOME TO A LEADER, A MENTOR AND PROUD SERVANT OF OUR NATION, COLONEL JULIE HONEYCUTT. COME ON. YOU DO BETTER THAN THAT. THERE WE GO. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. THANK YOU. UH, FIRST OF ALL TO DR. JONES. UM, I WAS TALKING TO A FEW PEOPLE AND I, YOU KNOW, WASN'T AWARE OF THIS EVENT BEFORE I GOT INVITED TO PARTICIPATE, AND IT'S TRULY AMAZING TO SEE THE EFFORT THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU SAID YOU'RE A SHOP OF ONE. TRULY AMAZING TO SEE THE EFFORT THAT SHE'S PUT INTO THIS AND, UM, TO SEE THE AMAZING TURNOUT. I ALSO WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO RECENTLY PROMOTED SENIOR MASTER SERGEANT ANGELA MATTHEWS. THERE SHE IS. WE, UH, WE BOTH PROMOTED ON SUNDAY OF THIS PAST DRILL. AND I'M FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET TO HEAR HER SING THAT ANTHEM, UM, ON A REGULAR BASIS. AND IF THAT DOESN'T INSPIRE YOU AND INSPIRE YOUR LOVE FOR OUR COUNTRY, THEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL. SO AGAIN, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. AS A SIXTH GENERATION TEXAN, I AM HONORED TO BE HERE. UM, GROWING UP MY PARENTS RAISED MY SISTER AND ME WITH THE IDEA THAT WE COULD DO ANYTHING. AND I WAS TAUGHT EARLY ON ABOUT THE AMAZING WOMEN IN HISTORY AS A KID. WHEN I NEEDED A TOPIC FOR A RESEARCH PAPER, MY MOM SUGGESTED TITLE IX, THE LANDMARK LEGISLATION THAT GUARANTEED EQUAL ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN IN EDUCATION AND SPORTS FOR BOOK REPORTS. SHE ENCOURAGED ME, UM, TO LOOK UP BABE DERICKSON ZAHAR, WHO'S A FEMALE ATHLETE TRAILBLAZER, LONG BEFORE OUR TIME FROM BEAUMONT, TEXAS. AND SO I LEARNED ABOUT THESE PEOPLE BECAUSE SHE SAID, YOU SHOULD LEARN ABOUT THESE PEOPLE. ALSO, ANOTHER ONE COMES TO MIND THAT I PROBABLY WROTE A BOOK REPORT ON WAS, UM, IN THE 1990S TEXAS GOVERNOR ANN RICHARDS, AND THEN THE WOMEN AIR FORCE SERVICE PILOT, THE WASPS WHO TRAINED IN SWEETWATER, TEXAS. BECAUSE OF THIS, I THINK I'VE ALWAYS HAD AN APPRECIATION FOR THE WOMEN WHO CAME BEFORE ME. AND I NEVER DOUBTED THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT WOMEN PLAY IN THE MILITARY. SO MY DAD WAS A FIGHTER PILOT IN THE TEXAS AIR NATIONAL GUARD FOR OVER 30 YEARS. AND HE WAS ALSO ALWAYS ENCOURAGING ME THAT I COULD DO THE SAME. BUT THE THING IS, AND THE THING I'VE LEARNED ALONG THE WAY IS THAT YOU HAVE TO SEE IT TO BE IT. AND SO I HEARD THEM, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT I REALLY BELIEVED IT UNTIL MUCH LATER IN MY CAREER WHEN I SAW THE WOMEN THAT HAD GONE BEFORE ME DOING IT. SO AFTER GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL IN 2001, I LEFT THAT SUMMER FOR THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY. AND AS I MADE MY WAY THROUGH THE YEARS, AND I HEARD STORIES ABOUT BACK WHEN IT WAS HARD, WHICH I THINK IS WHAT EVERY CAREER SAYS, UH, OR EVERY GENERATION SAYS ABOUT THEIR CAREER. AND THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE FOLLOWED THEM, THEY SAY, OH, BACK WHEN IT WAS HARD. 'CAUSE I EVEN THINK NOW IT BASIC TRAINING, THEY'RE ALLOWED CELL PHONES. AND WE'RE LIKE, WHAT? BUT I REVERED, I REVERED THE EIGHTIES LADIES, AND THESE WERE THE WOMEN THAT WERE IN THE FIRST SERVICE ACADEMIES TO GRADUATE FROM THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY, FROM WEST POINT, FROM ANNAPOLIS. THOSE WOMEN AND THE STORIES I HEARD ABOUT WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH IN THOSE EARLY CLASSES, THEY TRULY PAVED THE WAY THEY WERE THE FIRST IN THEIR FIELD AND THEY SHATTERED THOSE GLASS CEILINGS BECAUSE OF THESE WOMEN WHO CAME BEFORE ME AND BROKE DOWN THOSE INITIAL BARRIERS. WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME ABOUT MY EXPERIENCES, I FEEL FORTUNATE. AFTER GRADUATING FROM THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY, I ATTENDED PILOT TRAINING AND WE LIKE TO CALL IT DEL RIO BY THE SEA. IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR, UM, HEAD WEST AND KEEP GOING AND YOU'LL HIT DEL RIO, TEXAS. AND I HAD A FEMALE PILOT IN, UH, FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND SHE ENCOURAGED ME TO AIM FOR C 20 ONES AT RAMSTEIN AIR FORCE BASE IN GERMANY. SHE SAID, THIS IS A REALLY AMAZING ASSIGNMENT, AND SHE WAS AN EARLY MENTOR AND IT ENDED UP, I WAS SELECTED FOR THAT AND IT ENDED UP BEING [00:20:01] THE BEST ASSIGNMENT OF MY CAREER. BY THE TIME I CAME AROUND, THE MEN WHO FELT LIKE WOMEN DIDN'T BELONG WERE IN THE, THE MINORITY. I KNEW A FEW OF 'EM, BUT I ALSO KNEW MEN THAT KIND OF LAUGHED AND SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? A SILLY THOUGHT THAT WOMEN WOULDN'T BELONG. SO WHEN I ARRIVED AT RAMSTEIN, I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO JOIN A SQUADRON THAT ALREADY HAD FOUR FEMALE PILOTS. AND IF YOU KNOW, AND YOU'VE BEEN IN THE MINORITY, UH, THERE WERE TWO WOMEN IN MY PILOT TRAINING CLASS OF 23. SO HAVING FIVE OF US SEEMED LIKE WE'D HIT THE LOTTERY. FROM THERE, I WAS SELECTED TO FLY KC 10 REFUELERS AT TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE IN CALIFORNIA. AND THEN I TRANSITIONED TO C ONE THIRTIES AT LITTLE ROCK BEFORE JOINING THE TEXAS AIR NATIONAL GUARD AT ELLINGTON. YES, THERE IS AIR FORCE BASE IN HOUSTON . IT'S BEEN AMAZING. UM, I SAID RAMSTEIN WAS MY BEST ASSIGNMENT, BUT I'M ACTUALLY IN IT RIGHT NOW. IT'S BEEN THE, YOU KNOW, HONOR OF A LIFETIME AND A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT TO COME HOME AND SERVE IN THE TEXAS MILITARY DEPARTMENT. BUT THERE'S STILL BEEN FIRST TO BE HAD. WHEN I JOINED THE ONE 11, THE TAX SQUADRON, WHICH SIDE NOTE IS ALSO THE OLDEST SQUADRON IN THE AIR FORCE, BEEN AROUND SINCE 1917. I WAS THE FIRST FEMALE PILOT THE UNIT HAD EVER HIRED, WHICH SEEMS CRAZY SINCE IT WAS 2018. UM, AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT AT ELLINGTON LAST YEAR, I WITNESSED THE FIRST FEMALE WING COMMANDER IN THE HISTORY OF THE BASE WHEN COLONEL SANDY PINES TOOK COMMAND. SO AT THE WING BUILDING AT ELLINGTON, THERE'S A WALL AND THEY MADE A HISTORICAL WALL OF EVERY WING COMMANDER. AND I WAS LOOKING AT IT YESTERDAY. IT STARTS BLACK AND WHITE PICTURES AND THERE'S ABOUT 41 MEN. AND I'M EXCITED, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HER GO AND UM, IT'S GONNA BE A FEW YEARS, BUT WHEN SHE HANDS OVER COMMAND AND HER PICTURE'S GONNA GO ON THE WALL, UH, THE AMAZING EVENT OF HAVING A FEMALE ON THAT WALL AFTER ALL THESE YEARS IS SOMETHING I KNOW MYSELF AND THE OTHER FEMALE AND THE WOMEN IN THE ATTACK WING ARE PROUD OF. SO NOW THAT I'M IN LEADERSHIP, I EMBRACE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE MY VOICE BE HEARD. BUT MORE THAN THAT, I EMBRACE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THE SERVICE OF ALL WOMEN VETERANS IS RECOGNIZED AS SIGNIFICANT, HONORED, AND DEEPLY APPRECIATED. WOMEN HAVE ALWAYS BEEN WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF OUR MILITARY'S HISTORY, OFTEN SERVING QUIETLY OR WITHOUT THE RECOGNITION THEY DESERVED. AS PROAM PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, FROM THE WASP TESTING AIRCRAFT IN WEST TEXAS TO THE WOMEN COMMANDING WINGS. TODAY, WE BRING DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES, UNMATCHED RESILIENCE, AND A PROFOUND DEDICATION TO THE MISSION. WE HAVE PROVEN THAT EXCELLENCE KNOWS NO GENDER. SO WHEN WE REFLECT ON WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A VETERAN, I'M REMINDED OF THE WORDS OF CAPTAIN KAREN DOMAN KIMMEL. SO AT THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY, WHEN YOU SHOW UP, THEY GIVE YOU A BOOK AND YOUR JOB IS TO TRY TO LEARN EVERYTHING IN THAT BOOK. THE WRITING IS SMALL, THERE'S LOTS OF QUOTES, IT'S THE RANK STRUCTURE, IT'S PICTURES OF AIRPLANES. AND THEY WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, PAT'S QUOTE, GO, AND YOU'D HAVE TO DO THIS AND SAY, PAT'S QUOTE IS AS FOLLOWS, AND SAY IT. SO CAPTAIN KAREN DOORMAN'S KIMMEL'S QUOTE, WAS NEAR AND DEAR TO ME BECAUSE IT WAS THE ONLY FEMALE QUOTE IN THE BOOK, AND I THINK MAYBE THEY SAID WE SHOULD INCLUDE A FEMALE IN HERE. SO LET'S FIND ONE MAYBE. I DON'T KNOW. UM, BUT THE QUOTE IS POWERFUL AND SO DESERVED TO BE INCLUDED. AND SHE SPEAKS ABOUT THE WEIGHT AND MEANING OF THE MILITARY UNIFORM. AND SO THE QUOTE IS, WITHOUT A WORD, THIS UNIFORM ALSO WHISPERS OF FREEZING TROOPS, INJURED BODIES, AND AMERICANS LEFT FOREVER IN FOREIGN FIELDS. IT DOCUMENTS EVERY SERVICEMAN'S COURAGE WHO BY ACCEPTING THIS UNIFORM PROMISES THE ONE GIFT HE TRULY HAS TO GIVE HIS LIFE. I WEAR MY UNIFORM FOR THE HERITAGE AND SACRIFICE IT REPRESENTS AND MORE I WEAR MY UNIFORM WITH PRIDE FOR IT REPRESENTS THE GREATEST NATION OF FREE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. SO WHILE HER WORDS REFLECT THE LANGUAGE OF HER TIME TODAY, WE KNOW THAT WITHOUT A DOUBT, THIS UNIFORM DOCUMENTS EVERY SERVICE WOMAN'S COURAGE JUST AS DEEPLY. WE WEAR IT FOR THE SAME HERITAGE, THE SAME SACRIFICE, AND THE SAME LOVE OF OUR COUNTRY. SO TO THE WOMEN VETERANS HERE TODAY, [00:25:01] THE HONOREES, YOUR SERVICE MATTERS. YOUR SACRIFICES ARE SEEN, AND YOUR LEGACY IS WHAT ALLOWS THE NEXT GENERATION OF GIRLS IN TEXAS AND ACROSS THIS NATION TO KNOW THAT THEY TOO CAN DO ANYTHING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COLONEL. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AT THIS TIME LET'S RECOGNIZE NOT ONLY THE COLONEL, BUT THE REST OF OUR WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED OUR GREAT NATION. IF YOU'RE ABLE TO PLEASE STAND AND LET US RECOGNIZE YOU. LOOK AROUND THIS ROOM. THANK YOU DR. JONES, FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE RECOGNIZE ALL THE LADIES AND THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A CHAIR EMPTY HERE TODAY. AND THAT IS TO RECOGNIZE ALL OF THE, THE WOMEN VETERANS WHO ARE NO LONGER WITH US AND THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING IN SUFFERING IN SILENCE. WE MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO TAKE THOSE, UH, STEPS FORWARD. AND AGAIN, IF YOU'VE EVER GONE TO AN EVENT, YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT HAPPENED BEHIND THE SCENES. AND UH, I LIKE TO CLAIM DR. JONES IS ONE OF OUR OWN, UM, BECAUSE SHE'S AN ARMY OF ONE, BUT SHE IS A PROUD MARINE. I KNOW SHE'S A DEVIL DOG. THAT'S RIGHT. GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. SHE DOESN'T LIKE YOU MAY GIVE IT TO HER. AND THAT IS THE QUIETEST I'VE EVER HEARD MARINES IN A ROOM BEFORE. THERE WE GO. DEAR LORD. ALL RIGHT. UM, AND WE WANNA THANK OUR SPONSORS AT THIS TIME. SO RJY GROUP, THE VFW POST 87 90 COMMANDER, I SAW YOU BACK THERE. AND THE AUXILIARY, UH, AMERICAN LEGION POST 77, POST 6, 5 4. DIGNITY. DIGNITY, MEMORIAL. MEMORIAL, SCI, JAY, AND LORI KOIC, HE COULDN'T MAKE IT. I'M ACROSS ALL THE HIPAA LINES, UH, BECAUSE HE'S GOT HIS HIP REPLACED. IT'S PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE, BUT NOW HE CAN JUMP OVER SEMI TALL BUILDINGS. JUST GOTTA GET THAT OTHER HIP IN THERE. IT IS JUST GONNA WOBBLE. UH, GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY, GCUI SAW YOU, UH, GE AND GALS HERE. THE LAW OFFICE OF HOLLAND JONES, ESQUIRE. I THINK IF I EVER CHANGED MY NAME, I'M GONNA PUT THAT COMMA ESQUIRE ON THERE 'CAUSE IT JUST LOOKS GRAY. RIGHT? UH, GAME CHANGER LOGISTICS AND CONSULTING LLC. AND AS WE BRING UP, UH, CITY OF HOUSTON COUNCIL MEMBER TWILA CARTER, SHE'S GONNA BE BEGIN HER PRESENTATION AND GO THROUGH THE HONOREES. UM, I, I WANT YOU TO, AGAIN, JUST TO, TO PAUSE AND, AND TAKE A LOOK AROUND THE ROOM. SOME OF YOU CAME IN ALONE. WE DON'T WANT YOU TO LEAVE ALONE. WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU CONNECT WITH SOMEBODY. MS. TWILA, IF YOU WOULD, GO AHEAD. UH, COME ON UP. BECAUSE I LOVE IT WHEN OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, UM, SUPPORT OUR MILITARY AND OUR VETERANS. BUT IT MEANS SO MUCH MORE TO ME WHEN THEY'RE ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY FIGHTING FOR, UH, THOSE, UH, WHO HAVE SERVED. OKAY, COME ON UP. YOU GOT ME LOST HERE BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHAT I THOUGHT WAS ON THE PROGRAM. WE'VE GOT, WE'VE GOTTA CHANGE, WHICH IS FINE. SO WHAT, WE'RE GONNA ROLL WITH IT. WHAT WE GOT. SEAN, DID YOU COMING UP? WHO'S COMING UP COMING? WELL, COME ON UP. . WE KNOW ME. SHE'S COMING UP AND I'M STAYING DOWN HERE. OKAY, GOT IT. ALRIGHT. DOLA MA MORRIS WAS BORN IN COSTA RICA BECOMING A UNITED STATES CITIZEN ON OCTOBER 21ST, 1971. SHE SERVED IN UNITED STATES AIR FORCE FROM 1969 TO 1972 AS A STILL PHOTOGRAPHY LAB SPECIALIST. DURING THE VIETNAM WAR ERA, SHE BECAME A US CITIZEN. WHILE ON ACTIVE DUTY IN ADVANCE TO THE RANK OF E FOUR SERGEANT BEFORE RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE. HER SERVICE INCLUDED MILITARY PHOTOGRAPHY AND DOCUMENTATION AND PROUDLY SERVED ALONG HER HUSBAND, WHO ALSO WORKED IN THE MILITARY PHOTOGRAPHY. THROUGHOUT HER SERVICE, SHE EARNED SER SEVERAL MILITARY DECORATIONS AND DISTINCTIONS, RECOGNIZING HER DEDICATION AND FAITHFUL SERVICE TO THE NATION. HER CAREER REFLECTS DEDICATION AND PERSEVERANCE DURING A PIVOTAL PERIOD IN AMERICAN HISTORY. DOLA MORRIS WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM ELGIN ELLIN AIR FORCE BASE ON NOVEMBER, NOVEMBER 20TH, 1972. HER LEGACY CONTINUES TO REPRESENT THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF IMMIGRANT WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. ALL RIGHT, [00:30:01] NEXT UP WE HAVE CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT THERESA EDLEY, ANOTHER AIRMAN ANYMORE AIR FORCE IN THE HOUSE. BIG A YES, WE ARE QUIET BUT MIGHTY . CHIEF EDLEY WAS BORN APRIL 15TH, 1957. IT CHIEF JOINED THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE IN 1975 AS A VOICE PROCESSING SPECIALIST, A RUSSIAN LINGUIST. CAN YOU IMAGINE HAVING TO TAKE A TEST FOR RUSSIAN IN THE AIR FORCE THAT LETS YOU KNOW BRAINS AND BEAUTY? RIGHT? CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT IS THE TOP 1% OF ENLISTED PERSONNEL. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, A CHIEF IS A E NINE, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST RANK THAT YOU CAN EARN AS AN ENLISTED MEMBER IN THE MILITARY, SHE SERVED ALONGSIDE HER HUSBAND, WHO WAS ALSO AN AIR FORCE VETERAN. SHE LED LARGE SCALE ENLISTED PERSONNEL PROGRAMS, ADVISED SENIOR MILITARY LEADERS AND WAS SELECTED AS SENIOR NON-COMMISSION OFFICER OF THE YEAR. FOLLOWING HER RETIREMENT, SHE CONTINUED, I'M SORRY, FOLLOWING HER RETIREMENT, SHE SUPPORTED THE DEFENSE COMMUNITY AS A CONTRACTOR FOR OVER TWO DECADES. SO EVEN AFTER SERVING AS A CHIEF, SHE CONTINUED TO SERVE OUR NATION FOR TWO DECADES. VERY IMPRESSIVE. SHE CONTINUES TO SERVE VETERANS THROUGH MENTORSHIP AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU SO MUCH. CHIEF LEY. THE BEST SOLDIERS ARE HERE. DON'T GO ARMY. WHO, THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. SPEC. SETTLE DOWN. SETTLE DOWN. . THAT IS THE NOISE. WE GONNA BE HERE ALL DAY. SPECIALIST FOURTH CLASS IRENE INFANTE IS AN ARM US ARMY VETERAN WHO SERVED FROM 1980 TO 1983 AS A MILITARY POLICE OFFICER, INCLUDING ASSIGNMENTS IN WASHINGTON DC FORT MYERS, FORT MCNAIR, AND THE PENTAGON. SHE LATER SERVED AS A GS 13 SUPERVISORY OFFICER WITH CUSTOMS AND BORDER PATROL. A DEDICATED ADVOCATE FOR VETERANS. MS. IRENE CONTINUES TO SERVE THROUGH VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP WITH THE HOUSTON VETERAN ADMINISTRATION SERVICES OF NO VETERAN EYES ALONE. THE PROGRAM ITSELF HAS BEEN AMAZING. THE AMERICAN LEGION, THE AMERICAN GI FORUM, VFW AUXILIARY AND SO SISTER. SO A NONPROFIT SUPPORTING HOSPITALIZED VETERANS. SHE ALSO PROVIDES CLOTHING, HYGIENE ITEMS AND FOOD ASSISTANCE TO THE UNHOUSED AND LOW INCOME VETERANS THROUGHOUT THE CENTRAL TEXAS REGION. SHE EXEMPLIFIES A LONG COMMITMENT TO SERVICE AND ENSURING NO VETERAN IS FORGOTTEN. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, SPECIALIST FOURTH. MS. IRENE INFANTE, RETIRED LIEUTENANT COLONEL DR. QUINELLA CROWLEY PHD HONORABLY SERVED 29 YEARS IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY, CONTINUING THE LEGACY OF SERVICE OF HER MOTHER AND FATHER WHO BOTH SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES. SHE JOINED THE ARMY RESERVE AT AGE 17 AND SPENT 12 YEARS IN THE ARMY RESERVES AS AN ENGINEER OFFICER BEFORE TAKING A SECOND COMMISSION AS AN ACTIVE DUTY SOCIAL WORKER IN THE ARMY MEDICAL SERVICE CORPS. SHE CURRENTLY SERVES AS A CHIEF OF SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT AT THE MICHAEL E DEBA, EVA MEDICAL CENTER WHERE SHE HAS EXPANDED SERVICES SUPPORTING THOUSANDS OF VETERANS. SHE CONTINUES HER WORK AS A CLINICIAN LEADER AND ADVOCATE FOCUSED ON VETERANS FAMILIES AND WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND AS A MENTOR TO SOCIAL WORKERS AT THE VA. AND THAT ASPIRE TO BE SOCIAL WORKERS. DR. NDOLA CROWLEY. SO I HAVE THE DISTINCT PLEASURE AND THE HONOR OF BRINGING UP RETIRED SERGEANT MAJOR ANGELA MANNA, RETIRED SERGEANT MAJOR ANGELA MANNA WAS BORN AND RAISED IN HONOLULU, HAWAII. [00:35:01] SHE CONTINUED HER FAMILY'S TRADITION OF MILITARY SERVANTS FOLLOWING THE FOOTSTEPS OF HER FATHER WHO SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS AND HER MOTHER WHO SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. HER CAREER CONCLUDED ROSE AS ADMINISTRATOR, DRILL INSTRUCTOR, RANGE COACH OFFICER, CANDIDATE SCHOOL INSTRUCTOR. AND SHE SERVED ON MULTIPLE DEPLOYMENTS IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. SHE ALSO SERVED NUMEROUS DOMESTIC AND OVERSEAS ASSIGNMENTS. HER PERSONAL DECORATIONS INCLUDE THE LEGION OF MERIT WITH ONE GOLD STAR, THE MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL WITH TWO GOLD STARS, THE NAVY, A COMBINATION MEDAL WITH TWO GOLD STARS, THE NAVY MARINE CORPS ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL WITH TWO GOLD GOLD STARS. AND AFTER BREAKING MANY BARRIERS IN 2017, SHE RETIRED AS THE SERGEANT MAJOR. I SAID THE SERGEANT MAJOR OF WHAT WE KNOW AS MCRD, PARIS ISLAND. SHE WAS A HEAD WOMAN IN CHARGE, Y'ALL AND THE MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT, PARIS ISLAND IS WHERE SHE ENDED HER CAREER SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING 30 YEARS OF HONORABLE SERVICE. AND SINCE HER RETIREMENT, SHE HAS REMAINED ACTIVE IN VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AND YOUTH MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS. I PRESENTED YOUR RETIRED STARTING MAJOR ANGELA MANUS. ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL OF OUR HONOREES. AND AS WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM SENATOR BORIS MILES' OFFICE, UH, CERTIFICATES FROM CONGRESSMAN, UH, LEY AND COUNCILWOMAN TWILA CARTER, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY BACK TO THE STAGE. UH, ALSO WANT TO HAVE SPECIAL THANKS TO STAY TUNED FOR VETS, BABY CAKES, COUTURE BAKERY SUITES FOR THE STREETS, CATERING, WHAT COOL NAMES RIGHT? UH, AND THE CHAMBERS ORCHESTRA AND VIOLIN SERVICES. THAT WAS YOUR CUE. OH, I THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA GIMME A LITTLE SOMETHING. UH, NEXT TIME. NEXT TIME I GET YOU. BUT YOU GUYS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THE HOUSTON ASTROS FOUNDATION VOLUNTEERS, IF YOU DIDN'T SEE THEM WEARING THE ORANGE, THEY GO DO SO MANY VETERAN ACTIVITIES AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ASK AND THEY'RE THERE TO SERVE. PLEASE GIVE THEM ALL A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. ELECTED OFFICIALS, PLEASE COME ON UP TO PRESENT YOUR CERTIFICATES AND AWARDS. OR YOU'LL HAVE TO SEE ME SING AND DANCE. AND DUE TO BUDGET CUTS, YOU ONLY GET ONE . ALTHOUGH WE HAVE BEEN DOING DANCE CLASSES AT STAY TUNED FOR VETS. WHEW, MAN. TWO LEFT FEET FOR SURE. THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. I WAS JUST TELLING, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM THAT OFTEN WHEN IT COMES TO OUR MILITARY, MY PRIDE COMES FROM MY HEART STRAIGHT OUT OF MY EYES. I AM SO PROUD TO BE IN ANY WAY PART OF SOMETHING TO HONOR OUR MILITARY, WHETHER MEN OR WOMEN. BUT TODAY, A VERY SPECIAL DAY. UH, CERTAINLY THE RECOGNITION OF WOMEN'S VETERANS DAY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS MAKES ME SO PROUD, EVEN PROUDER TO BE A TEXAN. MY GRANDFATHER WAS A WORLD WAR II NAVY CV AND MY PRIDE IN OUR MILITARY WAS INSTILLED IN ME FROM AS A CHILD. AND SO I'M SO PROUD TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE YOU ALL TODAY IN JUST A VERY SMALL WAY. WE CAN NEVER THANK YOU ENOUGH. I HAVE SOME CERTIFICATES FROM MY OFFICE. UM, YOUR BEAUTIFUL AWARDS. I LOVE THOSE. DR. JONES. GREAT JOB. GREAT JOB. UM, IN, IN RECOGNITION FOR 2026, TEXAS WOMEN'S VETERANS DAY, SERGEANT DOLA MORRIS, Y'ALL CAN JUST ALL COME UP. COME ON UP. LEMME TAKE A GROUP SHOT. COME UP. SPECIALIST. FOURTH CLASS IRENE IN INFIN. IS THAT IT? INFINITE IN INFANTE. SORRY. I CAN TAKE A GROUP SHOT WITH Y'ALL. OKAY. RAMP. YES MA'AM. YEAH, DO 'EM THIS WAY. OH, THAT'S WRONG. CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT THERESA OEL. . YOU DO NEED THE RAMP. I GOT THAT RAMP. THANK YOU SO MUCH. LIEUTENANT COLONEL NDOLA CROWLEY, DR. CROWLEY. I GOT THAT. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, SERGEANT MAJOR ANGELA MANNESS AT ABSOLUTELY . YEAH. TAKE, LEAVE IT TO THE TAKE A [00:40:12] THANK YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU. AND NOW HELP ME WELCOME TO THE LECTERN AND PODIUM. PODIUM. 'CAUSE YOU STAND ON IT. LEMME GET THERE. UH, REPRESENTATIVE RON REYNOLDS FROM TEXAS. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. IT IS GOOD TO SEE MAYOR PRO TEM MARTHA CASSICK STADIUM COUNCILWOMAN. IT'S GOOD TO SEE EVERYONE HERE. I'M SUPER EXCITED TO BE HERE ON THIS SUSPICIOUS OCCASION. I WANT TO JUST TELL YOU, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I SALUTE OUR WOMEN VETERANS WHO HAVE MADE SO MANY VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS STATE, TO THIS COUNTRY, REALLY TO THIS WORLD. UH, AND I WANT TO THANK, UH, DR. JONES FOR REALLY, UH, GIVING ME SUCH GREAT INSIGHT INTO THE, THE HISTORY OF WOMEN VETERANS DAY. DR. JONES. UH, WHEN I SERVED ON THE, UM, DEFENSE AND VETERAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE IN THE TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SHE REALLY SCHOOLED ME. SHE LITERALLY SCHOOLED ME. UH, AND IT WAS BECAUSE OF HER INSIGHT, UH, THAT I REALLY BECAME AWARE OF NOT JUST THE CONTRIBUTIONS, BUT MANY OF THE, THE CHALLENGES IN TERMS OF HOMELESSNESS, IN TERMS OF, UH, THE MENTAL TRAUMA AND SUICIDE. UH, AND, AND WE DID A LOT OF WORK TOGETHER. IN FACT, I'M SO PROUD THAT I HELPED TO HOST AND SPONSOR THE FIRST, UH, WOMEN VETERANS DAY AT THE CAPITOL. UH, AND WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER. AND I, IT'S A GOAL OF HERS THAT WE'RE GONNA GET THAT, THAT THAT MONUMENT, WE'RE GONNA RIGHT, DR. JONES, WE'RE GONNA DO THAT, UH, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MEMORIALIZE THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS THAT OUR WOMEN HAVE MADE IN OUR ARMED FORCES. FAR TOO OFTEN WOMEN HAVE BEEN THE BEDROCK AND THE FOUNDATION, AND THEY HAVE BEEN EITHER OVERLOOKED FOR PROMOTIONS OR RECOGNITION. AND SO IT'S A DAY THAT WE PAUSE TO REFLECT ON WHERE WE'VE BEEN AND THEN HOW FAR IN MANY REGARDS WE STILL HAVE TO GO TO REACH THAT PARODY. SO I'M SO EXCITED TODAY TO BE HERE AND CELEBRATE SOME AMAZING, AMAZING VETERANS. UH, AND SO I'M GONNA, UM, BRING YOU UP AGAIN. SO YOU'RE GONNA GET YOUR STEPS IN TODAY. UH, I WANNA CALL OUT THESE IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER, BUT SERGEANT MAJOR ANGELA MANUS, GET IT, GET, COME ON BACK UP HERE. AND Y'ALL KEEP THOSE CLAPS GOING. THANK YOU. YES, WE HAVE, UH, LIEUTENANT COLONEL CROWLEY, COME ON UP. AND I AM SO PROUD THAT THE STATE OF TEXAS, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, STILL IS THE HOME OF THE MOST FEMALE VETERANS IN THE NATION. IS THAT CORRECT? YES. YES. WE'RE GONNA BRAG ABOUT THAT. CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT THERESA, COME ON UP HERE. BACK UP HERE. SPECIALIST FOURTH CLASS, IRENE, COME ON BACK UP HERE. AND LAST, BUT LY NOT LEAST, UH, SERGEANT MORRIS, COME ON BACK UP HERE. AND AS THEY COME UP, I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT THE STATE OF TEXAS IS SO PROUD OF YOUR SACRIFICE AND SERVICE TO OUR STATE AND OUR NATION. AND I'M, AGAIN, COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT WE AS A STATE CONTINUE TO HAVE EVERY RESOURCE AVAILABLE TO YOU WHEN YOU NEED IT. UH, ONE OF THE, THE THINGS THAT I THINK THAT WE SHOULD NEVER, EVER TAKE FOR GRANTED, THE SACRIFICES THAT ARE MADE MANY PEOPLE CAMPAIGN ON, HEY, WE'RE GONNA DO THIS FOR VETERANS, AND THEN WHEN WE HAVE TO DELIVER, SOMETIMES WE DON'T ALWAYS MEET OUR OBLIGATION. I'LL NEVER FORGET, THERE WAS SOME YEARS AGO WHERE WE WERE LOOKING TO END, UH, THE PROGRAM THAT FUNDED, UH, VETERANS, CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, PAYING FOR COLLEGE. AND, AND I, I MADE SURE THAT WE FOUGHT TO KEEP THOSE THINGS IN PLACE. AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO DO THAT FIRST TIME HOMEOWNERS ASSISTANCE, UH, BECAUSE MOST OF THE RESOURCES COMES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE VA. BUT THERE ARE SO MANY RESOURCES THAT OUR STATE HAS TO OFFER. AND I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO WORK WITH PEOPLE LIKE YOU ALL DR. JONES [00:45:01] AND OTHERS, TO MAKE SURE THAT TEXAS CONTINUES TO BE THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR VETERANS. SO AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS. HAPPY FEMALE WOMEN, VETERANS DAY, AND GOD BLESS YOU AND GOD BLESS AMERICA. I GOTTA BRAG ON YOU ALL. SOMEBODY HAS TO GIVE THIS TO ME. . THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU, SIR. YES, YES, YES. AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE, UH, YOLANDA JONES, IF YOU WOULD, UH, COME UP ON STAGE. I'M GONNA HAVE THESE LADIES STAY ON STAGE JUST IN CASE. JUST IN CASE. JUST SAY GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M GONNA NEED Y'ALL TO DO BETTER THAN THAT. GOOD AFTERNOON. AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS YOLANDA JONES. I'M THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR HOUSE DISTRICT 1 47. IN THE EVENT YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU'RE IN HOUSE DISTRICT 1 47. SO WELCOME. I ALSO AM THE CHILD OF A VETERAN OF A MARINE WHO, WHO DID NOT COME BACK, THE NIECE OF A MARINE, UM, WHO DID NOT COME BACK THE SAME. AND I WILL SAY, UH, THAT SUPPORTING VETERANS IS SUPER PERSONAL TO ME, UH, BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY THE MARINES OR THE THE VA DIDN'T DO WELL BY MY DAD AND MY UNCLE. AND THEY BOTH CAME BACK FROM VIETNAM AND BOTH KILLED THEMSELVES, WHICH IS WHY I MAKE SURE THAT I ALWAYS VOTE FOR THINGS THAT SUPPORT THE US ARMED SERVICES. AND WHY. WHEN I WAS ON CITY COUNCIL AND WAS THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, I MADE SURE THAT I HELPED DIRECT MONEY TO PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE MILITARY. WHICH LEADS ME TO MY NEXT, UH, THING THAT I WANT TO SAY. I TOO, I TOO HAVE SOME CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION FROM THE STATE TO GIVE TO YOU OUTSTANDING WOMEN BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S VERY MALE DOMINATED AND I KNOW YOU HAVE TO FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT TO BE THERE. AND I KNOW SOME PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS RESPECT YOU, BUT LET ME BE CLEAR, I'LL ALWAYS RESPECT YOU. SO I HAVE, LET ME, I ALSO KNOW, LET ME ALSO SAY THIS, THAT THE REASON THAT WE HAVE OUR FREEDOMS IS BECAUSE OF THE ARMED SERVICES. AND THE WOMEN BEHIND ME ARE PRIME EXAMPLES OF WHY THE UNITED STATES MILITARY IS ONE OF THE STRONGEST MILITARIES IN THE WORLD. AND SO I WILL NOT READ, UH, ALL OF THE CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION FROM THE STATE. UM, BUT I WILL PRESENT EACH OF YOU. I WILL READ ONE AND I WILL PRESENT THE REST OF YOU WITH YOURS BECAUSE FOR THE MOST PART, THEY SAY THE SAME THING. AND THEN I WANT TO PIN YOU WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS BECAUSE I THINK THAT THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE ARE PROUD THAT YOU LIVE IN TEXAS. SO, UM, THIS CERTIFICATE OF LEGISLATIVE RECOGNITION IS PRESENTED TO SERGEANT MAJOR ANGELA. IS IT MANIS? YES, MA'AM. MANIS PHONICS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, UH, IS IMPORTANT. , UH, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RETIRED ON THE OCCASION OF THE RECOGNITION AS THE 20 22, 20 26 TEXAS WOMEN VETERANS DAY HONOREE. WHEREAS SERGEANT MAJOR ANGELA MANIS IS BEING RECOGNIZED AS A 2026 TEXAS WOMEN'S VETERANS DAY HONOREE FOR HER HONORABLE SERVICE, DISTINGUISHED SACRIFICE, AND ENDURING COMMITMENT TO OUR COUNTRY AND COMMUNITIES. AND WHEREAS THROUGH HER SERVICE IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, SERGEANT MAJOR ANGELA MANIS DEMONSTRATED COURAGE, DISCIPLINE, LEADERSHIP, AND DEDICATION TO THE VALUES OF DUTY, CIVICS, AND PUBLIC SERVICE. AND WHEREAS TEXAS WOMEN VETERANS DAY PROVIDES A WORTHWHILE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE WOMEN VETERANS WHO SERVICE HAS STRENGTHENED OUR ARMED FORCES, PROTECTED OUR FREEDOMS AND INSPIRED COMMUNITIES ACROSS TEXAS. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT ON BEHALF OF THE CONSTITUENTS OF TEXAS HOUSE DISTRICT 1 47 STATE REPRESENTATIVE YOLANDA JOE JONES, THAT WOULD BE ME, EXTENDS THE SINCEREST APPRECIATION. CONGRATULATIONS AND RESPECT TO SERGEANT MAJOR ANGELA MANIS FOR HER SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY AND HER RECOGNITION AS A 2026 TEXAS WOMEN VETERANS DAY HONOREE. THEREFORE, SERGEANT MAJOR ANGELA MANIS IS WORTHY OF THE RESPECT, ADMIRATION, AND COMMENDATION OF ALL OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF TEXAS SIGNED TODAY. SO I'M GOING TO PRESENT YOU WITH YOUR CERTIFICATE AND THEN I'M GOING TO PIN YOU AND THEN I'M GOING TO PROCEED TO DO THAT WITH ALL OF YOU BECAUSE I'M VERY HONORED TO BE ON THIS STAGE WITH YOU. LIEUTENANT COLONEL. LIEUTENANT COLONEL. LIEUTENANT [00:50:01] COLONEL CLARK. YES. ALRIGHT. BUT I AM GOING TO SAY YOUR NAME. LIEUTENANT COLONEL NDOLA. CROWLEY. IS THAT IT? THERE YOU GO. THAT'S YOURS. HOLD ON. YOU'RE VERY WELCOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOU. SERVICE CHIEF, MASTER SERGEANT. THAT'S ME. CHIEF. THEY KNOW THEIR TITLES, Y'ALL. THAT'S RIGHT. WE WORK VERY HARD FOR THESE TITLES. RESPECT THE NAME. YES MA'AM. RESPECT WITH A K I'M JUST KIDDING. . CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT THERESA LEY. OKAY. THAT IS NOT FUN, BUT THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU PLEASE. YOU DON'T MIND. SORRY. SPECIALIST FOURTH CLASS. IRENE INFANTE. YES. YOU SAID THAT TO ME. THIS IS YOURS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YES. YOU WHAT? I'LL RIGHT T TEXAS TRUE TEXAN. FIFTH GENERATION. FIFTH GENERATION. THAT'S AWESOME. THAT ROCKS. AND LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, SERGEANT DARLA MORRIS. THAT WAS NICE AND EASY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR RECOGNIZING STRONG WOMEN. IT'S IMPORTANT. AND TO ANYONE WHO THINKS THAT WOMEN DON'T DESERVE IN THE MILITARY. THINK AGAIN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I I SHOULD HAVE DONE THAT. I JUST, I DON'T BITE, I PROMISE. IS THAT IT? THANK OH, HOLD UP SOME PEOPLE OVER HERE. . IS THAT IT? THANK YOU SO MUCH. AS THE STAY TUNED FOR VETS TEAM MAKES THEIR WAY TO THE PODIUM, THIS IS A SPECIAL TIME FOR ME BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE THE CHAMBER'S ORCHESTRA AND VIOLIN SERVICES. OH, I THOUGHT WE WERE THERE. I LOOKED, I GAVE YOU THE CUE. I LOOKED OFF. OH, THAT WAS, IT WAS ME. THAT WAS ME. WELL, WE'LL GET THE NEXT ONE. UM, THIS IS A TIME WHERE I GET TO BRAG ON TWO, UM, AMAZING WOMEN VETERANS THAT HAVE DONE, UH, NOT ONLY GREAT THINGS IN UNIFORM, BUT ALSO OUTTA UNIFORM IN THE COMMUNITY AS DR. JONES MAKES HER WAY TO THE STAGE. UH, THIS NEXT AWARD COULD BE NAMED FOR A NUMBER OF PROMINENT WOMEN THAT HAVE SERVED IN THE MILITARY AND THOSE WHO HAVE CHOSEN TO SERVE AFTERWARDS. IT IS NAMED THE DR. LASANDRA JONES LEADERSHIP AWARD FOR WOMEN IN HONOR OF SOMEONE WHO CONTINUES TO CHAMPION WOMEN VETERANS AND FIGHT FOR ALL WOMENS AND ALL VETERANS IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA. WE RECEIVED OVER 50 NOMINATIONS AND THIS YEAR WE'RE PROUD TO HONOR ARMY VETERAN JABRE CRUMP AS THE 20 20 26 RECIPIENT OF THIS AWARD. HERE WE GO. AND HERE IT IS. ALL RIGHT. DR. JONES PRESENT RIGHT THERE. SOMEBODY PLEASE TAKE A PICTURE BECAUSE I YEAH. AND GIVE THAT ONE TO ME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE THAT. AND YOU KNOW ME, I LOVE OUR SPONSORS. IF YOU'VE NOT EATEN AT RODEO GOAT, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? UH, IT'S DOWNTOWN HOUSTON. NOT ONLY DOES IT LOOK LIKE THE BEST BURGER, IT TASTES PRETTY AWESOME. THAT IS FOR MR. BRILL. AND THEN DR. JONES, UH, IF YOU'VE, UH, NEVER BEEN TO KENNY AND ZIGGY'S YEAH. WHO'S BEEN THERE BEFORE. OH, YOU KNOW, ONE SANDWICH WILL FEED FOUR PEOPLE. AND SO THERE'S A CERTIFICATE FOR YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. BROWN. HELLO. HELLO. UM, GOOD E GOOD E GOOD AFTERNOON. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO CAME OUT AND GAVE THEIR TIME TODAY. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE TRAILBLAZING, DR. JONES, 'CAUSE SHE'S SUCH AN INSPIRATION. UM, AND I WANT TO THANK OF COURSE, STAY TUNED FOR VETS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE AWESOME. [00:55:01] AND, UM, I WANNA THANK THE COMMUNITY. I WANNA THANK ALL THE PEOPLE THAT CAME OUT HERE THAT SUPPORTED ME, THAT SEES ME AND SEES THE WORK THAT I'M DOING IN THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOD BLESS. CONGRATULATIONS. WE ARE ROUNDING THE CORNER, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. WE'RE ALMOST THERE FOR REFRESHMENTS AND ALL KINDS OF FUN STUFF SO YOU CAN GET ON, UH, WITH YOUR DAY. WE, UM, ANYBODY ELSE TO, UH, TO THANK DR. JONES THAT IT'S, UH, SLID IN HERE LATER? SHE SAYS YES. SHE SAYS, WE HAVE OUR CERTIFICATE FROM CONGRESSMAN MCAFEE. HOW ARE THEY COMING UP OR ARE THEY GONNA DO IT AFTERWARDS? WE'RE JUST GONNA MENTION IT. WE'RE JUST GONNA RIDE RIGHT ALONG. THE ONLY OTHER THING THE ADMIN NOTE IS THAT I ASK IS THAT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, UH, GENTLEMEN, PLEASE LET ALL THE LADIES, UH, GO FIRST IN THE REFRESHMENT LINE. AND THEN RIGHT AFTER WE CONCLUDE, AFTER WE HEAR TAPS FROM NICK, UH, ASKING ALL THE LADIES THAT HAVE SERVED TO PLEASE LINE UP IN FRONT, UM, WE'LL TAKE A GROUP PICTURE WITH JUST YOU AND THEN WE CAN DO ONE WITH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS UP THERE AS WELL. WE ARE REALLY PROUD, UH, OF OUR, WHEN I SAY WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, THE BENEFITS ARE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL. WE HAVE A BRAND NEW VA DIRECTOR. HE'S HERE WITH HIS TEAM AND THEY'RE HERE TO LISTEN. AND SO WHEN AS WE GET REFRESHMENTS, THIS IS YOUR TIME TO GO TO YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, VOICE YOUR CONCERNS, THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE, BUT ALSO TALK TO THE, UH, THE VA TEAM BECAUSE THEY WANT TO PUT MORE PROGRAMS INTO THE COMMUNITY. I KNOW WE ALL KNOW THE NUMBER ONE QUESTION WE'RE GONNA ASK THE VA IS WHAT? PARKING. RIGHT. IT'S HAPPENING. IT'S WORKING. THEY'RE WORKING ON IT. UH, WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA GET THERE. AS WE CLOSE TODAY'S CELEBRATION, I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO REFLECT ON JUST HOW FAR WOMEN VETERANS HAVE COME AND HOW MUCH THEY'VE CONTRIBUTED TO THE STRENGTH OF OUR NATION FROM SERVING IN SECRECY INTO SPECIAL GROUPS LIKE THE WAX, THE WAVES, THE WAPS, AND OUR ARMED FORCES. WOMEN HAVE CONTINUED TO KNOCK DOWN BARRIERS AND SHATTER GLASS SEATING CEILINGS. EACH OF THESE MILESTONES HAPPEN BECAUSE COURAGEOUS WOMEN STEPPED FORWARD, CHALLENGE EXPECTATIONS, AND DEMONSTRATED EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE TO SOMETHING GREATER THAN THEMSELVES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. AND NOW PLEASE RISE IF YOU ARE ABLE AS WE CONCLUDE THE CEREMONY. THANK YOU NICK, FOR PLAYING US, UH, TO THE END AND AS THE ORCHESTRA GETS READY, UH, TO PLAY US INTO THE NEXT SECTION OF OUR CEREMONY TODAY. ON BEHALF OF, STAY TUNED FOR VETS THE CITY OF HOUSTON, MAY GOD BLESS OUR WOMEN VETERANS. MAY GOD BLESS THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THIS CONCLUDES OUR FORMAL PORTION OF THE PROGRAM. * 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.