2016 Veterans Day Ceremony honors Maverick County Veterans in Patriotic Event
By: Miguel Munoz, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2016
The Eagle Pass, Texas Veterans of Foreign Wars hosted the November 11, 2016 Maverick County Veterans Day at the Maverick County Lake Veterans Memorial Park to celebrate the millions of men and women who have served the United States Armed Forces, including those whom paid the ultimate sacrifice with their lives, since the founding of the United States of America in 1776.
Retired U.S. Army veteran Isabel Metzler presided as the Mistress of Ceremony of the 2016 Veterans Day Ceremony. Metzler introduced VFW Chaplain Rogelio Reyna who presented the invocation. Metzler then introduced the Eagle Pass C. C. Winn High School 92nd Air Force Junior Reserve Officers Training Cadets (AFJROTC) who presented and raised the U.S. Flag on the flag pole while U. S. Navy retired veteran Sammy Lerma played the flag’s honors with his trumpet before over 500 persons in attendance.
The thundering Eagle Pass C. C. Winn High School Band entertained the large audience before, during, and after the Veterans Day Ceremony with a medley of U.S. Military music selections to the delight of the patriotic audience.
Metzler introduced many Maverick County veterans and public officials in attendance and thanked them for their service and attendance at the Veterans Day Ceremony.
The keynote speaker was Jon Arnold, Military Affairs Representative for Congressman Will Hurd, who spoke about duty, honor, and country of all U.S. Veterans. Arnold related a heroic incident by a U.S. Army Medic named Adam Jensen who provided Arnold medical services under fire while serving in the Iraq War in 2006 as representative of the dedicated service and valor of all U.S. Veterans.
VFW Post Commander Anthony Ramirez presented several awards and commendations to local U.S. Veterans for their extraordinary and unselfish service to U.S. Veterans in Maverick County, including U.S. Army Retired Veteran Ruben Salazar, Andres Beattie, Julio Solis, Ricardo Chavarria, and Ismael Castillo. Mr. Rodolfo Barrera accepted a commendation on behalf of IBC Bank.
Metzler told the audience that everyone should thank and appreciate all U.S. Veterans and welcome and support them in the community as they have served the United States and many have sustained injuries while others have sacrificed their lives to fight for democracy and the American values we cherish and celebrate.
The VFW Color Guard presented a 21 gun salute to all Maverick County Veterans while Sammy Lerma played “Taps” in honor of all fellow comrades who fell in combat or have departed us from life.
The C. C. Winn 92nd AFJROTC sang boot camp songs in honor of all veterans while the C. C. Winn Thundering Band played a beautiful medley of U.S. Military music as well as the C. C. Winn High School Fight Song in honor of all veterans.
Many Maverick County Veterans and their families and loved ones attended the 2016 Veterans Day Ceremony to celebrate their service to the United States and honor their fellow comrades in service as well.
Mexican Consulate Ismael Naveja Macias attended the Veterans Day Ceremony to pay his country’s respect and honor to U.S. Veterans, including many Mexican and Mexican-American citizens who bravely represented the United States in all military branches.
The November 11, 2016 Veterans Day Ceremony was a great success and very patriotic event enjoyed by everyone.
