Thursday's Internet Edition, September 09, 2010.
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- The fabric of Texas’ rich history is woven with legendary stories of sacrifice and remarkable acts of valor. From the battle of the Alamo, when Colonel William Barret Travis and his men stood their ground, declaring “no retreat, no surrender” and sacrificed all for the freedom of their nation – to the young men and women who are laying down their lives on foreign battlefields today – generation after generation, our state’s men and women have exhibited the indomitable Texas spirit of service and patriotism.
Stretching back to the American Indian Wars, 70 Texans have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for their heroic service. And many of them died earning that distinction.
During World War II, a young B-24 pilot from Fort Worth named Horace Carswell was flying a single-craft mission to take out a convoy of Japanese ships in the South China Sea. After scoring direct hits on the target, Major Carswell’s aircraft was badly damaged. Through skillful flying, he kept the staggering bomber in the air long enough to make it to land so his crew could safely parachute onto the Chinese shore. Major Carswell and his copilot were killed in the crash landing, but through his courageous actions, the rest of his crew survived. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, and Carswell Air Force Base outside of Fort Worth was named in his honor.
Another Texan who made an indelible mark on our nation’s history is Master Sergeant Roy Benavidez, a daring and fearless soldier in Vietnam from Cuero. Sergeant Benavidez and his soldiers were ambushed on a secret mission in Cambodia, and despite suffering a broken jaw, sustaining 37 bullet wounds, and being stabbed with a bayonet, he exposed himself repeatedly to enemy fire and carried gravely wounded soldiers in his arms to safety. He was so badly maimed that his commander nominated him for a Distinguished Service Cross award because the Army was afraid he wouldn’t survive long enough for the extensive Medal of Honor process to be completed. But he did survive, and was subsequently awarded the Medal of Honor. MSG Benavidez made service to his country his life’s work. A bust of MSG Benavidez is on display at the United States Military Academy at West Point, where it serves as a tribute to his life and an inspiration to future leaders.
Preserving these legacies is critical, because, as President Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”
Today, a new generation of patriots is serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. Like many before them, some are paying for our freedom with their lives. In the early days of the war in Iraq, a 23-year-old Texan named James Kiehl was killed when his convoy was ambushed near al Nasiriya. His remains were brought home to Comfort, Texas, and on the day of his funeral something remarkable happened. Hundreds of men, women, and children from across the community lined the streets to honor their hometown hero and show support for his family as the funeral procession wound its way through the small town. He was one of the first Texans to lay down his life in combat. To date, more than 400 Texans have died in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Many of today’s military heroes have not yet made it into the pages of history. But they are already solidifying a legacy of valorous service. Unlike many of the wars that were fought in previous generations, none of the men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan were drafted into service. Every single one of today’s soldiers stood and volunteered to go. If you ask one of our troops or the family of one of our fallen heroes why they volunteered, their responses are almost always rooted in patriotism and the desire to be a part of something greater than themselves.
Every day, I think of those Texans who have made the ultimate sacrifice. I think about the loved ones who miss them. It is fitting for our nation to pause and remember them on Memorial Day. But to truly honor their service, we must always cherish liberty, work to keep America free and strong, espouse the values for which our troops have fought and died, and pass down their memory to future generations.
Column One
By Dawn Simpson
As you know, we usually publish our Graduation issue on the last Thursday of May, which is also usually the week of Graduation. Well, this year of course is different since school goes through the first week of June and Graduation is on June 5th. We tossed around the idea of going ahead with it next week, but several things have helped us make the decision to wait until the issue of Thursday, June 4th.
One of the reasons is that they will not have the class rankings (Valedictorian, etc.) until next Tuesday or Wednesday and that’s cutting it too close to finish the paper and get it to the printer by 5:00 PM on Wednesday. Another reason is that the Awards of Excellence Banquet is not until Monday, June 1st, and we would not have the recipients of those awards in the Graduation issue, which wouldn’t seem right.
The other reason is perhaps a selfish one. We need a day off on Monday, Memorial Day! Of course we wouldn’t be able to take it off if we had one of the biggest issues to put together next week.
So look forward to our special issue celebrating our graduates on June 4th. If family or friends would like to put special congrats ads in for their Senior, please get those to us by next Friday, May 29th, or at least no later than Monday, June 1st. How about some of those cute ads with baby pictures and senior pictures. Call us at 283-2003 for more information.
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The results of the recent TAKS testing have still not been officially released, but I want to share one really bright spot of positive news. Anna Luna teaches 8th grade Social Studies. Her students had 100% passing on the Social Studies test! And not only that, but 15 of them were commended on the test. Hats off to you, Ms. Luna, and to your students as well!
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If you are a lady, young or old, and you want to play golf (or even interested in finding out if you’d enjoy the game) listen up! You are encouraged to meet at the golf course on Monday at 7:30 pm and bring your clubs. For more information about this call Gilda Morales at 283-7246.
There’s more than one reason to begin playing the game of golf. The exercise is great and the setting for our small golf course is absolutely beautiful. A nice combination!
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There have been several articles in recent weeks about the Summer Youth Work Program, offered through Workforce Solutions Upper Rio Grande Development. Robert Morales, the local program coordinator, has been doing an excellent job introducing the program and gearing up for the beginning of this opportunity for youth ages 14-24 to find employment.
We receive the publication from the Upper Rio Grande Workforce and I found in their most recent publication some really good advice to pass along to youth looking for summer employment (parents should take note as well).
According to Kim Zoller at Image Dynamics, 55% of another person’s perception of you is based on how you look. Making a positive first impression is critical because the initial encounter becomes the most memorable and determines future interactions.
When meeting an employer for the first time, it is important to put your best foot forward and consider your appearance. It does not matter if you are filling out an application at the employer’s worksite or if you are meeting the employer at a job fair, you need to dress for success.
Here are some of the most common inappropriate clothing items which you should avoid when meeting a prospective employer.... Cap, T-shirt, shorts, hoodie sweatshirt , pajama pants, a halter top, too short a skirt, sandals, wrinkled jeans, tennis shoes. So good luck with those summer jobs!
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What do you have planned for Memorial Day? Each year the local American Legion is faithful in holding some kind of memorial service and I’m grateful that they do. But this year it’s very special as you can read in a related story in this issue. Hope you will take time to come out as our community dedicates the new Veterans Memorial in front of the Museum. Let’s turn out as a grateful town and celebrate our freedom as Americans and those who gave so much in order that we can enjoy those freedoms.
Don’t forget to fly your flag on Monday. We’ll be flying ours from this weekend through July 4th. Let’s fill the town with red, white & blue!
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Thought for the Week.... “America - Home of the Free, because of the Brave!”
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
May 21st - Van Horn High School Sports Banquet is this evening at 6 p.m. at the Eagle Cafeteria. Members of the American Legion Post 508 are slated to meet this evening at 6:30 p.m. at the Clark Hotel Historical Museum. Members of the Van Horn Volunteer Fire Department are scheduled to meet tonight at 7 p.m. at the Firehouse.
May 22nd - Nothing scheduled at press time.
May 23rd - Nothing scheduled at press time.
May 24th - Attend the church of your choice.
May 25th - Memorial Day. Dedication of Veterans Memorial slated for 9 a.m. in front of the Clark Hotel Historical Museum.
May 26th - Members of the Van Horn Rotary Club are slated to meet today at noon at Chuy’s Restaurant.
May 27th - Nothing scheduled at press time.