By Joel Langton
The 830 Times
As Veterans Day approaches, Val Verde County Veterans Services Officer Enrique Treviño is coordinating a slate of community events honoring local veterans.
“This is our one moment in the year when we stop and we literally salute these men and women who gave so much of their lives to this nation,” Treviño said. “Stopping one day a year and saying thanks is the least we can do.”
This year’s schedule includes a Saturday luncheon, a Veterans Day parade and a ceremony Monday in front of the Del Rio Civic Center.
Treviño also invited community members to bring non-perishable food items such as canned goods, rice, pasta, peanut butter, cereal and other shelf-stable proteins to any of the events.
“We deliver food to some of our veterans every week, and this will go directly to them,” he said.
Saturday Luncheon
The weekend’s events begin Saturday at 11 a.m. with a luncheon honoring veterans. The event will bring together service members from multiple generations, along with local leaders and organizations that support veterans year-round.
“It’s Thursday morning, and we don’t know who all is going to be coming to town to honor our veterans Saturday,” Treviño said.
Even without special guests confirmed, the luncheon will feature a free meal, live music and more than 200 door prizes.
“I stopped by my gym, The Edge Extreme Fitness, last night and several people dropped off prizes while I was there,” Treviño said. “This community cares about its veterans.”
The only problem he sees is figuring out how to give away more than 200 donated prizes.
Anyone wishing to donate additional door prizes may drop them at the Val Verde County Veterans Services Office, 508 E. 11th St.
“I don’t need any credit for this,” Treviño said. “The ladies in my office work amazingly hard, the Civic Center staff, the county, the city and all the veterans organizations do so much. If it were just me, none of this would ever happen.”
Veterans Day Parade
The Veterans Day Parade will begin Tuesday at 10 a.m. It is organized by Treviño and Esme Meza, the City of Del Rio’s Community Services director.
“I always love helping organize this parade,” Meza said. “So many people come out to honor these heroes, and everyone goes all out.”
The parade will start at Star Park on North Main Street, proceed to 17th Street, travel two blocks to Veterans Boulevard, then turn north and enter the Civic Center’s back parking lot.
Veterans Day Ceremony
The Veterans Day Ceremony will begin Tuesday at 11:11 a.m. outside the Del Rio Civic Center, reflecting the time the armistice ending World War I took effect — 11:11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918.
If weather requires, the ceremony will move inside.
“Treasures of our community, from the local, state and federal level, are working to attend,” Treviño said. “There’s a lot of scheduling flux, but the support is there.”
This year, however, federal agencies may be limited in participation due to the ongoing government shutdown.
“I spoke to someone from a federal agency who said the employees want to come out and participate, but the government won’t allow it. They can come to the event, but the federal side can’t have resources or officially participate,” Treviño said. “It’s a tough time for everybody, but we’re not going to allow that to stop us from honoring our veterans.
