By Joel Langton
The 830 Times
Val Verde County residents will honor military service members who made the ultimate sacrifice during an annual Memorial Day ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday at the Val Verde County Courthouse.
The event, hosted by the Val Verde County Veterans Services Office, will include traditional tributes such as the presentation of
colors by the Jesus M. Limones Jr. American Legion Post 595 Honor Guard. Mia Galindo will sing the National Anthem and “America the Beautiful.”
Enrique Trevino, Val Verde County’s veterans service officer, primary organizer of the ceremony who served in the Navy, said it’s important to pause and remember.
“During my job every day, we work hard to take care of our veterans who stepped up and served,” he said. “However, it’s vital that we stop, pause and remember those who went and weren’t able to return. This ceremony is just a way to ensure we honor the fallen.”
The program will begin with a welcome from Mistress of Ceremonies Amaris Leon and an invocation by Pastor Orlando Venegas, pastor of Promised Land Church. Trevino will introduce keynote speaker Lt. Col. (ret.) Simon P. Benavides, Senior Aerospace Science Instructor and ROTC Department Leader at Del Rio High School’s TX-066 Air Force Junior ROTC unit.
“Colonel Benavides is a man who served his nation for many years and then retired here and has continued to pour his life into students there and preparing many to serve their nation, or just teaching them a measure of discipline that allows them to go ahead and have a deeper impact in life,” Trevino said. “I was thrilled when he said he’d speak at our ceremony.”
A wreath-laying ceremony will follow, with a floral arrangement featuring red roses, white lilies, and blue delphinium to be placed in honor of those who never returned home. The event will conclude with the retirement of the colors and a benediction from Venegas.
Community members are encouraged to attend and join in honoring those who gave their lives in service to the nation, Trevino said.
The writer can be reached at JoelaLangton@gmail.com .
