By Louis Zylka
The 830 Times
Members of the community gathered on Tuesday morning to honor veterans on Veterans Day.
Nearly 40 floats and groups participated in the Veterans Day Parade, which began at Star Park. The parade marched along North Main Street and
17th Street during the 2025 Veterans Day Parade. (Photo by Louis Zylka)
ended at the Del Rio Civic Center. The celebrations continued outside the Del Rio Civic Center where a short 27-minute ceremony honoring veterans was held.
The ceremony began with a moment of silence for former councilman Steve Webb, who
passed away on Tuesday morning.
The ceremony was led by Joel Langton, U.S. Air Force veteran and publisher of Del Rio’s The 830 Times. With the country being in the midst of a government shutdown, Langton said many military members who attended were not in uniform and unable to officially participate in the ceremony.
The ceremony continued with the presentation of the colors by the Del Rio High School Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) and the national anthem sung by Air Force veteran Robert Wade.
Langton then asked all the veterans present at the ceremony to stand and be recognized for their service. After they sat down, Langton then asked the spouses to stand and be recognized for supporting their significant others while they were serving their country away from home.
applauded for the sacrifices they made serving their country. Various community
members and leaders attend the Veterans Day Ceremony held at the Del Rio Civic Center on Tuesday morning. (Photo by Louis Zylka)
After recognizing the veterans and their families who attended, the guest speakers shared words of admiration in relation to Veterans Day. The first speakers were the council members who attended, which included Councilwoman Carmen Gutierrez, Councilwoman Ernestina “Tina” Martinez and Mayor Pro-tem Jim DeReus.
Gutierrez began by saying she was giving away Veterans Day pins during the parade and made sure many people who attended received one. She thanked the veterans and their families “from the bottom of (her) heart” for the sacrifices they made. Martinez spoke next and said she was proud to be at the ceremony honoring everyone who defended their country. Martinez talked about her family members who served, including her late husband, Sgt. Jose Martinez.
DeReus then thanked the people who served for their country, adding that he is “proud to call (them) brothers and sisters in arms.”
After the council members spoke, representatives of the county shared their words of appreciation. County Commissioner Pct. 3 Fernando Garcia said,
“We live in a soft world because we had a line of hard men that stood in the breach protecting us.” He thanked the veterans who attended the ceremony for their services and to “not give up.”
County Commissioner Pct. 1 Kerr Wardlaw recognized the Val Verde County Veterans Service Office, including Enrique Trevino, the county’s veterans service officer, and the improvements he has made to the veterans service office.
Trevino was the keynote speaker. Langton said Trevino was asked to speak because all veterans needed to know how he and his office could help veterans.
“If a veteran has a need, the Val Verde County Veterans Service Office needs to be their first stop,” Langton said.
Trevino said he wanted to bring back “the drive of (his) community” to honor the local veterans. He encouraged veterans who are struggling with depression or anxiety or need medical benefits to visit the county veterans service office.
“We don’t want to see our veterans not go to an appointment, whether here or in San Antonio, because they don’t have a ride. We will do that for you. The county has set aside funds for emergency housing for veterans in crisis, and we’ve got that all set up,” Trevino said.
