Travis County Commissioners Court
Tuesday, May 25, 2010,
Item 4
Number 4, approve proclamation declaring friday, may 28, 2010 as the "johnston high school 18 memorial day" in honor of the young men that sacrificed their lives while in service to their country during the war in viet nam. Anybody here to receive this proclamation?
>> yes.
>> okay.
>> i'm here.
>> should i read it?
>> please do.
>> proclamation reads whereas on june 4th, 2008, economics of education robert scott ordered the closure of albert sydney johnston high school, whereas on june 19th, 2008, the austin independent school district board of trustees invice violated community -- invited community members to submit nominations for the name of the new east side high school. Whereas the vietnam veteran community rallied and submitted the name of veterans memorial high school in honor of the 18 young men that sacrificed their lives while in service to this country. During the war in vietnam. Whereas on august 11th, '08, the veteran community compromised with a group from east austin and agreed on the name east side memorial at the johnston campus. Whereas travis county commissioners courts acknowledges that 75 young men from the austin area sacrificed their lives while in service to their country, during the war in vietnam, 24% were from johnston high school. Whereas the travis county commissioners court acknowledges that the significance of this is that the mexican american community in those days comprised less than 10% of the total austin population. And whereas the veteran community will be honoring the memory of these young men in the third annual memorial day ceremony at east side memorial on friday, may 28th, 2010. At 6:00 p.m. Now therefore be it proclaimed that the travis county commissioners court declares friday, may 28th, 2010, as the johnston high school memorial day in honor of those young men who gave all in service to their country. I move approval.
>> second.
>> and commissioner gomez would have presented this herself had she been present today.
>> well, thank you very much, judge. Thank you for allowing me to be here to speak on behalf of our veterans. Unfortunately, i will be back next year because the list is starting to increase. Next year we will ask you for a resolution for 20 young men we have discovered. When we first started this three years ago, we only knew of 16. Unfortunately, as they pass away, because of age and the devastating effect it had on their lives, it will continue to mount. Right now we are up to 20. And there's more people -- as more people become aware of what we are trying to do to remember these young men, this is one of the reasons that we go to the schools, to remind the young people of johnston high school, east side memorial today, that the reason we named it memorial high school was in the memory of these young men. It's unfortunate, but you know wars are not popular, they should never be glorified. It is not something to be proud of but unfortunately they happen. The johnston high school committee, which consists of of many, invites you to attend the third annual event. We are getting a lot more participation. And the -- johnston 50 reunion committee has made this part of their 50th i guess they call is anniversary or a reunion, that's what it is, thank you very much.
>> thank you.
>> mr. Pena?
>> yes, sir. Judge, first and foremost, i would like to thank mr. Dan arellano, not only is he a community organizer, but also a real estate agent and also historian which we are very proud of him, not just the mexican-american community but throughout the community, alex, specialist fourth class, toby rodriguez, corporal ray van zandt. Wylie guerrero, corporal, united states army, these are my friends. Along with a couple of others that -- that i don't have listed here. But anyway, i -- joe montez, too, may they all rest in peace. It is very important to recognize the efforts that our veterans did to the service of our country. I want to thank you, mr. Arellano because this means a lot to me, but thank you very much for your efforts.
>> i forgot to mention that the mayor will be there and major general alfred valenzuela, dr. Montoya, maggie
>> [indiscernible] from the university of texas.
>> there will be a memorial service at assumption and capital memorial parts. This will be moms out there placing flags on their son's graves. Thank you very much, thank you, dan, appreciate your help.
>> i just wanted to remind everybody that dr. Paul, by the way, he got more support for more veterans this last primary cycle than all of the other candidates combined because he's a five year veteran himself. Fighting like these gentlemen to make it -- help us appreciate the service that's been granted to us by these brave servicemen and also this week yesterday our country is now surpassed the dead soldiers who we sacrificed in afghanistan for the dead that we have sacrifice understand iraq. So -- so -- sacrifice understand iraq. Iran, that's world war three for nothing, to protect israel from whom they are scared of. It's idiotic, we have to stop killing other people. Stop the killing. Bring our troops home, help guard our borders, stop this idiotic war with mexico that's being --
>> thank you, mr. Reeferseed.
>> okay. All in favor? That passes by unanimous vote.
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Last Modified:
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 2:35 PM
