Travis County Commissioners Court
November 7, 2008
Item 1
Number 1 approve resolution recognizing November 11, 2008 as veterans day in Travis County.
>>
>> [inaudible].
>> should I read it?
>> yes, please.
>> whereas, the department of veterans affairs certifies that Austin, Texas and Travis County are designated by the veterans day national committee as a regional site for the celebration of veterans day 2008. Whereas the Travis County veterans day parade committee has proclaimed women of the military past and present as their theme for this year's celebration. Whereas women in the united states military have always had, quote, a tough road to travel, end quote, and we owe a lot to those women who literally broke ground, opened doors and chose a military career. Whereas the terms wac, women, womens army corps, wave, women accepted for volunteer emergency service, and waf, women in the air force republicans acronyms and names used from the 1940s until the separate womens branches were eliminated in the mid 1970s. Whereas 1.8 million women veterans have served in the armed forces making up 14% of all branches of the u.s. Military. Of which 150,000 women veterans are from Texas. These facts clearly show that women are veterans too. Whereas more than 26,000 females are currently deployed in iraq and afghanistan. And close to 195,000 have served since these wars began. Whereas Travis County government currently employs 775 military veterans and it is appropriate that their patriotic and unselfish service be recognized and commemorated. These colleagues are our sons, daughters, husbands, wives, friends and neighbors who have willingly served the call to service and died so that we may have -- may live free in this great republic. These employees have brought honor and distinction to Travis County through their service. Whereas vets helping vets is the motto of the Travis County veterans service office which is steadfastly committed to serving one veteran at a time. Now therefore be it resolved by the Travis County Commissioners court that all citizens of Travis County are urged to observe November 11, 2008, as veterans day with appropriate programs and activities focusing on achievements of those who have served this great nation, especially our womens veterans and showing appreciation for their dedication and service and I move approval.
>> second.
>> good morning.
>> good morning, judge and Commissioners. I don't think I need to say anything else. You said it all. The one thing that --
>> you said it all. Let's give yourself credit for this.
>> okay. Okay. I do -- I would like to bring attention to the theme of this year's veterans day parade, which is women of the military past and present. And I think it's timely that we reach out to the women of the military and recognize them. This -- this theme was generated last year and up to this point this year, I am truly amazed of how many women veterans have contacted our office and wanted to be involved with the program. Even though that we only said 775 veterans are employed with Travis County, dug into that a little deeper and discovered that there's roughly about 75 to 80 women veterans that are employed with the county. So, you know, we're just happy of all across the nation of other programs that are recognizing women. We had a showing of a movie -- what is it? Lioness. Women veterans in combat. It's just the doors just opened. People are calling 85-year-old veterans, women veterans want to be in the parade and participate, their families are calling, so on and so forth. Beside me the dawn crane, the womens coordinator on the parade committee. And she's just going to briefly tell you about the honorees and the parade marshal for this year.
>> good morning once again. My name is dawn crane, u.s. Army. And to my right is.
>> renee cotton. United states air force.
>> our grand marshal for this year's parade is jamie hamilton.
>> your name?
>> staff sergeant barbara guerra. I just got back from iraq September 2nd.
>> welcome home.
>> our grand marshal for this year's parade is jamie hamilton, and jamie is still serving in the state national guard and spent a couple months on the gulf coast helping with our fellow texans that needed assistance. But prior to becoming a member of the Texas state national guard, jamie was in the u.s. Army and spent one year in iraq, after which she came home for probably five to six months and then was returned to afghanistan for one year. She is still serving in the Texas state national guard and when she's not in uniform, she works at the Austin veterans center counseling veterans that are returning back from iraq and afghanistan. So she is a wonderful grand marshal for this year's parade.
>> and this is the flier for the veterans day. We're trying to put it out statewide, the surrounding counties, and the participation so far we have 69 organizations that have registered to participate in the parade. With those should be approximately about 1,500 participants. 196 vehicles, and that will increase. And we have taken in a donation roughly about 1500. The donations are coming from the application fee for the parade. Now, the parade would be much larger if aisd had school off for the kids. We are missing the youth groups, the boy scouts, girl scouts, and we are also missing the bands. That is the issue that we may have to address next year because, again, next year veterans day is going to fall on a weekday. That's all I have.
>> any additional comments?
>> thank you.
>> I'd like to thank the employees of Travis County veterans. Some I know, some I don't know. Some know that we exist. The veterans service office. Some walk in the door with their issues on their dependents and family members that are in iraq and we just try to take care of them.
>> the ceremony 75 is pretty accurate?
>> yes. According to open enrollment figures.
>> okay. I've wondered about that.
>> I've wondered also myself. So I tried to get to it a little bit.
>> we owe all of our veterans a deep debt of gratitude and especially the women who we have not recognized enough. All in favor? That passes by unanimous vote.
>> thank you.
>> thank you all very much.
>> can we get a picture with you?
>> yes, sir, because you have to take this proclamation with you now that we've approved it. [APPLAUSE]
The Closed Caption log for this Commissioners Court agenda item is provided by Travis County Internet Services. Since this file is derived from the Closed Captions created during live cablecasts, there are occasional spelling and grammatical errors. This Closed Caption log is not an official record the Commissioners Court Meeting and cannot be relied on for official purposes. For official records please contact the County Clerk at (512) 854-4722.
Last Modified:
Tuesday, November 7, 2008 1:38 PM