Ceremony honors America's soldiers

The brilliant silver shine of an Army ROTC helmet reflected the red, white and blue of the flag, giving a focus to the emotions felt during a special event Thursday on the UTB-TSC campus.

It was the 12th year the ceremony at the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College commemorated — through song, speeches and symbolism — the sacrifice of those who have served in the military.

The event was one of several in the area marking Veterans Day, which is today.

On Thursday, the deep boom of a cannon from the ROTC Bravo Troop tore the silence, spreading a cloud of smoke. A 21-gun salute from local American Legion Post 43 helped those who have never experienced a battlefield imagine what it might be like. A pair of boots sat with a rifle and helmet, symbolizing those who have fallen. Dozens of American flags waved around the area.

Gilbert Sotuyo, a former Marine, sat in the audience singing along to “God Bless America,” tapping his foot and at times wiping tears. He wore a “Marine Bulldogs” jacket and a U.S. Marine Corps hat. The USMC on Thursday celebrated 236 years since its founding.

What was Sotuyo thinking?

“It’s emotional,” he said. “There a lot of different things.”

Sotuyo, who served from 1976 to 1980, said he did not see combat and that it was especially important to honor those who did. His father was an Army Ranger who passed away several years ago.

Navy serviceman Juan Miguel Gonzalez, who returned from Afghanistan in August and is now a UTB-TSC graduate student, said he has served for 18 years. At the ceremony, he sat in uniform with his 11-year-old son AJ. The two were going next to visit the grave of Gonzalez’s brother, who lost his life in Turkey serving in the Air Force.

‘Every day …’

“Every day is Veterans Day,” Gonzalez said. “The nation needs to remember that this country was founded on the backs of servicemen, people who were willing to fight for something that was right.”

After witnessing what life is like for people in Afghanistan, Gonzalez said he wants to make Americans aware of the rights they take for granted that don’t exist in other parts of the world. He said even in Mexico, freedom of speech and movement are stifled as the country struggles with a brutal drug war.

American rights are connected to the military personnel that fight for them, he said.

“We have those (rights) here and we need to cherish them,” he said.

It is for living veterans like Sotuyo and Gonzalez that Veterans Day is commemorated, keynote speaker retired Army Maj. Raul Salinas Jr. reminded the audience. He said often the holiday is confused with Memorial Day in May, which honors those who lost their lives while serving. America owes military personnel and their families for their sacrifices, he said.

“Our debt to these veterans can never be repaid,” he said.

Salinas is a senior Army instructor at Weslaco East High School. The long-time serviceman retired in 1994.

Jobs

Republican Congressman Blake Farenthold called on employers to hire veterans.

“We owe them a great debt of thanks and a job is just one of the things,” he said.

Democratic state Rep. Rene Oliveira was on the list of participants in the ceremony, but he was not present.

The ceremony was lead by Army Reserve Capt. Eva Bratschi, who is an assistant professor of military science at UTB-TSC.

She read the name of each war Americans have fought, from the War of 1812 to the War in Afghanistan. Each name was followed by the crystal clear ring of a bell. Prisoners of war and those missing in action were also honored with the symbolism of an empty dining table set for five.

Associate Provost Ruth Ann Ragland was there on behalf of university administration, who were at a UT System Board of Regents meeting in Austin. She expressed thanks to military personnel.

Upward Bound

Ragland said the UTB-TSC Veterans Upward Bound program, which hosted the ceremony, has been key in helping soldiers pursue higher education. The program is for active duty and reserve military members who are first-generation college students and/or economically disadvantaged. The program provides tutoring and assistance with applications for financial aid and for Veterans Affairs benefits.

The program, Ragland said, has been in place since 1999 and is the only one in Texas. It is supported by a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

She said it has served 850 veterans, helping them earn 36 certificates, 101 associate degrees and 102 bachelor degrees. UTB-TSC also has a Veterans Resource center.

BREAKOUT:

• UTB-TSC Remembrance Day National Roll Call

Friday, 6 a.m.-2 p.m. at Gorgas Hall

Campus and community volunteers at more than 173 college and universities across the nation will read the names of the 6,200-plus casualties of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, now called Operation New Dawn.

• Annual Southmost Veterans Parade

Saturday at 2 p.m.

Starts at Porter High School and ends at Cromack Elementary.

For more information call (956) 544-3771.