MEMORIAL DAY
Freedom is never free; Those words were felt heavily across the nation on Monday, and the city of San Marcos did its part to honor its lost heroes as Veterans and community members gathered at the Hays County Veterans Memorial to recite the names of all Hays County Veterans who were Killed in Action since WWI as occurs annually.
San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson thanked the crowd for attending and honoring the troops that paid the ultimate sacrifice.
“Memorial Day is a day of remembrance, a day to reflect upon the sacrifices of the men and women who have given their lives to protect our country and our freedom. It’s also a day to remember the sacrifices of the countless courageous wives, husbands, mothers, fathers and children they have left behind,” Hughson said. “As you pass the flags lining our streets for this holiday or gaze at the Veterans Memorial, take a moment to remember the blood, sweat, tears and sacrifices made for you and our nation.”
The keynote speaker was retired United States Army Lt. Colonel Jessica Dunn, who is a highly decorated Veteran.
“Many veterans are triggered by this holiday and the playing of Taps, the sounds we have heard all too often. But to you … you came out to remember and salute our heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice, [and] for that, I’m very proud of all of you today. This takes great fortitude and strength to really saddle up to the somberness and active reflection that it takes on this holiday to actually reflect on what it represents — death, loss, honor, sacrifice, thankfulness and freedom,” Dunn said. “When their names are called out, let it strike a chord in us today that we never stop serving, that we always have a capacity for this nation and others to serve, that their sacrifice is … recognized, ultimately, in this loving action to serve this nation. God bless them, their families, you and this great nation. God bless America.”
Go to this link to see all the ways the city honors its Veterans storymaps. arcgis.com/stories/15d5 8fa84ff24458af303eff 18a46db3.
Above, San Marcos Police Chief Stan Standridge, U.S. Air Force, Sylvester Villareal, U.S. Army Ranger, Jerry DeLeon, U.S. Army, and Aaron Brown, U.S. Army, all place wreaths in honor of fallen Veterans. Below, San Marcos High School Air Force JROTC posted the colors. Daily Record photos by Shannon West
