San Benito gathers, honors veterans at future site of War Memorial

Family, friends pay respects to fallen soldiers
May 25, 2009 - 9:26 PM
By GABRIEL SALDAÑA

SAN BENITO - Family-filled cars with little American flags clamped onto their windows cruised Sam Houston Boulevard Monday morning, passing large fluttering flags that lined the road between city hall and Rowson Street.

More than 100 people marched silently for about four blocks to gather at the future site of the San Benito Veteran's war memorial for the city's Memorial Day observance.

"We have men and women who have given their lives for the freedom that we have today," Mayor Pro-tem Victor Garza said. "The family members who gave the ultimate sacrifice, we're here to support them as well."

Jose Garcia, a Vietnam veteran and San Benito native, said he came to pay respect for friends he lost in the war.

"I wait for this day for 364 days," the 63-year-old said. "It is a solemn day for me and brings back a lot of memories. Everybody ... was killed in my squad but I was wounded four days before and was not there at the time they all died."

He said many of the San Benito men killed in Vietnam were there at the same time he was.

"The majority of the Vietnam veterans who died from San Benito were friends of mine and I can name all of them," Garcia said. "Being here, this is the most important day for me because I am a veteran and am a soldier for life."

A 21-gun salute by the Homeland Security Honor Guard thundered over the crowd.

A lone trumpeter played taps at the laying of a red white and blue wreath as veterans and those still enlisted paid their respects with a salute to the fallen.

The trumpeter, Miller Jordan Middle School band instructor Dayri Mendoza said, "This is the little I can do for our veterans and if this is what I can do for them then so be it. It's an honor be able to play for our veterans."

Lysandra Tovar, an enlisted soldier in the U.S. Army, and her mother, Elia Castillo, said they came to represent Rio Hondo and pay their respects to Tovar's late grandfather.

"There are a lot of people who come from Rio Hondo who aren't stationed in the States and can't be here," Tovar said. "Plus my grandfather was in the Army."

Castillo said she came for her daughter and late father.

"She just came back from Iraq a few months back and my dad's old troop, 1109, the Catholic War Veterans, are here so I support them in memory of my dad," Castillo said.

San Benito Elks Club members read more than 100 names of local fallen soldiers as San Benito firefighters sounded a bell after each.

"It is very important that we remember, especially with our current situation in Iraq and Afghanistan and our teenagers fighting for our freedom ... with terrorists throughout the world," Garza said.

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