Harlingen Residents Honor Local Veterans

From the City of Harlingen:

November 14, 2019

Harlingen Residents Honor Local Veterans

HARLINGEN, TEXAS–Dozens attended the Veterans Day Ceremony held at the Veteran’s Memorial at Pendleton Park this week to honor Veterans of all wars.

All branches of the military were represented by local retired Veterans in attendance for the patriotic event organized by the City of Harlingen’s Veteran’s Advisory Board whose members, Mayor Chris Boswell recognized. “I want to thank all of the members of the Veterans Advisory Board for making sure that we have an opportunity to come together as a community to thank our Veterans for their service and their sacrifice. Veterans are very modest and don’t think of themselves as heroes but they are and we have so many heroes in Harlingen. Thank you for your service.”

Colonel Christopher Dowling, USMC Retired who is the Superintendent of the Marine Military Academy was the guest of honor. He too thanked the Veterans and asked that we not forget those that currently serving around the world ready to conduct military operations from combat to humanitarian, to disaster relief. “They are standing guard to preserve our self-determination and sacred right to determine our own fate.”

During the annual event, a local active Army Reservist originally from Mexico became a U.S. Citizen. Sheila A. Rodriguez was administered the Oath of Citizenship by Immigration Service Officer David Hernandez. Congratulations to 29-year old Army Reservist Rodriguez and a huge thank you to her and all of the Veterans who bravely served so that we can continue to enjoy the freedoms that so many gave their lives for.

This press release was produced by the City of Harlingen. The views expressed here are the author’s own.