Although they are gone, they are not forgotten, because it is because of these brave men and women that we enjoy our very freedom.
Locally, during World War I, we lost 7 community heroes, including CPT. George F. Wellace, 1 LT. Charles Hausser, 2 LT. John M. Jewel, PFC. Concepcion Ortiz, William Dean, Leroy Bates, and Albert Jones Chase.
In World War II: PFC. Alvaro L. Alvarado, PVT. Oscar V. Backus, PFC. Gilbert Carasco, PFC. Refugio H. Flores, 1LT. Garlan B. Ledbetter, PVT. Pedro R. Martinez, PVT. Francisco F. Mauricio, T/Sgt. Raul F. Perez, PFC. Elias Serrato, PFC.
Gregorio Tovar, 2Lt. David P. Towns, PFC. V.G. Villareal, PVT. Oscar Wueste, TSGT Alberto Garcia Gil, Francisco Caballero, PVT Jorge Hernandez Flores, Raul O.
Reyna, PVT Mylem V. Shamburger, 1LT James W Carver, S1C Caroll Volney Lee Jr., SGT. Marcos S. Duran, CPL Federico R. Oyervides, SGT. Guadalupe A. Mireles, and PFC Jose B. Sanchez, In the Korean Conflict: L/ CPL Martin Rodriguez, SFC Gerardo Escontrias, PVT Robert A. Williams, CPL Luis P. Torres, PVT Pedro R. San Miguel, and SGT Lawrence Hobbs.
Vietnam War: 1LT Thomas De. Chestnault, CPL Juan D. Estrada, PFC David Garza, SP4 Ramiro Herrera JR., SSGT Adrián L. Lynn JR., CPL Ramiro F. Olivo, LCPL Erasmo Palos, PFC Matías Y. RodrТguez JR., PFC David Chisum, PVT William Mitton, PFC Felipe Villanueva, PFC Baltazar A. Maldonado, Felipe Maldonado, and LCPL Pablo R. Gonzalez.
Persian Gulf War: SGT Candelario Montalvo Jr. Iraq: SGT Melissa Valles, and LCPL USMC Stephen Joseph Perez.
"It is important to remember, not only this weekend that is Memorial Day but every day, that our freedom was paid with the sweat and blood of many brave men and women and the tears of their loved ones who never got to welcome them home. This Memorial Day I don’t just want to thank the service members who paid the ultimate sacrifice but also I want to thank their loved ones who truly know that Freedom is not free,” said VFW Post 8562 Commander Diana Montoya Cruz.
It is said that freedom is a light for which many men have died in darkness. These words burn eternally in the hearts of all who have fought for the very freedoms that we often take for granted.