City of Laredo, Texas Veterans Affairs Committee Meeting, 14 Mar 2023

Previous Meeting Next Meeting

⏯

youtube image

►

From YouTube: Veterans Affairs Committee Meeting, 03/14/2023

Description

Veterans Affairs Committee Meeting, 03/14/2023

A

For Barney Warriors.

A

Quality is ready to order. It is 11 40.

A

You appears right for the pledge of religion.

A

A place the United States of America look forward.

A

Please remain standing for a prayer uncovered.

B

Heavenly Father, we ask my blessings upon all here who are assembled. We pray for guidance and deliverance that we may exemplify the principles and the purposes of our meaning. We ask thy blessings, bless our guests and we ask the protection and blessing for those who have served in our country in the past and the present and the future grant that we may grow and prosper in a Humane purpose and principles upon which we are founded, amen.

A

A

For the record today is March.

C

The 14th 2023.

C

Marshall, can we have roll call? Yes, sir councilwoman.

C

American Legion Post 59.

C

C

Black widows otx.

C

Catholic or veterans Disabled American Veterans.

C

Absolutely left.

B

I heard he was in hospital.

C

Really: okay, Korean War veterans, lulac 777, president Marine Corps lead present, South, Texas, Afghanistan and Iraqi veterans, not present Valor.

C

Veterans of Foreign Wars, Webb County service office, president sure you have a quorum.

A

Thank you Marsha next item, an agenda. We have approval of minutes for the January attempt meeting and pretend a motion to approve the minutes as presented.

A

It's almost a motion in a second imagine, a second to approve the minutes of January, the 10th, all those in favor say: aye, aye, those against nay or surpasses.

A

An excitement agenda, we have citizens comments. Marshall, do we have anybody that signed up or is there anybody that, like to uh there's.

C

There's going to be some announcements, but that would be the next item. Okay,.

A

C

Will be the next the next one, okay cool we'll hit you.

C

The next agenda item.

A

Okay, so now we have a Communications and announcements.

C

We have a few announcements here. We have one from Mr Eric de Daniel, the black widows and Mr kihana, and anyone else that wants to see.

A

D

Like weirdos yeah.

A

A

For the record, please.

E

We are the black widows and we have.

E

And Christy Alvarez and two we had two separate things that we wanted to put in the announcements: the first one, the one we're going to talk about it's our one year anniversary in April, so she's gonna,.

F

So normally our socials it's once a month and it's normally every first Friday of the month, but this one is different for us, the upcoming one, which is April the 7th at 6 30. That one is open to the public we'd like to invite everybody. You you all the board, the people back here, all the organizations. Basically anybody that would like to come over and uh who supports veterans, uh you guys are quarterly invited. Like I said it's April, the 7th 6 30 p.m.

F

We where it is going to be at golondrinas on Mcpherson I'll, have the actual address, but we are going to make sure that we post it on our social media. uh We on our probably by this week that way, we make sure that everybody knows ahead of time and yeah. We hope to see you all there.

E

Pearson and the street itself is turned 211 drive and it's on that intersection of.

E

E

C

uh Do you have a flyer we.

E

Do uh like she mentioned she's gonna go ahead and make sure that it's.

B

E

You for us to afford our information to your email in the past, so I'll go ahead and provide that to the Nora so that she can go ahead and forward it to you. Thank.

C

E

Okay and then our s wanted to comment on um Christy Luna, we'll go ahead and address it, and it's in relation to um or veterans events in the.

G

Community, so um I want to thank you for allowing me to speak. um I just started taking part of veterans. Events in our community I noticed that the city and districts uh do have a lot of events for our veterans. My only concern and the only thing that I notice uh was The, Times They overlapped. So a lot of events that we do have I'll give an example: the school districts uh having um participation um um recognizing our veterans. Those also are happening at the same time that the veterans uh parade was happening.

G

So um another thing was also the VA was having an event, but at the same time the Texas veterans network was also having an event. So my my proposed would be simply if it's possible for the committee to help us help the other organizations just uh work together.

G

So we could have all these events, but at the same time, have them uh on a scheduled I, don't know if it's possible I, don't know if it can be work if the organizations would approve it, but I just wanted to bring it up, and let you all know that I I do really believe that the city is doing a lot. The community, that the organizations are being a lot of attention to Veterans I just was hoping that we could just work out in a way that we can all the city.

G

The community can all take part of all the events that are happening so that that was that's it. Thank you.

E

A

Is a great point, and that is a an issue that we've been dealing with for a long time where there's multiple events at the same time, I'm, assuming that there is some kind of a mechanism out there, that we can. We can work with, maybe appoint a coordinator for these events. The city can do that, but certainly we can add up to the agenda next month. Marshall, yes,.

C

Sir I was thinking something like a calendar yeah.

A

C

Could I log in or something.

A

City council that's be done because there's a lot of money in all of them at the same time. Obviously, so it is a great point Thank you. Thank you. Congratulations on your.

F

Anniversary thank.

H

A

Well, that's right.

I

Good morning, for the record, my name is Gilberto Gonzalez DFW, 9194, Commander I'm.

J

Ricardo quijano post edited BFW 9194.

I

We're here to uh I, don't know if this can be seen, we're printing out, but I, don't know if okay yeah, you can see it, uh we have our bowling tournament on April 23rd Sunday at noon at Playmore, and we want to invite the community to participate. uh Like always the VFW we raise money and all the money goes back to our community. uh It's different now activities. uh uh This is a semi-annual, so this is first one for this year uh and we just want to invite everybody too.

I

You know come out with the team and and help us out. The date is April. 23Rd is going to be a play morning. It's a Sunday, oh pay, mortgage.

K

I

A

Yes, okay, they're one second right.

D

A

Know they decided to scale down, they didn't want to.

C

C

Question same thing: do: do you guys have a flyer, so we could put.

I

It on we do have a player I. Just we just didn't print it. Okay,.

C

I

Can yeah we can email you this uh exactly supplier. uh Another thing I wanted to uh I wanted to thank United, South High School I want to thank the United High School Career and Technical education students, the teacher Carmen Davila for the for using their skills to create poster suppliers and brochures to market the VFW Post 9184..

I

uh They did this uh as a project and they went to compete right, corporate surgery. That was the Corpus Christi to compete. They create a flyer and they uh it's a it's a summary of what the VFW has done for the last couple of years, uh the fundraisers uh all the uh helping other veterans and different activities, and we want to thank United South High School for for doing that. For us without charging us anything, and it was, uh it was a great experience. It was.

I

uh It means a lot to us that we get recognized by the Youth of Laredo. So again, thank you, United South, High School. For for that.

J

All right, my name is good morning good morning, so some some good news I'm going to bring up with collaboration between the VFW and the Webb County Veteran service office right brainstorm, and we spoke to state representative Rich Raymond in amending the you can say the Hazelwood Act, so the bill, a bill, House Bill 2540, was created on February 21st of this year. I just saw right now and yesterday of March 13th. It was assigned to a committee which it's going to go to higher education.

J

What this bill does it's going to help veterans not more, not necessarily veterans right, the siblings of service members who have died in action right as we all know, we go to service, we go to the military and we're married. We have kids, we get killed in action. It is what it is.

J

We know our kids are going to get education. Why she's going to get help out right and so forth? There's going to be benefits, but we don't see. What's right is at a young age, 18 19., the youth enlists in the services okay deployed and if they get killed in action, they're single, no kids, unmarried benefits are gone.

J

What, if that service member that got killed in action, had siblings, they don't read the rewards.

J

Well, how about that's? What we want to change, and this is House Bill 2540. What we want! What we need is your assistance to call state representatives state senators, anyone you know to approved to get this bill passed, that's what we want. That's what we need and what this does the bill going back is helping the siblings of that single service. Member all right go to college, getting that free college as a Hazelwood actor. The tuition is going to be free in the state of Texas, and this is not just for hearing radio.

J

This is throughout the state of Texas, all right so say. For instance, I'm 18. I get deployed I get killed in action. I got two younger siblings that looked up to me as a role model right yeah, my brother, my son, you know my older brother is a you know. As a warrior, however, passed away at least the education that my little brother sister go, you know growing up can get that free education, and this is what it's about all right. Yes, sir, a.

B

Question is this only for the gold star family or is it for veterans family? No.

J

It is so can I can.

K

J

It's it's been amended, that's what it is. Yes, sir.

K

So I was just gonna, add to it. It is uh so one it doesn't have to be. So what brought this along to uh Mr quijano, and he brought it to me and we took it to representative Raymond.

K

In his case, so it doesn't necessarily have to be killed in action. It could be just died during the service uh uh during his time in service, whether it be an accidental, but that's the the part of it. But what brought it brought this to fruition was uh that when we were with the experience of Maureen, David, Lee, Spinosa and his family, and and that's what brought it to our attention, something as easy as this, and uh it doesn't.

K

So the education part of this it does not it doesn't it's not the fair, it's not for the federal uh part. If that's the whole nother thing, we would have to take up to to Washington to Congress this. Is they locally having to do what the Texas Hazelwood act, which is already in place?

K

It's just like Mr quijano was saying this is just adding an addendum, an amendment to it to make it more inclusive uh and and for our service members that are killed in action that were not married at the time of their death to pass it on to their siblings.

K

That's what I wanted to make sure add to it and.

A

One of those reasons is: excuse me, correctness, I'm wrong on the air. If you don't have a certain percentage of disability and you don't qualify for it.

K

It's not right. No, it's changed already that, yes, so you don't have to be service connected that the main thing to the regular Hazelwood Act is you have to have enlisted in Texas and live in Texas and.

A

K

Available it used.

A

To be available only for the service member and not for the family, but for the perceiving, but now it is so.

K

A

It's available.

K

For a service member, so you get 150 hours if you're, not a hundred percent, you get 150 hours and all your children can use those divide, the 150 hours or your spouse.

K

If you are, if you are at a hundred percent, uh the Jesus was amended not too long ago, I'm going to say in 2017 that if you're 100 each child of yours gets 150 hours, plus the spouse gets 150 hours.

K

So this is adding another addendum or Amendment to the same bill, which the state of Texas, in my opinion, leads the way and veteran benefits. We're always ranked in the top two three in the country right, sometimes even one for veteran services and uh and uh and things that the state does for for our for our Local Heroes, our service members active duty and non-active Duty, Personnel National, Guard Reserves. So that would I hope that answers your.

A

Question who does as I wanted to clarify excuse me thank you. Mr.

J

Always to the to the person you just asked it's, and this is reading up in the the bill. A member of the Armed Forces of the United States is a who was killed in action. He who died, while in service, see who was missing in action or D, whose death is documented to be directly caused by illness or injury connected with service in the orchestra in the united, the Armed Forces of the United States.

J

So that's who and its or siblings, of course, with surge members who were unmarried and did not have children but had siblings. That's a key word siblings.

J

C

um Do you know when we're going to get a vote.

J

On that uh no I do not know, but I could call the the office of a state representative, Rich Raymond, because, like I said, I just saw online today that it was already assigned a committee that said February 21st and just yesterday it was assigned to a committee which higher education.

J

So once the committee approves, then it moves forward. So.

K

At this point, one of the things that we're asking is not just call Richard, Raymond and Senator stefanini, which are State reps reach out to the surrounding ones. That are uh that we can or all of them.

K

If you have that time and just let them know that we support this bill, that the committee I don't know who's on the committee of the education, uh the education committee at the state level, but we should probably reach out to them also, but we should, at the very minimum start with our local representation, which is Richard, Raymond, tracy, King, I, forgot, Tracy, came to and uh and senator safarini.

J

And one more thing, also, uh our previous uh past post, the Texas state post, uh adjutant, Lupita, Perez, emailed the state BMW Commander, Mr tumor and the VFW in the state is going to support the bill. House Bill 2540. Also so there's some action Nelson from the VFW also.

K

um Mr said: well, he has a question. Yes, sir,.

D

There's 150 hours, which uh that was a veteran or the children of the veteran. Yes, sir, too bad that you know they don't include that.

I

Someone who had the opportunity.

D

I

You claim your grandchildren as your.

K

Can you request the kidneys? Let's take the question again.

I

Grandchildren, that's your as your dependents. They are part of the yeah, but not depends.

D

But they're not dependent.

I

They're not, but if you claim them they can use them and.

A

That's been part of the problem, especially with the Vietnam veterans.

A

Was amended at the time when the Vietnam veterans children had already passed? The agents have been educated opportunity to take advantage of that.

D

Or these 150 hours uh at a college of your choice or you have.

I

To say in Texas in.

D

D

K

No I'm, sorry: what was that? No.

A

No, it has to be a state.

D

A

D

Yeah, that was my question. Yes, thank you so.

K

Again, this bill is already written. It went through the pre-committee uh before February 21st to see if it was something feasible. It was now it's at the major committee to see if it's going to make the senate floor in uh I believe it's in August when they meet June I'm, not too sure when the statements, something like that something and then go take the vote there and put the committee has to make the recommendation. That's why Mr quijano is here saying like just call them.

K

Let them know that we need the support that we support this bill and the more people called individually the more impact it makes so and obviously, if a group makes the American Legion per se, calls and says hey. We want to support this too. That also puts a lot of momentum behind it. So you can let your family members know to to at the very minimum reach out to Richard, Raymond, tracy, King and or uh and or uh senator safarini, for.

A

The record and for everybody's information, especially those that are going to be watching this uh video later on what is the number of the bill? House Bill,.

J

2540 25 40. and next celebrities, Marine Corps, uh chairman lulac 777 American Legion contact your organization, State organizations to support the bill.

A

That's what we're looking for make sure you mentioned that not built by by name. Yes,.

A

Yeah or anything else, any more comments or questions. We appreciate the hard work all of you put.

I

A

A

Have somebody else.

L

Good afternoon, for the record, my name is Vietnam veteran I'm here just to announce that uh uh a few months ago I went before my city councilman, then Rudy, Gonzalez and I um told him that I wanted to see who we can get a bridge or their independency original Park dedicated to the veterans.

L

But since his term was going to be over, he suggested that I wait until the new city council member was elected. So after the university council member was elected, I called him on the phone and I presented myself to him and I asked him about. uh If you know about the the bridge- and he said that the former city councilman had already told him about the bridge and that they were going to dedicate it to the winners so I'm here just to announce that the breach and the plants were already made, Americans yeah.

L

L

Those are the plants that are in the bridge is a nice big, Breeze Water by Merida and there's one on the east side of the bridge on the North side and there's one on the west side of the bridge on the South Side, the one in the was in the north side and yesterday, as I went through there, I noticed that they were covered so I'm thinking, they're going to have an unveiling, sometimes in your future or the bridge.

L

So that's the announcement I want to make and another thing why, next to that bridge, we have a 70 acre Park. The independent Independence Hill Regional Park I have already spoke to my city. Councilman I spoke to my good friend General Fina, and we're trying to see if we can change that name, we're not going to change it.

L

The park is now called the independence Hill Regional Park. What we want to do. We want to change it to the independent sales veterans party. It's a 70 acre park. Now this is like when you buy a furnished apartment or a furnace home. It has all the amenities there. It's got uh playground for the kids to play. It's got a a nice big room there with a cover patio, where they have picnic tables for the family.

L

You can sit and watch their kids playing he's got a full court covered basketball court and he's got another basketball, that's not covered. So if you want to go up and play in the Sun and try to complain the other basketball courts, it's got a walking trail, a jogging Trail. It's got a swimming pool, so after you're playing basketball, you thought, or you can go and take a dip in the water. It's got a uh roller blade where you can go on rollerblade every afternoon for the kids and there's a baseball park there.

L

Also in that Park and then there's a big area where you can play football, you can play soccer and you can even put a net and play volleyball so I'm hoping to see if we can get that part renamed now, just to give you a history and why I want this part to be named. Veterans Park, my father and my brother and his brother. My uncle were World War, II veterans, I have two uncles: there were Korean War veterans, I myself, I'm a Vietnam veteran I have an uncle that was a Vietnam veteran.

L

My brother, my cousin and my brother-in-law or Vietnam veterans. I have a cousin that was a Vietnam veteran in Afghanistan and Iraqi veteran. My younger brother is Afghanistan and Iraqi veteran.

L

My nephew is an Afghanistan and a Reiki veteran and then I speak to you today. I have any needs and a nephew that are serving in the military. So what I want to do is have this part name for all veterans, best present and future. So as far as the bridge, it's a done deal. We already have the planks. So now we're going to be working on that 70, acre Park as I take into the bridge and that's all I have is the ceremony. You have any questions.

L

B

Said go ahead, can you notify us so we can be there at the dedication.

L

Yes, what I want to do I'm going to get together with far more to Jimenez and let him know what the date for the young person, so he can invite everybody.

A

Perfect any other questions or comments. Sorry I! Don't think that we we're thank you for the hard work you do. Thank you, sir. Any other items on communication, announcements, okay, so next element agenda. We have uh Island for discussion and possible action. Item number one discussion with possible action on adding groups to the vet, Veterans Affairs committee and any matters incident there too. We have a couple of these that I know of that uh would like to see if they can join a committee and uh I believe that's what we have. uh Yes,.

C

Sir, that's uh one request: okay,.

K

So um for time, six I'm not going to go into the back story of this, but uh Disney all know that we do have a new representative, a locally we had one before and then uh she was transferred to San Antonio. But we do have a new uh representative at the Texas Military uh Texas Texas department of the military, and it's housed here, locally they're they're housed at the Armory and the the section that they work on is is the soldier and family Readiness it is. It is state funded.

K

It is from the state of Texas department of military funded, it is uh and they help our soldiers when they're getting ready to deploy, activate all the family members when they're deployed or activated whether it be to a combat zone, a peace, Zone, peacekeeping and or State uh uh help out with a hurricane or something that is not necessarily a federal thing anytime. They do that. That's what that's! What that office is there for.

K

I would like to include that it is a government agency, so I would like to include them into the into our committee, because they can bring a lot of uh stuff that our national Guardsmen, our local National national government,.

I

K

Or Reserve is or needs that they may have and then, as you all may or may not know, we do have quite a few service members from different states that come into the border mission. They come in on from the National Guard or the reserve units in other states, and so we can assist and help them also in whatever they need or just pass information to them. Also, so that's the Texas Military uh division of the state of Texas locally here so they're local. They have a local represent.

K

We have a local represent representative now and they're, not located in San Antonio they're located locally yeah. Okay, so that's the group I would wanna vote yeah. So do we.

A

There's another group also, but let's go go.

K

Ahead, yeah I think we have to do one at a time uh that way.

A

So I will entertain a motion for this committee to approve the addition of the Texas Military Division of the State of Texas, yes to our Syria Laredo Veterans Affairs committee. Any.

K

A

Second motion and second, all those in favor, say aye aye for those against his name motion passes. Thank you very much. Welcome uh as many good as we can discussion, discussion.

D

D

I

The record Jesus, oh.

D

We need to get a group or representatives from our VA Clinic.

A

D

That's the next.

K

Item, that's the next one.

K

E

So I'm just curious. Did we amend the um the previous um agreement of not allowing like other members like organizations to be added to the group, because I know like um with Texas veterans commission as a as the healthcare advocacy um when I came, I couldn't be added as like the Texas veterans Commission, because you only take group members or like veteran organizations, but is that? Because it's a veteran like we.

A

We normally yeah well what we do. We recommend to the city, council and city council exception or not it's not. It's.

E

Not going to be.

A

Us that's going to accept it. We're recommend it because.

E

I know that when, when I tried to do it and then like when Jerry tried to do it, it was like dismissed as well um to try and become part of the organization. Although.

A

I, don't remember having that item on the agenda. I, don't remember different.

E

Organizations we.

A

Had another organization that it was not approved, yes, that.

K

Was in TVC I, don't even remember: TVC come I.

E

Because I was told that it's like that, I couldn't do it as.

K

An organization.

E

That I can only do it.

K

Was that GBC telling you that? Because this.

E

Is different things when we were early coming in, so that's why.

A

I would say no, no, no, as a matter of fact, I mean.

C

So what we do we we here and then we vote on it, and then it still has to go to the mayor to put it on the on the um I.

E

Mean I'm totally for it.

K

So would you like us.

F

F

K

So would you like us to consider it I mean I think with the the way the item is addressed, I think we can break it.

I

K

You want to do you want us to take.

E

A vote on that I would like to.

K

E

um I already have my my job already sent me to come and Outreach anyway, so I would definitely like to be.

K

A partner okay! So, uh since the way it's worded well, I think.

C

We think that that's why I left it open? Okay, so.

K

I'd like to say uh like to bring up uh also to vote adding the Texas veterans- commission, Health, Advocate, Healthcare Healthcare Advocate to uh to bring up to a vote to for membership in in this committee.

A

um All those repairs out in the Texas veterans.

E

I'll wait to, or are you doing this.

D

K

Another one was already approved, yeah.

A

K

Other one was approved, we were about to start on the VA. So can we take a look okay, so yeah.

A

We entertain a motion to add the Texas veterans. Health Care advocates to become a member of the senior Laredo Veterans Affairs committee, all those in favor and say hi hi I'll go get all those against motion passes I, don't think we need any more discussion. So there's two new groups, the Fourier groups- and we have a third group or one third group coming up. We have a third group that we've been discussing about this group now for several several meetings, and that is the local veterans. Health Clinic.

A

Last Wednesday I think it was. We had a town hall meeting discussing the uh the background at that time, I was informed when we were informed that the Gulf Coast uh Regional VA has approved the addition of the local VA Clinic to our committee, subject to approval, so I will entertain a motion to approve the addition of the senior letter of web founding or the the actually the Gulf Coast Regional, located at Laredo to become a member of the City of Laredo Veterans Affairs committee. That's what you were talking about. Okay, any discussions.

A

A second to approve this organization, all those in favor, say hi hi motion passes. Thank you very much. This is something that we're working quite a bit and let me expand a little bit on that at that particular meeting. I. Don't remember who was there who's? Not there crystals there Crystal was there. We have the omero Martinez Martinez or some doctors.

A

We had a lot of people there so discuss the fact that I for one have not really paid too much attention to the background, but we received some really good information during that meeting and I will ask him to come out here and see if they can speak about it at our next meeting, because one of the things that that will discuss is that you don't have to be rated with any disability to be covered by this background.

A

All you have to be is be a veteran and be in certain locations at a certain date, and it will cover a certain things like high blood pressure and there's a lot of a lot of medical terms and issues that I believe that a lot of veterans, if not most of it all of them- could qualify under this app and they could get compensated not only monetarily but health-wise, which in our case, like whether and I I mean we go through a lot. The Vietnam Venom we were discussing this early Vietnam veterans are experience.

A

Another one, Vietnam veterans are experiencing a lot of medical issues right now because of my age. So this backpack really covers a lot of essential information that we really need to disseminate not only to the to the older veterans with all our veterans, because it does cover a wide area that you can be covered in in comparison to being classified as with a disability through the normal channels of disability.

A

So it's something that we hopes us to be able to get educated and I hope that next meeting we can bring a prison or somebody to come out here and speak to some more, but if not U.S veterans go out to the VA clinic and get yourself educated, because there is a lot of area that is covered that was not covered before so again, thank you for for your vote on the additional history Loops, because the more groups that we have, the better we will be served.

A

One of the things that we also heard of that meeting is that our our enrollees and at the local veterans has gone from about 36, 7 36 to plus four thousand. Now. Is that correct? Yes, sir, and and that is a milestone to be very honest because we always say numbers come so we thank you for all the work that everybody's done in trying to recruit more people to our local Health veterans, Marshall.

C

I, just once you're done before you go to the next item. I want to say something: okay,.

A

So uh we're done with this Idol. Do we have another item on this house.

C

No I have a for this item number one. The about the three groups just keep in mind, we're agreeing to it. It still has to go through city, council and and their approval to to get it going just like we did with black widows. Remember Miss Ramirez, so it's if we still have to do that. Okay, all right just wanted to let you know.

A

So any more discussion on I don't know what again. Thank you very much next item agenda. We have discussion with possible action regarding the Vietnam Veterans Memorial walking trails in any matters incident there too, who's.

C

Going to take this, let's just say: well, we had a few words for that.

D

Again for the record Jesus, uh as we all know, thank God, our walking trails has been approved. They I go by there about four or five times a day and they are, they have started to work on it. uh They estimate that it uh that we will be walking on that trail within 60 days.

D

uh Hopefully this that we will be the first group, sis or councilman that uh he and the rest of the city council is walk with us on that first day and as many veterans as we can get out there and initiate the first walk on that trail. Thank God.

D

It's become a reality and something that uh I have been looking forward for a long time since 2018 I've been looking for a walking trail and finally, it's been approved and I know that there were several places that I was offered, but they were, you, know, kind of out of the way and that particular place I had already asked for it. But uh supposedly the city was going to be of some kind of built in there or fire department, and uh they told me that we couldn't have it well.

D

uh Councilman military was able to get it I guess they changed their mind, but I'm glad that he did and he had the same idea to build a walking trail up there so overall or a park for veterans, and so it's going to be named uh Vietnam Veterans Plaza.

D

Thank you. So much.

A

Thank you thank you, but make sure that you add uh that they that they add auction station somewhere around there we're.

D

Going to have an oxygen tank on one.

B

D

We're going to have an oxygen tank on the.

A

Right side on the left side, all.

D

Right with with masks.

B

I went by their uh let's be, and the clearing has gone fast. Real, quick and I asked the guy that was clearing the property. Hey. What happened to the mosquitoes you talk fast, it.

A

Is going to be a an addition to our Park system that is going to be named and other veterans, but it's really going to be able to be used by everybody and it's mayor is going to have a a lot of good amenities. There's not two ways about it: that that Park is going to be a really nice Park from what we saw from the rendering a few months back, I.

D

Need to contact our councilman and make a correction on the on the on the veterans that lost their lives in Vietnam. uh There's. Actually 28. I had been told that there's two brothers there or supposedly there were brothers, but they are not uh Ariana uh and I also went into their to the wall and find out that they were not even brothers. So actually, there is 28 uh laredoons that lost their life in Vietnam. So I need to make that correction, because I told her that it was 27.

D

and it's actually 28. and there's going to be a memorial uh honoring. All those 28 veterans and I also need to get together with uh the councilman and and plot out the the spaces for the 28 trees that we plan to put out there in honor of fish, veteran and I'm, also working I'm, already working on the information of each veteran, with uh with uh information as to what, where uh what province they get killed in Vietnam and what year and what they they uh they were.

D

They lost their life, so I've got I'm working on all that right now do.

A

You have already what what type of tree is going to be planted and and no.

D

I discussed it with uh with uh one of the people that have a yard, uh uh they show treasure on Mcpherson and he was going to look into it and go check the land and the terrain. You know the dessert and everything so see, which is the best possible tree out there that won't make a big mess. You know we can put oak trees, but you know they yeah yeah.

D

They share all those folks, you know so we need something to one of the girls at the at the American Legion meeting mentioned that may be able to have some citrus trees. You know uh and apple I mean orange trees or grapefruit trees. You know, but I, don't think that's a shade tree. You know we did uh what I wanted was a tree that will give us shake.

D

You know, there's a lot of trees like that, and so the mosquitoes are going to be trimmed and uh no mosquito will be cut down or or taken out of there. They every Mesquite will remain there and now we're just gonna train them, and so they can grow. You know taller and then, as they add, the 27, the 28 or the trees to the park to the walking trail.

A

Do you already have all the 28 sponsors that are going to donate.

D

The tree no but I do plan to announce it on public.

D

Maybe if you have somebody go with me to the kgns and make an announcement on it, uh hopefully within the next couple of weeks uh and uh and see if any of the of the relatives who are still you know around, uh that lost a member I know that cello Montalvo told me that she wants one for Rudy.

D

You know and uh and of course, I have another lady that said that she'll donate one just out of courtesy, I will donate one and uh and whoever wishes to donate one in honor of of any particular veteran that you might want to name it after and so, but I do plan to make it public and see if the families uh still want to donate one in in their honor. You know so that's the next step. Mr Sevilla.

C

Sure did you ever think about maybe a plaque on a little bio next to that tree of that yeah.

D

Okay, that's why I'm getting all the information that veterans, so we can put a plaque.

H

F

D

It'll say uh possibly if we can put a picture in there, it'll be laminated, but not with uh protected from the Sun, but on that plaque is that we can engrave the uh The Province where he got killed at uh hostile fire or you know whatever the way he got killed. You know, and also uh the day and uh and the modern day when, when he got killed.

A

The unit he was in yeah.

D

All that information I've already got uh uh for his Saturn.

D

A

The hard work you do. Thank you any other discussion on item number two. Next item on the agenda. We have discussion with possible action on naming the walking trail at Slaughter Park in any matters incident there too much.

C

Mr Sanchez Sanchez.

H

H

The president of the Korean War veterans, we've been looking all over Laredo for a place to name after the Korean War veterans and believe it or not, I found it in my neighborhood.

H

We found the slaughter sport complex. It has a beautiful, Trail and I think it's called a Chacon Trail and I would like to name it after the Korean War veterans.

H

Two of this, the sixth, the seven that were lost in Korea, used to play there, Paul Gloria, Garcia myself and all the kids from the charcoal used to work there. Also and all the Korean War veterans deserve to be recognized.

H

We lost a hundred thousand in Korea 5378 prisoners of the war and I. Think the name of the trail is the charcoal Trail. He has the name, there's not a big uh expanse, it's a beautiful place, I'm pretty sure the slaughter family will be for all of us will enjoy the trail and uh they gave their lives for us. So they deserve to be recognized and it's 70 years since I was in Korea when the touring stopped and they called it, they forgot War, While, I'm Alive. It won't be forgotten.

A

I was just reading about things like that and with any of the conflicts of war. Wars that we have been involved will never be forgotten by, and that's part of our our Legacy here to make sure it's not forgotten.

C

Marshall, okay: uh this is a at Slaughter Park. There's a trail and I called the wrong message, and so then there's at this part, the name is not going to change, is going to remain Slaughter part, but the trail is the one Mr Sanchez is talking about just to name the trail, the whatever he's coming up with and and I went today. I went to uh to the other Park and they have a real nice sign at their place. So I spoke with Coach uh Gomez JJ Gomez.

C

If they could do if it passes, it still needs to go through the naming committee yeah. It's gonna go through the naming committee and I'll show up to that meeting and explain what we want to do and once it passes everything um coach Gomez said that they could make one of these for the one you're talking about the one. This one doesn't appear to have a name, yet this one, the one not Slaughter part. So that's that's where Mr scientist wants to name it for the veterans, so I.

K

Got confused there, so is it two different Trails or one.

C

Yes, I just took this picture to show you what oh okay, what other? What other.

I

C

Have other trolls had this one, and this one doesn't have anything. The the only thing is that this Trail has three ways in so this morning, when I was out there with the employee, I asked the employee that was taking me around I asked them, which is the entry that most people use. So he took me to this one. He said most people Park their car and they go on this one. Some people use the other two, but this one's the one with more more traffic. We.

K

Can put a sign if it passes on three right? It shouldn't be that, especially if they're made internally, they.

C

Are made according to coach Gomez, they are main internally.

A

For further, for the sake of the motion, that's coming up is this particular Trail named right now inside.

C

It's not named walking trail there there's nothing. No, the Chacon walking troll is at another Park I.

G

Just took it and that's what that's what's confusing yeah.

A

Sorry for the confusion, I just wanted. You.

C

Guys to see what.

A

What about that part that walking trail has no name.

C

So right now, they're looking at documents and I just got before the meeting I made with some phone calls and they were looking for documents. If there's any name, there isn't a placard on it or all right, but they were looking through through paperwork to see if it did have one so as of right now it doesn't have one so.

A

Mr Sanchez for, for the sake of the motion that I'm going to ask for.

A

So you wanted to be named: Koreans War veterans, Trail or what.

G

A

Actual name, you want to be you'd.

C

Like to be named Mr Sanchez, do you want it to be the Korean or the or the name of the soldiers that you're talking about those two.

H

Soldiers, no! No! Yes, we cannot recognize those those two soldiers sure how about the we want to recognize all.

A

Koreans, so what's the name.

H

That you requesting all.

C

Koreans Korean, maybe Korean War veterans, walking trailers.

H

Could we recognize many that have gone to Korea, even though dating uh taking.

A

A fight, that's what we're doing with the Vietnam Veterans Park over here that the weather would just discuss it yeah. It.

H

Would be nice if you could War Korean.

K

H

K

A

A Korean War veterans, yes,.

H

Trail, yes, walking trail.

C

I don't know if people use a bike like that other one that I went to this morning that they use this one as a bike. Trail too I think this one's more like a and.

A

And we could get back yeah, Korean, War veterans, Trail, would be a trail. So thanks.

C

Thank you and then we're gonna. Ask that that's gonna have to be on.

G

C

Right, okay, all right!

C

This is your District right now! Thank you, okay! So all.

A

D

Councilman out there, maybe uh you can have it resurfaced to that self-walking material that we're going to have at the at our park, because that looks kind of yeah.

F

We'll walk through it with Gigi.

D

And that resurfacing with the Shelf walking material. That's it.

A

Okay, I will entertain a motion sure go ahead.

L

For the record, as you remembered that the American Legion 59 post are preparing fruit baskets for veterans that are in nursing homes, so you have any veteran that you know. There's a nursing home that the American National Post 59 known and they will prepare a food basket and they will take you to the veteran very.

A

Good. Thank you. Thank.

L

B

Going back to the same question with Korean War veterans: are you requesting both no.

C

Trails or just one, it's actually the same Trail, it's actually the same Trail, but you could get in in three different locations.

C

B

C

Surely thinking.

B

A

All right, I will entertain emotions our little table motion to name the trail located at the slaughter Park to be named Korean War veterans, Trail.

A

Walking through well I thought that did you want to walk in because it could be a mic, a bicycle.

K

I think at that, at that point it would just be just be labeled at the bottom walking hiking trails, yeah.

C

It's going to go through the we have a committee in the city they're going to have to yeah.

K

The main thing is: Korean War veteran, whatever Trail, whatever don't figure out the has little detail.

A

Okay, the motion is to name the trail located in Slaughter Park Korean, War veterans. Yes, we have a motion. We have a second rules in favor, say aye, aye aye, all those against motion passes. Thank you very much. I think we did some great work today. Yes,.

C

Sir, thank you there's some some sandwich: Chick-fil-A Sandwich outside and sodas.

A

For the record, it is 12, 37 and I will motion.

A

I would entertain a motion to return motion.

B

To adjourn second.

A

All those in favor say aye aye not even going to go to the Nays again. Thank you very much. I really appreciate the hard work all of you put into the benefits of the quality of life uh for our bedrooms.