2012 Annual Veterans Day Program and Ceremony

Veterans Park & Athletic Complex was the setting for the Annual Veterans Day Program and Ceremony last Sunday, 11 November 2012, the traditional observation date. The Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial Board of Directors hosted the event attended by over 600.

The ceremony began at 4:00 p.m. in the Louis L. Adam Memorial Plaza with the traditional reading of the names being added to the Wall of Honor.  BVVM Board member, Bill Youngkin, read the 112 names as families and friends answered “Here!”  Youngkin writes veteran histories from oral interviews he conducts with area veterans. The stories appear in “The Eagle” as “Brazos Valley Heroes”.  Currently, he is looking for Korean War veterans and Vietnam War veterans.

The audience moved across the park for the program under the American Pavilion. LT GEN Randolph House, USA (Ret.), opened the ceremony accompanied by 100 freshmen members of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band. The rest of the band members were still driving home from the A&M v. Alabama football game. The keynote speaker was Eddie Joe Davis, Ph D, president of the Texas A&M Foundation and Vietnam veteran.

The Honorable Bill Flores, Congressional District 17, presented Roy Kelly with the first TX-17 Congressional Veteran Award.

CAPT Mike Newman, USN (Ret.), presented the Patriot Award to the Texas Aggie Band for their continued support of BVVM events.

The day was made even more special by the patriotic display of 1,000 US flags honoring veterans. The flags were placed by the Bryan Rotary and will stand all week. Also, during the week, the Bryan Rotary members have trained docents to conduct historical tours along the Lynn Stuart Pathway for area school children. Hundreds if students were on hand on just the first day of the tours.

The Texas A& M Ross Volunteers ended the program with “Taps”. In all, Veterans Day was celebrated in a true patriotic and respectful way. We hope to see you there next year.