Back to SA

We motored back to San Antonio this weekend and visited one of the San Antonio Missions. This is all very interesting history of the Spanish occupation of the Southwest.












Mission San Jose is well preserved and is the largest of the four missions in San Antonio.

The U.S. Navy was guarding the Alamo on Armed Forces Day. Jason, you have the wrong MOS.

Pat O'Brians was hopping Saturday afternoon.

Mission San Antonio de Valero por la noches

Veterans' Appreciation Day in Eagle Pass

 Today I attended the Veterans' Appreciation Day that was held in the VFW Post 8562 Hall. It was sponsored by the Family Endeavor's Supportive Services for Veteran Families. They served chicken, beans and rice, a Mexican-American favorite.

This hall is rented out mostly. The Post has a smaller one next door that is used for meetings and smaller gatherings.

Paying the electrical bill for air conditioning is a major challenge.

This mural representing all the Armed Forces was painted by high school art students. It is well done.

I am doing certificates of appreciation for the Post to present to kin of a deceased veteran at the Memorial Day Program and a bunch of others that will be presented on Memorial Day, May 30. I am glad to be able to help them out.

VFW Post 8562

Tonight I attended a meeting of VFW Post 8562  (I am a Paid Up For Life Member) seeking a color guard for a Memorial Day Program I am organizing for Sunday, May 25 at First United Methodist Church.

I met Estaban Trevino who runs the color guard for the Post. We graduated from high school the same year. He was an elementary teacher for 26 years.

Texas Hill Country

Today we motored to Texas Hill Country and Garner State Park, named after Cactus Jack Garner. See earlier post regarding Cactus Jack.

On the way to the park we braked for these flags by a rancher's corral. Most of them are flags of Texas colleges. Some of which I have never heard of. But of course Texas A & M (Aggies) is included.

The Frio River has been dammed up creating a lake that is about 2.5 feet deep, which makes for good paddle boating, kyaking, swimming, and floating on inner tubes and air mattresses.

The Civilian Conservation Corps did a lot of work in the park. It reminds me of all the work the CCC did in Custer State Park. I didn't get any pictures of that.

 



This is the highest hill I have seen in Texas. But Texas is a big state and I haven't seen it all.

In nearby Leakey, population 450 and the county seat, you
can find the Real County Museum. It cost a dollar to enter.
I don't think they take credit cards so bring lots of cash!

This is a good look at Hill Country. Towns nearby include Concan and Leakey. Garner State Park has a lot of camping spots including RV spots. This would be a good place to bring an RV in the winter and ride bike. There are some rollers and some short steep climbs.

There are also mountain bike trails in the park.

Delano Legion Post 377 Awards Presentations

The Delano Knights of Columbus were cited
for their outstanding financial support for
American Legion Programs.

Without the partnership and financial support of the Delano Knights of Columbus, Legion Post 377 would not be able to carry on all the programs that supports veterans, Americanism and Children and Youth.

                                             

Marlene Kittock

Marlene Kittock, Delano City Clerk, was instrumental in working with FEMA to get the Legion Post out of the flood plain. This results in a considerable cost savings in flood insurance.

Mike Brandenburg, 1st Vice Commander

Mike Brandenburg, 1st Vice Commander, was named Legionnaire of the Year. In addition to his duties as 1st Vice Commander taking care of membership, Mike does a lot of work around the post including mowing, looking after color guard equipment, and many other things.

Steve Stahlke                                      

Steve Stahlke was named Club Board Member of the Year for his work on the board that oversees the bar and facilities. Steve conceptualized and implemented the upgrade to the outdoor patio. He organized the recovering of the bar stools. He is always looking for ways to improve the facility and bar and kitchen operation.                                                                                              

Bernie Dyreson

Dan Wendel

Roger Georges

Dan Wendel was awarded $250 for his volunteer hours around the Post and community from his employer, which he turned over to the Post.

Bernie Dyreson painted the exterior of the building and did a number of other things to improve the facility.

Roger Georges is our in-house electrician. He changed out lighting fixtures that will result in lowered utility bills and did a number of other electrical projects around the building.

Pam Hoschal

Pam Hoschel, a member of the auxiliary, was recognized as a "Newsletter Contributor". She also takes the lead in addressing the newsletter.

Dick Amundson

Dick Amundson was recognized as "Newsletter Addressor". He picks up the newsletter from the print shop and either assists auxiliary members in putting the labels on or does it himself.










George Krause received his 50th Year Continuous Membership Certificate.

Quick Trip...

...to Delano for Monday's Legion meeting. The shuttle driver from EP to San Antonio Airport once worked in the Jolly Green Giant cannery near Glencoe,  Silver Lake, Hutchinson, so he knew where west metro kind of was. He remembered the I35 bridge going down, which was 2008. He went to Minnesota when he didn't have a job here.

SD Vietnam Veterans Reunion

I received this video of the Vietnam Veterans Reunion of 2006 from Chuck Gorman. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtCZVAts1m4