Land Commissioner Buckingham delivers Memorial Day remarks at RGV State Veterans Cemetery

Texas Land Commissioner and Valley Land Board Chairwoman Dawn Buckingham, M.D. joined Marine Corps League RGV Detachment and members of the community Monday at the Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission.

Buckingham, M.D., delivered remarks as the guest speaker for the Memorial Day Ceremony.

“There is no greater sacrifice than giving your life in defense of your country,” Buckingham said. “As VLB Chairwoman, it is my solemn duty to honor and preserve the memories of our heroes who where killed or marked as Missing In Action while serving a grateful nation. Today and every day, may we remember that the price of freedom is never free and appreciate the selfless devotion of the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect Americans and our way of life.”

The ceremony included a “final roll call.” Roll call was used during the Civil War and Vietnam Conflict following the return of soldiers from the battlefield. Those not at Roll Call were considered Missing in Action (MIA) or Killed in Action (KIA). This demonstration was a special way for veterans in attendance to pay tribute to their fallen comrades and a reminder to never forget the the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom.

Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham was the guest speaker for the Memorial Day ceremony at the Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission on Monday, May 26, 2025, in Mission. (Courtesy of Texas General Land Office)

Each year, the headstones of servicemembers marked as KIA or MIA are illuminated at the four Texas State Veterans Cemeteries in Killeen, Abilene, Mission, and Corpus Christi to honor those we have lost in battle. The grounds are also open 24 hours a day during Memorial Day weekend and on Memorial Day to ensure families can visit their loved ones.

The cemetery opened on Dec. 4, 2006. Texas State Veterans Cemeteries are built through a partnership between the State of Texas and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and are managed by the VLB. Burial benefits include a gravesite in any one of the open cemeteries with available space, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate, at no cost to the family.

U.S Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-McAllen, issued a video Monday to mark the solemn day.

Attendees place flags near the tombstones of veterans laid to rest at the Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery during a Veterans Day ceremony and flag laying on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in Mission. (Joel Martinez | jmartiez@themonitor.com)

“This Memorial Day, we remember the service and sacrifices of the brave men and women who have laid down their lives for our nation,” she said.

Referencing her Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act, which passed the house late last year, she said, “Though we can never repay them for their service, we can honor their lives by ensuring every veteran and their loved ones can access the benefits they need and earned.”

The post Land Commissioner Buckingham delivers Memorial Day remarks at RGV State Veterans Cemetery appeared first on MyRGV.com.