Texas Southmost College recognizes veterans, their families

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Speaking to a Veterans Day audience at Texas Southmost College, the chief justice in waiting on the 13th Texas Court of Appeals urged people to remember the support provided to veterans by their families.

Justice Jaime Tijerina, re-elected last week to the Corpus Christi-based 13th Court of Appeals, said his wife proudly displays a certificate of appreciation at her workplace from the Department of the Army recognizing Tijerina’s service in the U.S. Army.

Tijerina is from McAllen, was deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan, and rose to the rank of Lt. Colonel.

“People ask her, did you serve? She says, no, my husband did. And I tell her, honey, you need to tell them you served as well. Without her, without my children, without my extended support group, and every veteran will tell tell you the same thing, without them, we would have not have been able to accomplish what we accomplished,” Tijerina said.

“You are veterans in your own right. You made the sacrifices, you wait in uncertainty and you wait for us to come home. You’re part of this community, and we thank you for your love and support.”

Tijerina also said it’s not just the soldiers in combat who make sacrifices serving in the military.

“It’s every person that served, from the mechanics to the medics to the officers that enlisted that make a commitment when they deploy to serve something bigger than themselves,” he said.

“In the Army, I was a lawyer. In the Army, we always say that legal readiness is a force multiplier. Family readiness is a force multiplier. My biggest one is logistics is a force multiplier,” Tijerina said.

“You can get all the infantry down range that you want, but if you can’t give them food, if you can’t give them water, if you can’t give them shelter, give them ammunition, then the fighting force is diminished,” he said.

“So today, we honor all those that have served. The memories and experiences stay with us and sometimes are difficult to bear, and that’s why we need to remember that veterans are not just reminders of the past. They’re living reminders of the cost of freedom,” Tijerina said.

“Here in Cameron County, there are over 15,000 veterans living among us. There are hundreds of thousands across the state of Texas and millions across our country. They still need your support, and to my fellow veterans, today on Veterans Day there is is no better day to do your buddy checks with your friends. It’s not always easy. There’s the physical scars and mental scars that come back. If you’re a veteran, you know the buddies that need those checks,” he said.

“Today’s also a reminder that our work is never really finished. There are still veterans that need care, support and attention. We must continue to fight for better healthcare, better support systems, and better opportunities for those who have served. It’s not enough to say, ‘Thank you.’ …When you say thank you to someone, do something for them now. We must show it through our actions, making sure that no one who has served ever feels forgotten or abandoned,” Tijerina said.

“As we reflect on service today, let us also remember that it’s not just our duty to protect freedom overseas, but to protect our values: liberty, equality and justice here at home. Every veteran carries that responsibility, and it’s a responsibility that we share with the people we protect and defend,” Tijerina said.

“So, to my fellow veterans, thank you, thank for your service, your sacrifice and your continued commitment to our country. … Let us all remember that Veterans Day is not just a day to remember the past, but it’s a day to recommit to the ideals that made this country great: freedom, justice, and the unwavering belief that we’re all in this together.”

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