Weslaco honors Gold Star Families on Veterans Day

WESLACO, Texas (ValleyCentral)—In Weslaco, Gold Star Families were recognized on Monday for the ultimate sacrifice their loved ones made.

Robert Cisneros, with the Rotary Club, said before the group initiated the Veterans Day Celebration, the city did not have any events for the holiday.

“First year, we honored World War II veterans. We honored Vietnam veterans the second year, and this year we’re honoring the Gold Star Family members," Cisneros said.

Magdalena Espinoza's son Bradley was killed in action in October 2009. She said after fifteen years, she started to wonder if anyone still remembered. If her family would be the only ones to know his sacrifice.

Espinoza and her son were presented with a flag commemorating Bradley Espinoza and their recognition as a Gold Star Family.

“This goes to show that he’s not forgotten, and he will be remembered and honored. This is something that shows us that we’re not alone," said Espinoza.

Magdalena said being a Gold Star Family makes her a member of a club she never wanted to be a part of, but sharing the experience with others who have lost someone creates a bond, for which she is grateful.

“It’s very important for us to be around each other because we know each other’s pain. I know what those other mothers are going through," Magdalena said. "I don’t know if you saw the hugs, but they mean so much. Because they know my pain, and I know theirs.”

The event featured performances by students from high school down to elementary school. A rousing mariachi rendition of God Bless America was also played.

Cisneros said the Rotary Club wants to honor veterans first, but also teach the younger generations to value patriotism.

“Teach the children why we have the liberty and freedom that we have in this country. And somebody paid the ultimate price for that to happen," Cisneros said.

Magdalena said everyone in attendance heard her son's name, along with all the others who were honored and she hopes the crowd takes those names with them, remembers them, and honors the price each of the honored veterans paid.

At the ceremony, Marine Corps veteran Jerry Peña announced the names of the veterans before their families were presented with flags.

CPLC was recently awarded a grant of nearly three-quarters of a million dollars from the Department of Veterans Affairs to combat the crisis of veteran suicide. The grant will help the group provide resources to veterans, including mental health screenings, peer support, and VA benefits assistance.

The organization has a staff of peers, including Peña, to help connect veterans as they make the transition from military to civilian life.

“Veterans Day is a big one for us. When we celebrate Veterans Day, we’re tabling events out here to try to reach as many veterans as we can and promote the services that we provide to them," Pena said. "It’s not only the service that we provide through the grant, but we also connect them to other resources in the community that they rightly deserve.”