The Mesquite Online News - Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Veterans honored at Main Campus ribbon cutting

A member of an armed forces color guard gets ready to command the guard to march toward the stage to present the American Flag for the singing of the National Anthem.
A member of an armed forces color guard gets ready to command the guard to march toward the stage to present the American Flag for the singing of the National Anthem.
By Joe Camacho

Texas A&M-San Antonio hosted a salute to armed forces veterans Nov. 11, Veterans Day, during the official ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Main Campus Building, which opened for classes in August.Following the ceremony, the community was invited to tour the new building and a VIP reception was held in the rear courtyard of the building.President Maria Hernandez Ferrier and a panel of guests spoke to an audience of more than 200 people to honor veterans and introduce the significance and hopes of A&M-San Antonio.The panel included John Sharp, A&M-University chancellor, members of the A&M Board of Regents, members of state and local legislature, Student Government Association and representatives of faiths around the South Side.
A JROTC team stands at attention during the wreath dedication. A&M-San Antonio hosted the Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 11 during its ribbon cutting ceremony.

“I am delighted to serve in this capacity,” said Leticia Van de Putte, state senator who served as the mistress of ceremonies and directed the two-part event. She explained that she was thankful to all American veterans and commenced the ribbon cutting for “Texas A&M-San Antonio’s first, permanent campus building.”

Veterans were honored with music, a rifle salute, a wreath dedication and thankful words. JROTC programs of Harlandale, Southwest, McCollum, John Jay and Marshall high schools surrounded guests with Texas and American flags. And the VFW Post 76, the oldest post in Texas, followed by the National Anthem.

Ferrier thanked all veterans, active members of the armed forces and their families for the sacrifices they endure.

“I know that some of you are saddened today by the sacrifices of our veterans and our four-footed friends have made,” Ferrier said in a tearful and emotional response to Lex’s story, a veteran dog who was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries he sustained in Iraq.

Board of Reagents Chair Dr. Richard Box explained that Lex served beside a fallen soldier who died in Iraq.

Following the tribute to veterans, each guest of the panel spoke about their experience with  A&M-San Antonio.

Chancellor John Sharp speaks during A&M-San Antonio’s ribbon cutting ceremony Nov. 11. The ribbon cutting followed a salute and tribute to veterans.

Sharp emphasized the importance of college. A parent’s question to their child changes from “Are you going to college?” to “What college are you going to attend?” when the parent becomes educated. He added that he expects A&M-San Antonio to surpass A&M-College Station as the biggest university in the system.

Zaira Rodriguez, SGA president, ended the spoken portion and said she was thankful for “our new permanent home.”

Rodriguez then introduced the presentation of a university time capsule, assembled by the history club and student programming board. The capsule, containing a video, various A&M-San Antonio artifacts and information such as news articles gathered by the history club, will be buried and opened in  2036.

President Maria Hernandez Ferrier and her panel of guests get ready to cut the ribbon to officially open A&M-San Antonio’s new Main Campus Building Nov. 11.

Ferrier closed with words to the community and veterans, expressing her thanks to all the veterans, community members and panel of guests.

“Nuestra casa es su casa,” Ferrier said as she explained, outfitted in a bright red coat, that A&M-San Antonio belongs to its students, its veterans and the members of its community.

Then guests mingled and gazed at the details of Main Campus.

“I think just awesome. I love the mission-style architecture,” Monelle Trammell said as she took photos to share with her family. Trammell’s daughter is a 2010 graduate of A&M-San Antonio and was unable to attend Friday’s ceremony. “My other daughter is a high school sophomore now. So maybe she’ll be coming here in a few years.”

About the Author

Joseph Camacho
Joseph Camacho is the Multimedia Editor for The Mesquite. Previously, he served as the Mesquite’s Managing Editor and as a member of A&M-San Antonio’s Student Media Board. He has worked as a camera operator and student intern with NowcastSA.com and freelances as an audio/video engineer for local musicians and documentary filmmakers. He is a 2000 Southside High School graduate, attended Palo Alto College and served as a U.S. Marine. He is the father of two children, ages 3 and 7.

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