(Seguin) – COVID-19 or no COVID-19, American heroes still deserve recognition this Memorial Day.
That’s according to members of the American GI Forum Manuel Castilla Chapter here in Seguin.
Group Secretary Rene Ramos says although the Memorial Day ceremony will not be the same, the veterans’ group is still moving forward with its annual flag ceremony on Monday, May 25 at the Manuel Castilla Park. The park is located at the corner of Martindale and North Guadalupe Streets. Although scheduled to be a quick ceremony with no speeches, Ramos says the flag raising will still be formal and respectful.
“I’m scared. I’m sure a lot of people are scared too. You don’t know what to do. You are trying to protect yourself and your family but still we decided via text, mind you, the membership decided that even if nobody attended, we needed to conduct this ceremony because it is important to our country. It is important to our state. It is important to us as an organization. The movement has to happen. The flag has to be raised to the national anthem and then the flag has to be lowered to half-staff to taps and that’s what we intend to do. We need to stick to that,” said Ramos.
Ramos says of course, the group will be practicing social distancing. Better yet, he says the community is invited to observe the ceremony from the safety of their vehicles.
Ramos says the decision to go ahead with this community observance is also in honor of all those great heroes who have remained strong throughout these last couple of months.
“Memorial Day is about military men and women who have lost their lives for the sake of our country and here we have, now in this pandemic situation, heroes everyday whether it’s doctors, nurses, grocery workers — they are heroes that are trying to keep our country normal and I appreciate that and we think it’s important that when we are raising the flag, we are thinking about all these things – not just the men and women who gave their lives in the defense of our country,” said Ramos.
The Memorial Day ceremony at Manuel Castilla Park is set for 9 a.m. Monday.
Hacienda Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation will also be hosting a celebration at its flagpole beginning at 10 a.m. Monday. Organizers say several veterans’ ministries and organizations will participating in the event. Social distancing will also be in place. Organizers say Hacienda Oaks is the only nursing home in the city that has a VA contract and who is home to 36 veterans. Hacienda Oaks is located at 1637 N. King St.
Meanwhile, another community Memorial Day Ceremony will not be held this year. The ceremony hosted at the Guadalupe Memorial Pak has been cancelled.
American GI Forum to salute American heroes this Memorial Day
