HOUSTON, TEXAS
For the second year, members of the Houston Texas Summerwood Stake volunteered to host a welcome dinner for more than 250 wounded veterans and caregivers arriving at nearby Bush Intercontinental Airport for Warrior’s Weekend.
Joined by dozens of JROTC cadets, hundreds of neighbors and Mothers of Military Service USA, Latter-day Saints lined the streets leading up to the stake center waving flags and holding signs to show appreciation to the wounded veterans for their sacrifice and service.
This was the first event in the 9th annual Warrior’s Weekend, touted as the largest gathering of its kind in the world. It provides a free fishing weekend at Port O’Connor, Texas, for over 950 wounded veterans and their caregivers from all over the USA.
Noting the sense of inclusion and unity that was present, James C. Banks, president of the Summerwood stake, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of the weekend. “It gives us an opportunity to go out and be of service. This is our community, too, so we want to be of service as much as we possibly can.”
Lt. F. David Escobar, of the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office and president of the Trinity River Branch in the Houston Texas Summerwood Stake, was responsible for organizing the motorcade for the veterans. He reiterated the importance of the event for the service men and women. “This event means they can get away from hospital therapy and get to bond with other brothers and sisters. They can fish and get away from reality, which is great therapy. There is no place in the USA that gives such a welcome as Texas. On the way through the motorcade the veterans were saying, ‘Is this for us?’ Many of them were crying, they were so touched.”
Ron Kocian, president of Warrior’s Weekend who served in the U.S. National Guard, reported that the volunteers spend the year raising money, $950,00 this year alone, to bring the veterans wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan for this weekend of fishing and recognition two and a half hours southwest of Houston on the Gulf of Mexico. Begun in 2007, Warrior’s Weekend transported 55 wounded soldiers from Brooks Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, to fish and relax. The weekend of relaxation and reconnecting now requires donations of 425 boats, crews and hundreds of volunteers to assist with food, lodging and transportation. He expressed his gratitude to the Church for hosting the dinner and being a part of honoring the veterans. “The worst thing you can do with one of these veterans is to forget their service and their sacrifice. We don’t want to do that. We want to do our part,” he said.
Kent Wilson, an army veteran from South Carolina, also conveyed thankfulness to the Church for its part in the weekend. “I love it. It means a whole lot because sometimes when we get back home we don’t get appreciated and when we come out here to Texas they make us feel appreciated,” he said.
Zachery Collins, an army veteran from Albuquerque, New Mexico, learned of the event from his case manager at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. “I am hoping to reach out to other veterans and network and to enjoy the camaraderie. Thank you,” he said.
A veteran from California, Tony Lam, found information about the weekend from the website www.warrior’sweekend.org. “This is my first time and I hope to bond, and to use this as a stress reliever,” he said.
As Ron Hickman, interim sheriff for Harris County, the third most populous in the country, gave his pre-dinner greeting, he expressed “thanks to the church ladies for the delicious desserts y’all will be eating soon,” which was followed by a united roar of approval.
