Honoring Those Who Have Selflessly Dedicated Their Lives To Protecting Our Country

Ping-Jung Tsai on January 10, 2016

SAN ANTONIO, January 10

Good Samaritan Community Services (GSCS) is celebrating the men and women who served our country from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on November 10, 2015 at the GSCS Pavilion.

“Each year we come together to recognize these men and women who have selflessly dedicated their lives to our country in so many ways, not because they had to, but because they wanted to.” says Jill Oettinger, CEO of GSCS. “We will continue to honor and care for them, not only today, but for the rest of our lives as we are forever grateful for our veterans.”

This year’s keynote speaker will beSergeant Major US Marine Corps Reynaldo Rivera, who grew up attending the Good Samaritan Center youth programs. He served in Operation Desert Storm and Vietnam, where he earned a purple heart and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry. After a distinguished 32 year career, having received 28 personal and service awards. He retired with the highest rank an enlisted may achieve, that of Sergeant Major of Marines. Lt. Col. Cecilia Prado, USA, Retired will be this year’s Master of Ceremonies.

In addition to the ceremony, artist Robert Sifuentes, a decorated combat veteran who served in Vietnam, will have an art exhibit. His series of work, collectively titled “173d series”, started with Vietnam and now includes Afghanistan with the Taylor piece. The 173d was created for Vietnam trained in Okinawa, it was the first Army combat unit in Vietnam and was inactivated after Vietnam. The 173d was again reactivated after 9-11 and made the night jump into Northern Iraq then made several deployments into Afghanistan. The 173d command at the moment is in transition from Italy to Germany.
Lunch and dessert will be served to all attendees. There will be a performances by Lanier High School’s ROTC, Choir and Color Guard. Juan Guajardo will recite the poem “The Bullet Followed Him Home.”

The ceremony is free. Veterans, Good Sam Alumni and city officials are encouraged to attend. For more information about the event, contact Kathleen Dove at 210-424-2066 or kathleen.dove@goodsamtx.org.

About Good Samaritan Community Services

Good Samaritan Community Services is a catalyst for change, supporting individuals and families by providing excellent community services to overcome the impact of poverty.These services include a child development program, afterschool and summer youth enrichment programs, a college readiness program, family services, and the only nationally accredited senior center in south Texas.What began as a ministry of the Episcopal Church on the west side of San Antonio in 1951 now reaches 5,500 individuals and families across seven (7) sites in six (6) South Texas cities.