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Published: Thursday, 07 November 2024 18:39
Several cities and organizations will be having Veterans Day events this coming Veterans Day. There were a few cities like Brownsville and Edinburg that have already hosted their Veterans events, but there are a few more you can check out. Some RV parks will also be holding events, so check with your park to see if they are holding a special event recognizing the Veterans in your community.
Officially observed on November 11, Veterans Day is a time to recognize the service and pay respects to military Veterans who have served in the United States Armed Forces. This holiday started as a day to reflect the heroism of those who died in our country’s service and was originally called Armistice Day. It fell on November 11 because that is the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. However, in 1954, the holiday was changed to “Veterans Day” in order to account for all Veterans in all wars.
The City of Mission invites the community to join in a day of festivities on November 9, honoring Veterans with a series of events, including the 6th Annual Veterans Day Parade, a DD214 Freedom 5k Run, a Veterans Appreciation BBQ, and a lively family-friendly festival.
Read more: City of Mission and others host Veterans Day events
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Published: Thursday, 07 November 2024 18:37
The McAllen Wind Ensemble is excited to announce that its 2024-2025 concert season will be free to the public, thanks to the generous support of the McAllen Performing and Cultural Arts Foundation. The Foundation is committed to advancing and enhancing the performing arts and performing arts education in McAllen and throughout the Rio Grande Valley. After a historic season, celebrating its golden anniversary, the organization is excited for this new partnership to open up their concerts to even more people.
While concerts are free, entrance will require an electronic ticket. They can be obtained by going to the organization’s website www.mcallenwindensemble.org. Assistance will also be provided at the door for those who require it.
Read more: MWE Concerts are now free, opens season with salute to Veterans
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Published: Thursday, 07 November 2024 18:35
It was a busy week for parks throughout the Rio Grande Valley. Parks were having all of their Halloween festivities the weekend before Halloween through Halloween night. I was able to attend two dances on Halloween night and had a blast catching up with entertainers, residents, and park activity directors.
It’s always fun going to events and being able to sit and enjoy some time with you, our friendly Winter Texans. We have a great time getting out there, seeing the fun side of you and just a couple of the reasons you visit the Valley year after year.
And now that Halloween is past, Thanksgiving is creeping up on us. This is the month of Thanksgiving and parks, cities, and organizations are now holding fundraisers, food drives, and more to help their local communities, schools, and food banks. One park has a pretty big one coming up to support the Penitas Food Pantry – look for that information in the next issue.
We like telling the Valley Winter Texans, and the rest of our readers, about these events. The more the word gets out the better – for you and those you are supporting. So please share the information with us so we can spread the word. We know how much you enjoy helping others, and we love helping you tell others what you are doing for your community.
Next week is Veterans Day. We have a few places that are still having events to honor Veterans in their communities. If your park is holding an event – please send a photo or two so we can show our readers what you did. We like hearing the stories of our Veterans that live in the parks, that visit the Rio Grande Valley and recognizing those that have served.
Again, this paper is about you and for you, so please share with us what you want to read, what you want to know more about, and what kind of fun things you are doing. If your sewing group, reading club, pool group, etc. is holding an event, doing something in your community, holding a tournament, let us know. We would love to hear about it.
You can send photos and story ideas to news@wintertexantimes.com.
We want to hear from you and share your news.
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Published: Thursday, 07 November 2024 18:32
Walls or fences have always fascinated me. Possibly because I have wondered so many times why they were built in the first place. Are they built to keep something in or to keep something or someone out? Why do we build walls or fences? Is it because we can't get along with each other?
My father had a very interesting experience with cemetery walls. I grew up in a farming community where fences were very important to keep cattle in. That importance carried over to the cemetery where each little family plot had a small six inch high and some three-inch-wide concrete border around the family plot. Between each little wall there was about a four-inch vacant spot where weeds grew and multiplied. Can you imagine in a perpetual care cemetery what extra work that meant for the caretaker! Extra work meant extra expense.
My father- who was a very practical man - he believed it would be more logical to join one concrete barrier to the next...which of course is what he did. This did not go over very well with the next-door plot which belonged to his sister's family. He had to send someone in to cut through the concrete wall and remedy the situation to avoid a family feud. After many years the local Cemetery Association board just last year voted that in order to save money on maintenance that the wall from one family plot should be joined to the next family plot. How practical can you get?
Some day - when you have time - look up the most famous walls that exist in the world. Of course, the best known and the longest is the Great Wall of China. My daughter who visited China must have also been infatuated with walls. Even though it was against the law she managed to sleep on the Great Wall of China. I am sure that today the Great Wall of China is patrolled more diligently than when she slept on the wall when she was in her mid to late twenties.
One of the more famous walls is the chewing gum wall in Seattle, Washington. Can you imagine all these globs of chewing gum stuck on a wall. According to the description of the wall there are so many clumps of chewing gum that the wall emits a sugary smell.
Another famous wall was the Berlin Wall which, at one time, separated many families. In my many trips I never saw the Berlin Wall. But I did see one of the fences in Germany with lookout towers with guards watching the fence. It was scary to realize you were being watched.
Another wall that really disturbs me is the wall in Israel. Anytime I have had a bus group who visited Christ's birthplace, our bus has been stopped but all we needed to say was “Americans,” which was pretty obvious anyway as Americans stand out like sore thumbs. Then we were waved on through.
Today, walls are sometimes built as memorials such as the Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. Our local Border Wall does not even make the list even though it does draw many politicians to visit the Valley for our “border problem.”
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Published: Thursday, 07 November 2024 18:15
On October 19, Mission Bell-Tradewinds had a successful cancer fundraiser. They raised nearly $7,000 to help residents that are battling cancer. The money is being used to help with medical expenses, travel expenses, and other related expenses by several residents in the park. The park held a dance, silent auction, had T-shirt sales, a 50/50, food sales, and more. Leslie Blasing donated her time and talent to the event and Ron Moshier even stopped by and did dollar dances to pitch in to the fundraising.