“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.
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.
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.”
