Veteran Stories Wanted...To Publish

Veteran stories wanted to publish in Catholic War Veteran Blog. Send me a message at mileman100@yahoo.com

We all served and did our duty here...or over there, we all signed on the dotted line pledging to give our all for this great country. Let's hear from you!

CWV HELPS KIDS IN WESLACO AND MERCEDES!

Pictures & captions by Jose Luis Torres

During bingo night Thursday July 10 CWV Commander Richard Lopez introduced Pony League softball players Laysha Castillo & Jada Lopez. They belong to the Weslaco softball team !KRUSH! Laysha plays 1st base & Jada plays catcher. They will be going to the World Series of Softball 12 years & under to be held in Lubbock, Texas July 14-19. They qualified by becoming Regional & Sectional Champions of the Rio Grande Valley! The Catholic War Veterans of Weslaco, Texas are proud to be a sponsor of this team. A check for $250.00 was donated to them. Adults Araseli Castillo & Elizabeth Segura (not shown) accepted the check. !KRUSH! Team coaches are Alex Bravo & Vic Vasquez.

Thank you to all our Bingo patrons who donate part of their winnings after each winning game! Your generous donations help children in our community. Winning & giving makes for a happy heart! Laysha & Jada thank you on behalf of their softball team.

The CWV also donated $250.00 to Linda Soto (red blouse). She accepted the money on behalf of the Mercedes Recreational Center located at 701 Mathis St. She is a program leader at the center. During their summer program 180-200 kids will visit the center daily. For the kids enjoyment they have a swimming pool. They also have billiard & hockey games. The center has dance games and a basketball court. The center also provides snacks and has a nutritional program. During the school year they have an after school program. The director of the center is Richard Morin. Again....thank you to all our Bingo patrons for your generous donations after each winning game. Your big heart helps us give back to our community! Also thank you for posing for this picture, you guys & gals look wonderful!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY TO EVERYBODY FROM FROM THE WESLACO CWV!

Photographs by Jose Luis Torres

Happy 4th of July to everybody from the Catholic War Veterans of Weslaco, Texas. During the eve of the 3rd of July during Bingo the CWV celebrated and gave thanks to the Lord for another birthday celebrated by our great country, The United States of America. The CWV members ate cake and partook with the Bingo participants. Everybody gave thanks. Let us never forget the sacrifices our veterans made when they heard the call of our great nation to bear arms. When duty called they answered. Our present day active military continue to answer the call. Let us support them, honor them and help them in any way we can. Let them know we care, that we appreciate them and that we will never forget what they do for our great country. God bless them and keep them safe in their never ending battle to protect our democracy and our way of life.

Everybody, ring the bells of Freedom this 4th of July. We are all individuals but if we act as one in the name of Freedom we become invincible! God bless America and all it stands for!

CWV MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY HELD AT HIGHLAND MEMORIAL CEMETERY

Photographs & captions by Jose Luis Torres

A Memorial Day Ceremony was held today by the Weslaco CWV at Highland Memorial Park. We honored our deceased veterans by paying special tribute to those who died in combat. Below is a sequence of events of the ceremony.

The Weslaco Fire Department brought one of
their ladder trucks with a Garrison flag.

It was a beautiful somber overcast day.

Once the American flag was above the tree line
it made a beautiful sight.

CWV member Frank Rodriguez was the first to arrive.

Before the ceremony started Sgt. Tijerina & CWV
member Jose Luis Torres hoist a new flag.

Some of the first CWV members to arrive are
(l-r) Andy Esquivel, Father Joe Villalon, Father
Robert Delong, Commander Richard Lopez &
Hector Taguilas.

Ashely Reyes Weslaco High J.R.O.T.C. special
guest to sing the National Anthem is flanked (l-r)
by Commander Richard Lopez & Pete Salazar.

CWV member Jose L. Sauceda takes a picture
with Miss Reyes.

All Present CWV members took a picture with guest speaker
Judge Jaime Tijerina 92nd District Court.

 Ceremony M.C. duties were done by CWV
3 year Trustee Pete Martinez ( he took the place of
Judge Gilbert Garza who is sick).

CWV Post 770 Weslaco, Texas Chaplin Father Joe
Villalon gave the opening prayer.

Raising of the Colors was done.

Participating Units were Weslaco High R.O.T.C.

V.F.W. Post 7473 from Elsa, Texas Commander
David Montemayor.

Marine Rifle Squad from Donna, Texas Marine
R.O.T.C. MSSgt. Rodriguez Commander.

National Guard A 3-141 Infantry Unit out of
Brownsville, Texas attached to HQ 3-141 IN
in Weslaco, Texas.

National Anthem sung by Ashely Reyes from
Weslaco High J.R.O.T.C.

CWV member Juan Valderas introduced guest
speaker Judge Jaime Tijerina.

Judge Jaime Tijerina gave an inspiring speech.

CWV Officer of the Day Leo Hinojosa recited a
memorial verse to our fallen heroes.

Taps was played by CWV member Andy Esquivel.

21 Gun salute was done by Donna Marine R.O.T.C.

CWV member Father Robert Delong said closing
prayer ending the Ceremony.

After the Ceremony Marine R.O.T.C. from Donna,
Texas enjoy a meal  courtesy of CWV Post 770.

Mercedes Army R.O.T.C. also enjoyed a meal.

Elsa VFW 7473 also chowed down.

A 3-141 IN enjoyed some CWV MRE's.

CWV members(l-r)Commander Richard Lopez,
Pete Salazar, Luis Garcia, Jose L. Sauceda,
Mike Vasquez, Hector Taguilas & Leo Hinojosa
enjoyed some food.

CWV member Juan Valderas was not too far behind
 in the food eating contest.

VFW 7473 Commander out of Elsa, Texas David
Montemayor sold some raffle tickets for an '85
Camaro (hope a CWV member gets it).

Last Patrol members were also present, thank
you for helping us out.

Group picture of CWV members (l-r) Oscar Flores, Leo Hinojosa, Noe Cavazos, Commander Richard Lopez, Judge Jaime Tijerina, Pete Martinez, Jose Luis Torres, Juan Valderas, Pete Salazar, Father Robert Delong, & Andy Esquivel.

Last but not least the ladies of the kitchen without whom none of the good food would be possible, Elizabeth, Mrs. Scott & Maria.

Let us not forget the purpose & meaning of Memorial Day. Remember the sacrifice of all our veterans especially the ones who made the ultimate sacrifice. We enjoy the freedoms we have because of them. Let us hope and pray that next Memorial Day all our troops are home and out of harms way. Thank you Lord, Amen.

CWV PROUD TO HELP WESLACO HIGH SCHOOL ROTC!

Photographs & Captions by Jose Luis Torres

Mrs. Minnie Rubio working on a fund raising benefit for the Weslaco High School ROTC visited the CWV Hall. Mrs. Rubio brought with her 4 Weslaco High School ROTC members. They are raffling off a car to raise funds for their program. CWV Commander Richard Lopez promised to help them. The CWV Post will be buying a batch of raffle tickets.

During their visit to the CWV Post, Weslaco ROTC members (4 young men standing in the center) Alfonso Barreda, Luke Morris, Miguel Bautista & Martin Cortez took the time to take a picture with all CWV members present at the time.

CWV members Leonel Hinojosa & Mike Vasquez stand behind 4 Weslaco High School ROTC members when they visited the CWV Post. Pictured (L-R) is Alfonso Barreda who is presently in the High School Army Reserve program, in the center is Luke Morris who is a junior and still has a year to think about his next move after High School, next to him is Miguel Bautista who will report to Basic Training in June and Martin Cortez who will report for Basic Training in August.
Good luck to these 4 young men as they move into the next phase of their lives. May God bless you, protect you and guide you in your endeavors. 

FOR PALM SUNDAY THE CWV GIVES AWAY EASTER BASKETS.

 Photos & captions by CWV Historian Jose Luis Torres

Ten Easter baskets were prepared by Joanne Lopez wife of CWV commander Richard Lopez & to their left are CWV members Juan Valderas & Efrain Morales.

1st free raffle winner won a $25.00 gift certificate to Olive Garden which was presented by CWV member Pete Salazar.

2nd winner won an Easter basket presented by CWV members Pete Salazar & Efrain Morales.

3rd winner also got an Easter basket presented by CWV members Pete Salazar & Efrain Morales.

4th raffle winners received an Easter basket presented by CWV members Richard Lopez, Pete Salazar & Efrain Morales.

5th Easter basket presented to winner by CWV members Richard Lopez & Luis Garcia.

6th Easter basket presented to winner by CWV members Richard Lopez & Luis Garcia.

Lucky winner # 7 was presented with an Easter basket by CWV members Richard Lopez & Luis Garcia.




THANKS AGAIN TO OUR BINGO PATRONS, HAVE A BLESSED PALM SUNDAY & HOLY WEEK. GOD BLESS YOU ALL!