FLORESVILLE — Last weekend, two of our Texas State Veterans Home residents embarked on a Trip of a Lifetime through Honor Flight Austin with a flight to Washington D.C. to see the memorials built in their honor. Residents of Frank M. Tejeda Texas State Veterans Home, U.S. Army Veteran Mr. Silvestre Torres and U.S. Navy Veteran Mr. Jesse Bratton proudly answered the call to serve our nation during WWII and were honored for their service this past weekend. 

Mr. Jesse Bratton (left) and Mr. Silvestre Torres (right) vising memorials in Washington D.C.

 “There is no better display of American values than the way in which we honor our Veterans,” said Texas Veterans Land Board Chairman George P. Bush. “At the Texas Veterans Land Board, we take great pride in showing appreciation to our Veterans and are always encouraged seeing other organizations do the same.”

Pride and honor shone brightly on our Veterans faces as they made their way through the Austin Airport. They were accompanied by the sound of a military pipe and drum escort and the applause of hundreds of airport staff and travelers who paused to watch the grand procession and show their gratitude.

Our Veterans then experienced an unforgettable day by visiting the memorials honoring their service and sacrifice in our nation’s capital riding through Washington D.C. with a police escort, and paying respects to fallen fellow servicemembers at Arlington National Cemetery. As our Texas State Veteran Home residents returned home, they were greeted with the warmest of welcome by friends, family, grandchildren, and even great-great grandchildren!

Mr. Silvestre Torres receives a warm welcome home from grandchildren at the airport

We are proud of our Veterans for their service and are grateful to Honor Flight Austin for the deeply meaningful experiences they provide to our Veterans.