He said he was glad to be present for the ceremony and called Rockport "the most pretty and most patriotic city in Texas."

He also said it is great to see the high school band out at the ceremony on a school day, which shows the community's commitment to honoring veterans.

He told a joke about three American pilots who were shot down, one each from the Navy, Air Force and Marines. As Garcia revealed the Marine pilot as the brunt of the joke, he then wished the Corps a happy birthday (Nov. 10).

Garcia pointed out the veterans of World War II are dying at a rate of 1,000 per day, noting they are hard to replace. "We need to document their stories," he emphasized.

He called those veterans the "greatest generation," noting they built America's middle class.

He also talked about Vietnam veterans, explaining this country is still coming to terms with their service.

"We value your honor and your service, thank you for letting us stand on your shoulders," he said.

Garcia recalled serving on the USS Constitution in San Diego with a crew of 5,500 whose average age was 19. He said it was breathtaking to see the best and brightest, representing 50 countries, accept the opportunity to serve and keep the tradition going.

"It's our country at its highest ideals,' Garcia said.

He also said there could not be a Veterans Day without remembering the spouses. He said this country has a long, proud legacy of those who held up the homefront while their loved ones were out making the world safer for democracy.

He credited his wife who was home with three children under three years old when he was serving. He joked about his twin sons, who are now six, and how they quickly learned if they each ran in different directions, mom could not catch them both.

He also said the ceremony also must recognize those who did not come back, as well as their families, many who came from this community.

"We thank you for your sacrifice," he said.

He then talked about how veterans can be honored the other 364 days of the year. He referred to the Nov. 8 election noting only 12 percent of registered voters cast ballots.

He said, "Voting is the ultimate tribute," as he pointed out there are parts of the world where citizens aren't allowed to vote for their government.

He directed his comments to the students who may be 18 stating, "Voting is cool, treat it as the sacred right it is."

He then talked about how one in six American high schools do not let military recruiters on their campuses. "They're (recruiters) treated like drug dealers."

He said there are also elite colleges who do not allow recruiters or ROTC units on their campuses.

He said those schools are denying the continuation of the United States legacy. He suggested federal funding should be withheld from those schools.

He talked about how those who serve know the indescribable feeling of coming home from a deployment and seeing loved ones.

He said they also know the nauseous, sick feeling of losing a buddy.

Garcia concluded, "Thank you for your service."

Mayor Todd Pearson, who served as master of ceremonies, urged those present to view the website legacy.com, where families have posted tributes to fallen soldiers of Afghanistan and Iraq.

He ended the ceremony by reading a letter from an elementary youngster, Cynea Perry who said, "Dear Veteran, I respect you for saving our country."

Copyright © 2005. The Rockport Pilot.