SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) — On Monday, November 11th, at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, family members, military organizations and Vietnam veterans gathered to commemorate Veterans Day, honoring those who have served and continue to serve the country.

"We need to remember those who fought in battle, and we also need to remember those who are serving and who have served before. Just because you served and didn’t get killed doesn't mean you should be forgotten. We need to remember all of our veterans, those with sickness, PTSD and those with missing limbs. We need to support them," said David Schoff, a Vietnam War veteran.

Schoff emphasized the importance of recognizing the sacrifices of all veterans. The memorial stands as a tribute not only to Vietnam veterans but to all who have served.

"This was all done by Vietnam veterans, and we opened it all to veterans. We have pavers out here recognizing veterans from every war, from the Revolutionary War to today," Schoff added.

Among those honored at the memorial is WO3 Luis G. Holguin, a U.S. Army helicopter pilot who went missing in action on January 3, 1971, after his aircraft disappeared in South Vietnam. Holguin's name, along with many others, serves as a reminder of the cost of war and the soldiers who remain unaccounted for. Holguin, who was declared missing in action during the Vietnam War, is remembered at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. More details on his case can be found on the POW Network at https://www.pownetwork.org/bios/h/h131.htm.

Schoff also highlighted the importance of supporting veterans through initiatives such as the Permian Basin Honor Flight, which offers veterans the chance to visit memorials dedicated to their service.

"I’m on the board for the Permian Basin Honor Flight, where we take veterans who served between 1941 and 1975 on a free trip to Washington, D.C., to see all the memorials," Schoff said.

With local support, Schoff is hopeful that the Honor Flight program can carry 100 veterans on each of its two planned trips this year.

News Source : https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/news/memorial-honors-service-sacrifice-and-heroes/