[Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham Thank You Presentation ]
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>> I WILL SAY THIS. I WAS INFORMED WHEN I ASKED THE QUESTION EARLIER, WHAT WAS THE LARGEST DONATION IN THE HISTORY OF THE VETERAN LANDLORD FOR THESE PURPOSES. 115 ACRES.
>> IT IS MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO ASK AND FORMALLY GET THIS
PARTY STARTED. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, ROBERT. I WOULD LIKE TO A KNOWLEDGE THE COUNCILMEMBER HERE TODAY. I KNOW I SAW COUNCILMEMBER REAGAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THAT MEANS A LOT. SOMETIMES, LAST WEEK, WE WERE IN BUDGET HEARINGS. SOMETIMES THOSE WERE NOT FUN.
TODAY IS A FUN DAY! TODAY IS A GREAT DAY. WE ARE SO HONORED TO DO THIS LAND PRESENTATION TODAY BECAUSE WHAT A GREAT USE. THERE COULD NOT BE A GREATER USE TO EXPAND OUR. IT'S KIND OF A STAR FOR US. A START FOR ABILENE TO HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL CEMETERY OUT THERE AND KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO BE THE FINAL RESTING PLACE FOR THESE VETERANS. TO HAVE THE BEAUTIFUL FACILITY, WERE ALSO HONORED TO WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH MAINTENANCE ON THAT. THAT'S BEEN A GOOD PLUS PLUS WIN FOR
US IN THE LANDLORD. >> I WANTED TO SEND OUT REGARDS TO COMMISSIONER BUCKINGHAM. SHE IS A FRIEND OF ABILENE. SHE IS A FRIEND OF THIS AREA WHEN SHE WAS A SENATOR, SHE WAS A FRIEND AND SHE STILL A FRIEND. WE WANT TO SEND HER PRAYERS. SORRY SHE COULDN'T BE HERE. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CONSIDERED AN EFFICIENT MANNER. I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE TONY AS THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE TEXAS VETERAN LAND BOARD. HE HAS A HUGE BIO BUT ALL I'M GOING TO SAY IS THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. I'M GOING TO TURN
THIS OVER TO YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS TONY DOW. I AM THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE LANDLORD. ON BEHALF OF DAWN BUCKINGHAM, WHO SERVES AS THE CHAIR OF THE VETERAN LAND BOARD, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY FOR THIS OCCASION. IT IS AN HONOR TO STAND BEFORE YOU AS WE MARK THE SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE IN OUR ONGOING COMMITMENT TO HONOR AND SERVE OUR NATION'S HEROES. WE ARE HERE TO ANNOUNCE THE TEXAS VETERANS CEMETERY AT ABILENE EXPANDED. THE SIGNIFICANT EXTENSION IS MORE THAN JUST AN INCREASE IN ACREAGE. IT REFLECTS OUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING OUR FALLEN SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH A DIGNIFIED FINAL RESTING PLACE WORTHY OF THEIR SACRIFICE. AS TEXANS, WE HOLD OUR VETERANS IN THE HIGHEST REGARD. WE ARE THE LAND OF THE FREE BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THE CONTRIBUTIONS ARE NEVER FORGOTTEN. THAT WAS RECEIVE THE RESPECT AND DIGNITY WERE DESERVED. THIS EXPANSION, AT THE TEXAS STATE VETERANS CEMETERY IN ABILENE WILL GIVE FUTURE GENERATIONS OF SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN A PLACE TO LATER LOVE ONES TO REST AND IMPROVE THE ACCESS AND SERVICES OFFICE OFFERED. THIS INCLUDES INFRASTRUCTURE, EASIER ACCESS, AND ONGOING, PRISTINE OF GROUNDS TO REFLECT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THEIR SACRIFICE. MY SINCERE GRATITUDE GOES OUT TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE LOCAL OFFICIALS.
EVERYONE WAS WORKED COUNTLESS HOURS TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE.
YOUR COMMITMENT IN DILIGENCE ARE A TESTAMENT TO THE CITY OF COOPERATION AND SERVICE THAT EMBODIES THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS. I WANT TO THANK A FEW FOLKS WHO ARE HERE TODAY.
REPRESENTATIVE OF OFFICE AND, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
JUDGE, NICE TO SEE YOU. SPECIAL THANKS TO ABILENE'S MAYOR .
YOUR SUPPORT AND COMMITMENT TO OUR VETERANS HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING THIS A REALITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
LASTLY, I WANT TO THANK THE FAMILIES OF OUR VETERANS. YOUR LOVED ONES MADE A SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF OUR GREAT NATION.
FOR THIS, WE WILL ALWAYS BE APPRECIATIVE. THIS EXPANSION IS DEDICATED TO ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED AND OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE A MEANINGFUL SPOT FOR YOUR LOVED ONES WHERE YOU CAN FIND COMFORT IN PAY TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORIES. ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONER BUCKINGHAM, THANK YOU, GOD BLESS YOU, AND GOD BLESS THE STATE OF TEXAS. IF YOU WANT TO COME UP, I GOT A
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CERTIFICATE TO PRESENT TO YOU AND IT WILL BRING UP THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS. THESE BE JUDGE, WOULD YOU JOIN US?>> AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM TODAY. I WANT TO REITERATE ALL THE CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT MOMENT IN ABILENE'S HISTORY. WE WILL NOW BE THE LARGEST VETERANS CEMETERY STATE ON CEMETERY AND STATE OF TEXAS WHICH I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT EVERY ABILENE CAN BE PROUD OF. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.