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Photo Credit: Tara Bozick/Victoria AdvocateThousands of flags flew at the Port O'Connor Community Center off state Highway 185 to honor those who lost their lives in the war on terror. The flags welcomed wounded soldiers to Saturday's Warrior's Weekend.
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Buses transporting the soldiers to Port O’Connor received county-by-county escorts, mainly sheriff’s offices and motorcycles. In towns such as Cuero and Seadrift, residents lined the roads to cheer on the troops.
When at least 125 soldiers stepped off the buses at Froggie’s Bait Dock on Byers Drive, nearly 800 people shouted to greet them.
“It was a pandemonium,” Joel Montgomery from Hallettsville said.
The veteran of the 101st Airborne division came to help support the Warrior’s Weekend event on Saturday. Soldiers spent the day riding the water in about 250 boats to fish and bond with their families.
Six-year-old Emily Clay wore her red, white and blue dress to meet the troops.
Kevin Clay brought his family from Edna to check out the helicopters stationed at the community center and to greet the troops.
“It makes me feel good to come out and let the soldiers know that we care,” Clay said. They really need it right now.”
Frank Spence watched the soldiers enter the boats while he watched dockside. The 54-year-old from Austin followed the buses on his motorcycle to show his support. He served in the Marines between 1971 and 1975.
“It’s a morale booster for the troops,” he said about the fishing fun. “You got some over there serving more than one tour. Our support is important to them, too. They know they got somebody behind them.”
Victoria Army active-duty recruiters spent the day fishing before the celebration at the community center. They had tons of fun greeting other boats flying American flags and holding soldiers from all over the country.
Sgt. Steve Alvarado wants to support the troops in any way he can, especially as he knows a lot of the soldiers who came to Warrior’s Weekend recovered from injuries. He wants them to have a normal day talking with everyday citizens.
“These guys have been cooped up in the hospital,” Alvarado said. “It gives them a chance to shake their hand, look them in the eye and say, ‘Thank you.’”
Tara Bozick is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact her at 361-580-6504 or tbozick@vicad.com.