JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
A long-standing tradition continues today at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery as hundreds of visitors pay tribute to the contributions and sacrifices of our nation’s veterans.
The annual Veterans Day ceremony will take place at 10 a.m., preceded by a musical prelude at 9:30 a.m., at the national cemetery’s assembly area. The event will feature guest speaker Allen Clark, a West Point graduate, Purple Heart recipient and retired Army captain who formerly served as director of the National Cemetery System.
“This ceremony is a way of honoring our brothers and sisters in the armed services – those who have passed on and those who are still living – for their sacrifices in preserving the freedoms we all enjoy,” said retired Air Force Master Sgt. Tom Earnest, Fort Sam Houston Memorial Services Detachment Honor Guard vice commander and event master of ceremonies.
Another highlight of the ceremony is a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization ceremony featuring active-duty members who will be sworn in as citizens. U.S. Magistrate Judge John Primomo of the Western District of Texas will preside over the ceremony, Earnest said.
Music during the ceremony will be provided by Army North’s 323rd Army Band at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, which will perform prior to the event, and the Texas Children’s Choir of San Antonio.
Also during the ceremony, members of the Southside High School Junior ROTC will present the colors and members of the Fort Sam Houston MSD Honor Guard will provide three volleys of rifle fire and sound taps.
Other Veterans Day weekend activities are planned at JBSA-Lackland and JBSA-Randolph.
The Skylark Bowling Center at JBSA-Lackland will offer a special rate of $1 per game per person and $1 shoe rental from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today. The JBSA-Randolph Bowling Center will celebrate Veterans Day all weekend with a special rate of $2.50 per game per person and $2.75 shoe rental from 2-10 p.m. today, noon to 7 p.m. Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday.
The Rambler Fitness Center at JBSA-Randolph will honor veterans with an open house from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today in recognition of their service. Veterans will tour the facility to see how the equipment and programs can improve their quality of life. Staff members will be on hand to answer questions.
The Randolph Oaks Golf Course will host a one-person scramble today, with tee times from 7-9 a.m. The cost to enter is $10 along with green fees and cart rental.