Vet Memories

Yesterday, the downtown post office was renamed the Veterans Post Office. And while a notable accomplishment in itself, I noted that there have been many homages to the veterans of American wars in the Bordertown.

From Veteran's Field in West Laredo to the Barkley Cantu Hispanic Congressional Medal of Honor monument near the International Bridge II, there are plenty of monuments to Tejanos and Laredoans who have fought in the wars that forged the United States.

In fact, as I perused some of the old Laredo Morning Times articles of the last several years, I came to notice how prevalent this trend was.

For instance, in a 2005 column for the "Art of Living Section" in the Times, Odie Arambula entitled his piece, "Military Left Mark on Laredo."

Arambula pointed out how the military presence had clearly "touched" the Bordertown "economically, socially, politically, and otherwise." In fact, among his arguments, Arambula pointed out how veterans following the First World War quickly became significant political players in Laredo.

One of those men, Albert Martin, a veteran of World War I, became the youngest mayor in Laredo at the age of 36.

In the years since, politicians have not exclusively been veterans (i.e. Betty Flores), but they have maintained a strong presence in the political and business communities.

That was not always the case.

In the 19th century, Mexican War and Civil War veterans were not deemed important political players.

Civil War veteran, Colonel Santos Benavides, for instance, received a moderate funeral upon his death in the 1880s. His honors came later in the 20th century.

But Laredo is a different place now.

Whether this remains a constant trend remains to be seen. However, keep in mind that at my alma mater, The University of Texas at Austin, honors to veterans have been slightly altered.

I am talking about how Memorial Stadium soon became Darrel K. Royal-Memorial Stadium to honor the coach that brought the first national championships to the Forty Acres. The honor came despite the fact that Coach Royal was alive and well when the name change took place.

Crime in Movie Theaters

Video courtesy of Pro 8 News

Aw man, now I can't go to the movies by la jefa's house (mom) without worrying about some robbery. Movies 12 is only 1/2 mile away.

This is the part where I figuratively wave my cane angrily in the air and proclaim that the kids nowadays are no good.

Or something like that.

If you like, click the link.

And, by the way, the theater is actually closer to Santa Maria than San Bernardo. But I understand how addresses go.

Finally

Photo courtesy of CNN

In a shocking, yet welcomed, development, anti immigrant zealot, Lou Dobbs, has resigned from CNN.

Post Office

Photo courtesy of El Manana

El Manana carried a story on Congressman Henry Cuellar's legislation that succeeded in renaming the downtown post office to the Laredo Veteran's Post Office.

While some might cynically point to Cuellar's pandering to the veteran vote, others recognize it as a logical extension of Laredo's nod to those who have served in the armed forces.

After all, it is Juarez Plaza, located across the street from the downtown post office, that holds plaques and monuments to Laredo's vets.

Horsies

Photo courtesy of the LMT

The Laredo Morning Times carried a story on new Border Patrol chief, Robert Harris,wanting to use horse patrols in Laredo.

I do not pretend to understand all the intricacies of motor driven vehicles versus horses, so I dare not comment too extensively on the subject.

But from a layperson's perspective, I just hope that it would be in the BP's best interest to not use the same horses that the Nuevo Laredo calandrias (horse drawn carriages) use.

Let There Be

Video of "War Machine"

The hiccup in posting was due to the fact that I--like several other Bordertown folk--traveled to Austin for the AC/DC gig at the Frank Erwin Center.

I am very biased in this regard--having traveled to Dallas earlier in the week to catch them perform--so I dare not offer an objective review.

However, after the show, I met up with camarada, el Bovi, who also had goosebumps from the performance.

Thus, my feelings were confirmed, AC/DC put on a great concert. In sum, the old guys were firing on all cylinders.

From the opening song, "Rock and Roll Train," to unforeseen gem, "Shot Down in Flames," from the Highway to Hell album, the band gave it everything they had.

And for this old guy, a fantastic end to a hectic concert going year.

To the Better Half's chagrin, I have laid out about $1,000.00 to watch the Aussie rockers four times this last year. (If memory serves correct, it was a mere $16.00 to go to my first Angus show in San Antonio in the mid 1980s.)

From their first show in San Antonio in December 2008 to this latest one in Austin, I am pretty familiar with their set.

They played in Houston on Sunday and I thought about going, just as I am thinking of making the drive to another border town, El Paso, on Sunday.

We'll see.

El Manana Reports

Photo courtesy of El Manana

On the note of how things work on the Border, Laredo might have to comply with all ethics and laws that come with life in the United States of America, but Nuevo Laredo sure doesn't.

Case in point, the city was rocked with the murder of Katherine Cardenas back in September.

The accused killer, a 16-year-old juvenile, has not been mentioned by name nor had his image used by the Laredo media.

However, in Nuevo Laredo's El Manana, they have no regards for American protocol.

Like a friend mentioned to me last week, at least they have the Nuevo Laredo paper to keep them abreast of information.

Such is life.