Richard Hamlin – Fallen Viet Nam Vet 4-28-11

Posted in the Palacios Beacon from Gus Valcik, Palacios VFW Post Commander
Tribute shown to veteran appreciated….

Tribute to veteran appreciated…….

Dear editor,
As Commander of VFW Post 2467 here in Palacios, I would like to personally thank all the citizens and especially
the businesses and schools for paying tribute to my late father-in-law, Richard Hamlin, and Army Veteran this past
Thursday by flying their US flags at half staff.
During the funeral procession, many Palacians stopped and placed their hands over their hearts, paying a lasting
respect to Richard.

Should anyone ever tell you that patriotism is dead in Palacios, then please send them to me, and I assure you I
will get them on the right track.

I would also like to thank my VFW Post members, The Bay City Post 2468 Honor Guards, and a heartfelt gesture of
thanks to the Matagorda County Cavalry for escorting Richard to his final resting place at the Palacios Cemetery.

As all of you who reached out to the family of Richard Hamlin, I reach back to you with a deep and sincere
emotion of gratitude to all of you.

Gus Valcik, Commander,
VFW Post 2467, Palacios, TX

Wounded Warriors Escort 6-24-11

OUTSTANDING

I want to take the moment to say How OUTSTANDING it was that the Matagorda County Cavalry escorted the wounded
soldiers on Friday. I’m so proud of all you guys for all that you do and especially what you stand for!

Joann Jimenez

Carolina Henandez 6-05-11

“My family was so overwhelmed with all that you do for our soldiers.

Well Carolina left Saturday. We were sad to see her go but so grateful to the Matagorda County Cavalry for this memorable time you gave to us. I just want to thank everyone that
made time out of their busy schedules to make this memorable surprise welcome happen. It was something our family will never forget. My family was so overwhelmed with all that you do for our soldiers. Thank you once again.
Mary Ann

Added 7-27-11
I must say once again you all are a blessing. Carolina is doing well. She is still stationed in Beale AFB in California but will soon deploy again in December. I have come to the conclusion this must be her calling. She is willing to deploy once again and help other soldiers return to THEIR families. She is a special one . Well just thought I would give you all an update.

Sincerely,
Mary Ann

Jarrod Christmas 4-02-11

To stand back and watch the affect it had on my nephew as well as
the rest of my family was priceless

To all the Members of the Matagorda County Calvary who came out
to help us Welcome Home My Nephew Jarrod Christmas. He had been home almost a
year, but to see the look of Happiness and Surprise that even though he had been
home almost a year, there were people who still acknowledged him. We were so
Blessed to have ya’ll come out and take part of it with us. Thank You so much for
what you do. To stand back and watch the affect it had on my nephew as well as
the rest of my family is priceless. Thank you again. I am so Proud and Honored
to be a part of The Matagorda County Calvary now. God Bless you.

Sincerely,
Sherri Christmas

Jarrod Christmas 4-02-11

Thank you so much for the great Welcome Home you gave our grandson, Jarrod Christmas, on April 2nd

To: Matagorda County Cavalry

Thank you so much for the great Welcome Home you gave our grandson, Jarrod Christmas, on April 2nd. We all were
very moved by the number of riders who came out and all the words and gifts bestowed on him. As you saw that day, we
are a military family. Father, Son, Grandsons, and many others in our family have served their country.

The Matagorda County Cavalry is a great organization and we appreciate you very much.

With the enclosed donation, we know you will continue to be a blessing to other Heroes.

May God continue to bless your endeavors.

Hardy and Nell Christmas

Reply from Danny Lee:
Hardy and Nell,
Thank you for the donation. It will help us to continue our mission of honoring and supporting our American
Heroes. Yesterday, I ordered 36 Matagorda County Cavalry hats to continue the tradition of giving hats to our
Heroes. With the donations that you and other wonderful people give to Matagorda County Cavalry, we are truly
blessed. Last year we gave about 100 hats to our Heroes. Someone once asked “what would you do if we had no hats or
gifts to give the Heroes on our rides”? My reply was this….”Matagorda County Cavalry will continue to organize
rides for our American Heroes, even if we have nothing but ourselves to show up with”. The most important part of
our mission is to simply say “THANK YOU”. It is such an honor to be able to do what we do.

God Bless,
Danny R. Lee

Emmett Greene 12-19-10

I was totally caught off guard and pleasantly surprised

I want to thank each and everyone of you for yesterday. I was totally caught off guard and pleasantly surprised.
But keep in mind I’ll get ya’ll back some how someday so watch your backs guys, I can be sneaky too. Kidding aside
(yal-right) I apprecate each and everyone of you guys more than I can express. Again thanks and I wish each and
everyone of you a wonderful and joy filled CHRISTMAS.

God Bless,
Emmett

Daniel Thibodeaux 11-07-10

It took our breath away

Thank you all again for the amazing celebration for Daniel Sunday. It took our breath away. Daniel is quite a
reserved person so it was awesome to see so much excitement in his eyes as well as his attending family. With tears
in all our eyes and a tremble in our hugs, goodbye at the airport as he began his 36 hour trip back to Afghanistan
this morning, he told us that it was the coolest thing anyone has ever done for him. The next seven months will pass
slowly as his is missed so much. He took a little piece of our heart and our prayers with him. It was a long ride
home from the airport with wet-eyes. Hats off to Laurie and Richard at Pier 57 for telling me about Matagorda County
Cavalry and for hosting the event!

Daniel wrote:

“Happy Thanksgiving from Afghanistan Mr. Lee I’m thankful for the amazing welcome home ceremony the Matagorda County
Cavalry put together for me. Thanks again”

Daniel Thibodeaux Jr.

Cecil Springer and Jose Enriquez 10-10-10

Korea and Vietnam Veterans finally get the welcome home they deserved after so many year

I just wanted to send everyone in the Matagorda County Cavalry a HUGE thank you for my Uncle Cecil’s “Welcome
Home”. It was so amazing to see two vets (Korea and Vietnam) finally get the welcome home they deserved after so
many years. I also wanted to thank each and EVERY one of the Cavalry members for my father’s service (Alva L.
Springer). He would have been SO proud!!!

Gwendolyn Springer

Danny,
I want to thank you and all of the members of Matagorda County Cavalry for showing up and honoring Cecil and
Jose. You guys did an excellant job. Jose said he felt the knot in his stomach ease for the first time since he came
home from Viet Nam. We are very grateful for all of the support MCC gives to our service men, firefighters, police
officers, and EMT.

Sincerely,
Sue North

Justin Rodriguez 8-14-10

Matagorda County Cavalry made our Welcome Home Party that much more special

I finally left my son at the airport going back to San Diego. I want to take a moment to say THANK YOU so much for
the ride Matagorda County Cavalry did for him. Believe me he was surprized, especially since he asked us not to do
anything for him. On behalf of the Jimenez-Rodriguez family, Matagorda County Cavalry made our Welcome Home Party
that much more special and the flag that Justin brought back from Afgahnistan that was given to Danny Lee and the
Cavalry was even more special because Danny was very surprized when he received it. It was good that someone gave
back to the Cavalry because YA’LL definately deserve the best. Once again GOD BLESS Matagorda County Cavalry for all
you have done.

Sincerely,
Joann Jimenez

Texas Army National Guard “Welcome Home” 8-01-10

May Matagorda County Cavalry be blessed for the support you give to others

Mr.Lee,
On behalf of the El Campo Family Readiness Group and the Soldiers of C Co 72nd STB we want to thank Matagorda County Cavalry for
supporting our soldiers and their families at our Welcome Home Ceremony. We want you to know that we appreciate what you are doing
for our soldiers and their families by showing your support to our loved ones. May Matagorda County Cavalry be blessed for the
support you give to others and please keep doing a great job!! Again, thanks for everything!

Sincerely,
Pamela Cavazos FRG Leader

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Danny,
I thought I would take a moment and send this to you and let you and all the members of Matagorda County Cavalry know how awesome
it was to have y’all out there supporting us and our spouses today. It really added something to the day. And my kids just loved
seeing y’all coming down the road. It’s a great thing that y’all do!

Thank you again,
Christi Krause