Veterans soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen crowded Houston City Hall Saturday, November 11 including a 105-year-old woman Army Veteran and a 93-year-old widow of a combat veteran to celebrate the day first known as Armistice Day, the 11th Day on the 11th month in 1918 when World War I ended in Flanders Field, France.

“Join me in celebrating Veterans and in celebrating Veterans Day. Let us never forger all.

The veterans in every era and in every race and from every region that have served our Country. I will always fight our veterans and their families and to ensure their needs our met,” said Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Leet at the service that this year was held inside because of weather concerns but who every Veterans Day and Memorial Day stands with Veterans.

“This Veterans Day, we are fulfilling our promise to veterans by expanding benefits and care for toxic exposed veterans and their families, investing in VA facilities and healthcare specifically Michael DeBakey VA Med- ical Center here in Houston and fighting to end veteran homelessness that has been combatted in Houston,” Jackson Lee said among the red, white and blue festivity that lit up the Legacy Room on an otherwise dismally cloudy day.

Mayor Sylvester Turner announced the theme “Recognition to the Female Veterans” to mark the 75th Anniversary of President Harry S. Truman signing the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act and he presented a “Key to the City” WW11 Women’s Army Corps Veteran Sg. Thelma Williams, 105 who said she held the jobs in the Army at home so all the men could fight overseas. Jackson Lee. Turner also recognized Naomi Witchet, 93, with a “Key to the City” the widow of her husband Staff

Sgt. Fred Douglas Witchet and Col Joe McPhail a retied Marine who served as a fighter pilot in World War II and Ko- rea. A moment of silence was observed at 11am led by retired local television broadcaster Bill Balleza who is a Marine Corps Vietnam Veteran and the son of a Marine Corps Korean War Veteran.

Turmer said “Houston is home to more military veterans than any city besides Los Angeles. Houston will always work to be America’s number one home to welcome military veterans.”

“Staff Sgt. Witchet fought with honor distinction, representing the values of freedom and democracy. He was denied burial at the Houston National Cemetery and that was an injustice.

Today, 58 years later the City of Houston recognizes his service and the significant service of all our veterans to Houston, Texas and the United States of America,” he said.

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