Losing friend Enrique Mejia;
Martin High Class of '53's 50th reunion

As usual, life goes on in Laredo. Quite unusual, was the ferocious storm that took us by surprise! The least of our problems has been the massive cleanup of uprooted trees and broken tree limbs. Many thousands, more likely millions of dollars of damage was suffered all around the area, with many homes out of power for quite some time. Extensive damage to homes under construction, airport damage to hangars and planes, many seemingly strong fences, reduced to rubble. Man, once again, humbled by Mother Nature!
We lost friend and classmate Enrique Mejia to a sudden heart attack. The number of students and friends from all walks of life who attended his services were testimony to the part he played in so many lives. As the athletic director at St. Augustine School who took his responsibilities most seriously, he was first to arrive and last to leave, we hear. Bishop James Tamayo spoke so nicely of Quique. He ended with a quip by St. Peter at the Pearly Gates telling Quique he would have to go and get the keys to let him in. Quique retorted, "Don't worry, St. Peter, I've got my own keys." That lovingly bestowed bit of levity and other remembrances by his golfing buddies and family members made it clear the type of man he was. Quique and his lovely Amira have been fixtures in Laredo's education world. Quique is remembered as an athlete and a gentleman. He was part of the State Championship Martin High School basketball team of 1956.
The Laredo Animal Protective Society again honored Veteran Dogs of War and K-9 Service Dogs on Memorial Day at San Agustin Plaza. Carmen Guzman, Kelly Cruz, and Rosslynn Hines chaired the event.
These dogs are sometimes called America's Forgotten Heroes. They fight and die for their companions. They are trained to recognize booby traps, mine tunnels, and weapons caches. On the battlefield, they have saved lives by dragging wounded soldiers to safety. More than 300 search and rescue dogs helped after the disastrous September 11th attack on the World Trade Center. Millions of dollars in drug seizures are regularly credited to trained canines and thousands of undocumented aliens have been located, many lives saved.
America's war dogs prevented over 10,000 casualties in Vietnam alone and bravely served in Operation Desert Storm as well as WWII. Yet many of these canine heroes were declared "surplus armaments" and were either euthanized or left to unknown fates. Many cities have now erected monuments to these heroes. It is the dream of LAPS to create one for Laredo.
Present were the Department of Homeland Security Bureau of Customs & Border Protection U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs, U.S. Immigration, AQI-K-9, Laredo Police Department, Laredo Fire Department, and Union Pacific Railroad Police.
Jorge Sanchez is working on an exciting project. The G.I. Forum is helping this adopted Laredoan fulfill his dream of recognizing some of Laredo's outstanding women. Jorge planned to create a mural depicting these ladies. So far, that has not worked out. Not to be defeated, he turned his attention to a book with accompanying fold-out poster. This will be distributed to 254 public libraries in Texas, 73 Laredo schools, both universities, libraries, service clubs, as well as locations in Nuevo Laredo.
Mary Boone Lowry and her sister-in-law, Ollie Lowry, added substance to his research on early schoolteacher Miss Julia Schultz. Among the women to be included are Andrea Castañon de Villanueva, a Laredo native and nurse who helped the victims of the siege of the Alamo; actress Mary Haynes; school superintendent Miss Nannie Holding; and other early teachers including Francisca Benavides de Farias, Margarita Gomez, Leonor Villegas Magnon, Jovita Idar, and Katherine Tarver. Mary Copley Devine was the first woman deputy collector of customs; Jovita Perez, the first female customs broker in the nation. In the political arena, Anna Laura Cavazos Ramirez became the first female Webb County Attorney; Consuelo Gonzalez Montalvo, our first female City Councilwoman. Dr. Ruby Lowry delivered nearly 20,000 Laredo babies and was devoted to the city's poor. The late philanthropist Lamar Bruni Vergara is making history to this day, through her Trust. Rose T. Treviño gained fame as an archeologist. Rosaura Tijerina became a municipal court judge and Judith Zaffirini became the first Hispanic female elected to the Texas Senate. These and more will comprise the book.
Jorge Sanchez graduated from the Instituto Politecnico de Mexico as an industrial engineer. He is a muralist and graphic designer, garnering awards in Mexico City, Los Angeles, and New Mexico. He earned a diploma in design from McDonell Douglas Aircraft, where he was employed for six years. He was vacationing in Laredo when he became entranced with the opportunities he felt were here. His first job in Laredo was with South Texas Council for Alcohol and Drug Abuse (STCADA). He designed their logo and several bilingual books. He is presently employed with the City of Laredo Engineering Department.
The 82-year old Laredo Rotary Club held its First Diploma Plus Fundraiser recently at the TAMIU Student Center. Manuel Bravo was Master of Ceremonies. Dr. Tom Corti, Dean of Students at TAMIU, welcomed the audience. Hector H. García, Jr., Chairman of the Diploma Plus Program of Rotary, gave a summary of the program, designed to help students stay in school and reach their educational goals.
The prestigious Paul Harris Medal was awarded to Judge Salomon Casseb and to Guadalupe Martinez for "service above self" and for their contributions not only to education but to the community at large. Also receiving this award in absentia was J. C. Martin III. Approximately $14,000 was raised for the program. Over 200 people attended.
A dip back to pick up some of what we did not have space enough for last column.
The Korean War Veterans and their families were honored with a beautiful reception at the International Bank of Commerce as the DAR's final comemeration of the 50th anniversary of the ending of the Korean War. This has been a three-year project, beautifully chaired by Rosemary J. Contreras of the Lucy Meriwether Chapter. What a debt we owe to those who choose to fight to keep the freedoms we sometimes take for granted. Again, our thanks!
Melissa Vela and Carlos Ramirez were honored with a Ranch Fiesta at Rancho Quivira recently. Hostesses included Norma García, Rosa Alicia Moreno, Annabelle Hall, Becky Treviño, Sandra Ortiz, Toni Ruiz, Rosemary Contreras, Carmelita Salinas, Julia Ruhlman, and Olgita Ramos. Ross and Friends provided the lively music as the guests dined on chicken and beef fajitas and other goodies. About 120 family and friends attended.
The mighty Martin High Class of 1953 met for its 50th reunion recently. Sammy Idrogo was class president. The steering committee for the event included Alberto P. Cardenas, Clara G. Moreno, Viola R. Gonzalez, Amelia Idrogo Valdez, Margie Rubio, Irma G. Cardenas, Enrique Mendez, Norma S. Hagy, Oralia Peña Lopez, and Royle Wright.
The first event was a "Recuerdos" Reception at the museum patio of La Posada. The next day they ate lunch at Martin High with selected seniors of the 2003 class, followed by a tour of the campus. Dinner and a Sock Hop at La Posada and Mass at San Agustin Cathedral ended the memorable event.
The class is spearheading an effort to establish a permanent endowment college fund, hoping to raise at least $25,000 in order to qualify for a matching grant. Royle Wright is in charge. A noble gesture from a class wanting to give back to their beloved community.
We speak to Elizabeth Sorrell now and again. She is most happy at The Meadows Retirement complex in San Antonio. She says that from her windows on the fourth floor, she can see the Tower of the Americas, as well as daily sun and moon rise. She is a great-grandmother again. Her granddaughter Virginia and her husband Dr. Scott Lynn had their fourth child, Elinor Lynn, recently.
Another new birth has made Maruka Kahn a grandmother again. Avery Lynne Rees was born to Patricia and Jarrod Rees in Mustang, Oklahoma.
Brownsville has, through the years, become home to many of Laredo extraction, among them Fred Leyendecker, Jr., and his family. Earlier this spring, Fred and his wife Sylvia were in town for a TAPPS League baseball tournament. Their son Stephen, 16, was playing. As we sat in the bleachers at Veterans Stadium, we could see the area that used to house City Park, where Stephen's grandfather, the late Freddy Leyendecker, played many a game for the Laredo Apaches. The baseball gene is strong. Their other sons are Matthew, 22 and Trey, 20.
This year's Women's City Club golf tournament was very successful. It was dedicated to the late and much-loved Juvencio de Anda. Henceforth, the tournament will be the Women's City Club Juvencio de Anda Memorial Day Golf Tournament. A fitting tribute.
Christ Church Episcopal's beloved rector Sherridan Walker is getting married. They will live here. More on that next month. The parishioners have been working concessions at the Laredo Entertainment Center as a fundraiser.
From Chicken Soup for the Gardener's Soul - "To love and be loved is to feel the sunshine from both sides." David Viscott, M.D.