Mayor Pinkerton Attends Purple Heart Trail Unveiling Ceremony
On Friday, May 4, 2012, Mayor Robert N. Pinkerton Jr. attended the IH-37 Unveiling Ceremony at the Institute of Texas Culture in San Antonio for the dedication and installation of the first Purple Heart Trail sign on IH-37.
In a past legislative session, a bill was passed that extended the Purple Heart Trail from San Antonio to South Padre Island along with connecting the trail from New Mexico to Oklahoma. Senator Van De Putte, along with Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. and State Representative Lozano, carried the legislation to extend the memorial trail to South Padre Island. The City of South Padre Island hosted a dedication ceremony for the Rio Grande Valley Purple Heart Memorial Trail on November 11th, 2011 at Schlitterbahn Waterpark.
Also present at the unveiling ceremony was Bill Crumlett & Tony Roman, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Senator Leticia Van De Putte, Senior USAA Vice President Jason Kamiya, Haven Behavioral Healthcare CEO Mr. Vern Westrich, and South Padre Island Development Director Rick Vazquez. Haven Behavioral Healthcare donated the funds to install the trail signs in Texas, including the signs which will be located on South Padre Island.
Mayor Robert N. Pinkerton Jr. and his wife received special recognition for spearheading the effort to extend the memorial trail to South Padre Island and the Rio Grande Valley. While traveling to north Texas, Mrs. Pinkerton noticed the Purple Heart Trail memorial signs and questioned why the Rio Grande Valley’s highways did not include the memorial signage. With the help of TxDOT, the Military Order of the Purple Heart Trail, Haven Behavioral Health and the City of South Padre Island, the Rio Grande Valley is now part of the national trail.
“The Purple Heart Trail Highway signs pay not only tribute to the Purple Heart Recipients, but they also serve to remind citizens of all of those who put themselves in harm’s way to preserve our freedoms that we so dearly love. Let us not forget those who have died and shed their blood so that we may have Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness,” said Mayor Robert N. Pinkerton.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Pharr District, the Purple Heart Trail signs have arrived and installation of the memorial signage will begin once locates for utilities are completed.
The City of South Padre Island thanks Development Director Rick Vazquez for his ongoing collaboration and leadership pertaining to this matter.
For more information you may contact Development Director, Rick Vazquez at (956) 761-3121 or at RVazquez@MySPI.org.
Article written by City of South Padre Island.
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