NORTHEAST HOUSTON– Veterans were honored at a special program that was held last Saturday inside the spacious lobby of the Premiere Cinema at Greenspoint Mall.
The program was entitled “Operation Welcome Home” and featured exhibits, information booths and tables, speakers, and entertainment to honor returning military personnel, many of whom were on hand. The program was put together by Premiere Cinema Associate Director John Edwards, who is himself a veteran of the U.S. Army Medic corps. It coincided with the opening of the patriotic film “Captain America.”
Featured speakers included Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, and Sgt. John Boerstler, of the Wounded Warrior Project. He told the story of fighting in Iraq, and suffering a debilitating injury to his eye. Yet in the spirit of the Marine Corps, he discharged himself from a military hospital and returned to fight with his unit in western Iraq. A silent auction was conducted to benefit WWP.
The program included several outstanding musical performances, by the Statesmen Chorus from Conroe, a 16 man (and one woman conductor) barbershop quartet, and the National Anthem, performed brilliantly by Ms. Keely Prendergast.
Information speakers were from the VA, Harris County, and various Veterans organizations such as the VFW that offer help to returning military.