Submitted by Jose A. Garcia, Chief Warrant Officer 5, USMC (Ret.)
I still remember where I was on that fateful day. I was at home, preparing to go to work in Lancaster, California, when my daughter called and told me that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. I turned on the television and saw the second plane strike the South Tower. In that moment, I knew this was not an accident. We were under attack.
I was born and raised in New York City. Watching the city of my birth suffer such devastation left me at a loss for words. I was stunned and angry. Seeing people running for safety, the towers collapse, and the terrible suffering of those who had no way out is something I will never forget. When I learned about the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania, my fears were confirmed. I knew then that our nation was at war.
My thoughts soon turned to my family. I learned that my cousin worked in one of the towers, and for several hours, no one knew whether he had survived. The uncertainty was unbearable. Then came the news that he was safe. He had been scheduled to work in the tower that morning, but the day before, he had been told to attend a meeting away from the building. Our family had been spared. I have never forgotten how fortunate we were.
At the time, I was serving in the Marine Corps Reserve as a Chief Warrant Officer 3 assigned to a tank battalion in San Diego, California. In December 2001, I transferred to an infantry battalion closer to where I lived. I became the new Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense Officer. That decision would mark a turning point in my life.
During the Christmas holidays, I visited my parents with my future wife, Socorro. My brother took us to Ground Zero. Because of my father’s and my military IDs, we were allowed to enter the site. I witnessed a sadness and emptiness that are difficult to describe. Families had lost loved ones, and first responders were still working through the rubble. Behind me was a board displaying pictures of those who had been lost. One picture remains fixed in my mind: an ultrasound beside a photograph of a firefighter, with the inscription, “You are going to be an uncle.”
That image said more than words ever could. It reminded me that the people who died were not simply names or numbers. They were sons, daughters, parents, spouses, and friends. They had plans for the future. They had people waiting for them to come home.
I wanted to take a picture of the rubble, but I decided not to. It did not feel right. Instead, I carry that memory within me. I will never forget seeing smoke rising from the rubble, even three months after the attack. When we returned to my parents’ home, I remained quiet. There were no words that could adequately express what I had seen.
A few days later, on New Year’s Eve, my family gathered at my parents’ home to bring in the New Year. During the celebration, I received a call from the executive officer of my new unit, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines. He informed me that the unit had been activated and asked whether I would activate with the battalion. I said yes.
I told Socorro and my sister, but I did not tell my parents that night. I did not want to disrupt the family gathering. As I flew home, I thought about how quickly I would have to close down my real estate business and prepare my unit for war. The responsibility felt overwhelming, but I knew I had a duty to fulfill.
In my unit, I later learned that one of the Marines had lost his fiancée on September 11. His plane had been diverted to Canada that day. He had been at Boston Airport with his fiancée, and they were preparing to travel to different destinations for work. Their planes were next to each other, and as they boarded, they were able to see one another through the windows. That was the last time he saw her. Her plane struck the second tower.
Hearing his story reminded me that September 11 was not only about the destruction of buildings. It was about the destruction of lives, families, and futures. Every person who died left behind someone who loved them. Every family had a story, and every story mattered.
Within a year, I was serving in combat operations. I am proud to have served my country and to have continued my family’s legacy of service to the nation. My uncle Angel served in combat during the Korean War, and his example has always been meaningful to me. Serving after September 11 gave me a deeper understanding of what it means to answer the call of duty.
September 11, 2001, is more than a date in history. It is a day I remember through the faces of my family, the memories of Ground Zero, and the experiences of those who served. It reminds me of the importance of honoring those who were lost, appreciating those who helped, and carrying the lessons of that day into the future.
I remember the fear, the anger, and the uncertainty. But I also remember the courage, the sacrifice, and the strength of people who came together in the face of tragedy. Most of all, I remember that life is precious, that family matters, and that service to others is a responsibility worth carrying.
I will never forget.
Photo credits: U.S. National Archives (public domain) — Ground Zero and Pentagon flag by Paul Morse, White House Photo Office; Flight 93 temporary memorial, Department of the Interior Photographic Services.
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As the United States celebrates its 250th birthday in 2026, American Legion Post 38 reflects on the profound history of our nation and the role veterans have played in preserving its ideals. This milestone offers a powerful opportunity to renew our commitment to the principles of liberty, democracy, and self-governance established in 1776.
The American Legion, founded in 1919 by World War I veterans, has participated in every major national anniversary celebration since its inception. Post 38 continues that tradition locally by supporting community events and educating members about the sacrifices that secured our independence and have defended it ever since. From the Revolutionary War through today's global operations, American service members have answered the call to protect freedom.
This 250th anniversary reminds us that freedom is never free. It requires constant vigilance, civic engagement, and the willingness of citizens — especially veterans — to step forward when needed. Post 38 members carry forward that legacy every day through community service, youth education, and advocacy for fellow veterans.
Locally, we see the American spirit alive in Floresville's Freedom Fest and other patriotic gatherings. These events bring neighbors together to celebrate not just fireworks and fun, but the shared values that unite us. Post 38 encourages all residents to use this anniversary year for reflection: read founding documents, discuss history with family, and find ways to contribute to your community.
Our Post remains dedicated to ensuring that the lessons of the past guide our future. Through flag education, proper retirement ceremonies, and active participation in national and local observances, we help keep the flame of liberty burning brightly for the next 250 years and beyond.
Happy 250th, America — Post 38 Stands Ready.
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Prospective members are wartime veterans with an honorable discharge. Bring proof of honorable discharge from the U.S. military to apply. National eligibility, in general terms, is U.S. Armed Forces service during the Legion's eligibility periods, currently federal active duty from December 7, 1941, to the present, with honorable discharge or honorable service still under way. Post 38 does not invent a local waiver. Walk in with your discharge paperwork, or call the Hall.
General Membership Meetings are the second Thursday of each month from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Hall. Veteran's Tailgates are the third Thursday from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. The homepage says tailgates are open to all veterans for casual gatherings, and that no prior registration is typically required for tailgates or open events. Come eat. Come listen. Come see whether this is your post.
Membership is how a wartime veteran takes a chair among neighbors who already did. The Hall is used for Scout Sundays, second-Thursday business, and third-Thursday tailgates. If you have not been in, this is the month to walk through the door. If you know a veteran who has not joined, bring them.
If a family member wants to know about the American Legion Auxiliary, ask at the Hall. That membership is separate from the Legion. To join Post 38, bring proof of honorable discharge to a General Membership Meeting or a Veteran's Tailgate. There is a chair at Post 38. Call (830) 393-7929 or visit txlegion38.org.
Post 38 – There Is a Chair at Post 38.
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Thursday, September 17, 2026, is Constitution Day — the anniversary of the signing in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787. Delegates to the Constitutional Convention finished a summer of argument and compromise and put their names to a four-page charter that still governs the United States. Constitution Week runs September 17 through 23, the week Congress asked the Nation to set aside for that document.
Thirty-nine delegates signed. The Preamble names the purpose in a single sentence: to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty. Article I vests legislative power in Congress. Article II, the executive. Article III, the judiciary.
The American Legion's Americanism program has treated the Constitution as a living charge, not a museum piece. Nationally that work includes civics education and a High School Oratorical Contest. Post 38 marks the week as a hometown post marks it: by naming the day, flying the flag, and keeping the Hall a place where the document is more than a display. Read the Preamble. Teach a young person why it matters.
The same Thursday is the Veteran's Tailgate at the Hall, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Constitution Day does not cancel the Tailgate. Come eat. Bring a young person if you can. Second-Thursday meetings and third-Thursday Tailgates are where Post 38 practices the quieter part of Americanism — showing up, taking a chair, and looking after the people who served under that document. Questions: (830) 393-7929 or txlegion38.org.
Post 38 – The Constitution Is Our Charge.
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Sunday, September 27, 2026, is Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day — always the last Sunday of September. American Legion Post 38 in Floresville, Texas, marks the day with the Nation: a Sunday set aside for the families who lost a son, a daughter, a spouse, a parent, or a sibling in the service of the United States.
The gold star began as a practice of the First World War. Families hung a service banner in the window: a white field with a red border, and a blue star for each member in uniform. When a service member died, the blue star was covered or replaced by a gold one. The banner was not decoration. It was a public accounting of a private loss, readable from the street.
On June 23, 1936, a joint resolution of Congress designated the last Sunday in September as Gold Star Mother's Day. The observance now honors Gold Star mothers and Gold Star families — mothers, fathers, spouses, children, siblings, and others who live with that gold star. American Gold Star Mothers, Inc., grew from that same generation. Fathers belong to the day as surely as mothers do. The last Sunday of September is theirs.
Among our neighbors in Floresville and Wilson County are households that have set a gold star in the window, or that still set a place at the table. Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day belongs to them. Taking care of those families is how a Post says it locally — a visit, a meal, a ride, a chair at Post 38. A Buddy Check is ordinary looking-after: a phone call, a saved seat at the second-Thursday meeting or the third-Thursday Tailgate, a check on a family that has carried more than most.
Sunday, September 27, is also a Scout Sunday at the Hall, 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. The Gold Star observance is national; the Scout meeting is already on the calendar. Fly the flag. Look in on a family. Keep the Hall a place where service, and the cost of service, are both named.
Post 38 – We Honor the Families Who Gave More Than We Can Repay.
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