Wounded Warriors set to arrive in county May 16

Pay your respects to the individuals who fought for the country and were wounded at battle during the 2014 Warrior’s Weekend on Friday, May 16.

A parade of buses carrying the brave wounded warriors will make its way through Ganado at 1:15 p.m. before heading to downtown Edna at 1:30 p.m. The buses will be escorted by motorcycles and other vehicles. Many will be showing their patronage for the veterans by holding flags, waving and cheering the warriors on as they travel to Victoria for the Warrior’s Weekend Field of Honor Dedication Ceremony inside Faith Family Church at 3 p.m. From there they will depart at 4:15 p.m. for Port O’Connor with a procession through Victoria, down Navarro Street.

The wounded military personnel and their families will be treated to a day of fishing, food and fun in Port O’Connor.   

According to Warrior’s Weekend mission statement, founded in 2007, Warrior’s Weekend is a non-profit, 501 (c) 3 Corporation dedicated to the support of veterans of The United States of America with an emphasis on those wounded in The Global War on Terrorism. This is accomplished through holding an annual fishing event for wounded military personnel in May in Port O’Connor, Texas as well as donations to veterans and veterans-based causes.

Warrior’s Weekend President Ronald Kocian said any wounded personnel in Jackson County can join the procession in Victoria and partake in the fishing tournament at Port O’Connor. They may also meet the buses at Prasek’s in Hillje on Friday, May 17 at noon. 

“They must have been wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan,” Kocian said. “We include Purple Heart, PTSD and traumatic brain injury.”