Veterans and their loved ones attended the J.B. Alexander 9th Grade Veterans Day Ceremony where they were treated to a special breakfast, a touching speech and a parade where students clapped and cheered them on.

The keynote speaker was Joseph Byrd, Alexander High School assistant principal and author of the biography Knowing is Half the Battle, the Other Half is Understanding It, which is based on the experiences of his father, the late Sergeant Jonnie P. Byrd, a proud veteran of the U.S. Army.

Joseph said that when they first approached him to speak at the event, he hesitated.

“I didn’t deserve that honor. I am surrounded by heroes, patriots, men and women who have fought for our freedoms. They are the true honorees here. This is their moment, their day. The best I can do is express my true gratitude for all they have done for our country,” Joseph said.

He took the opportunity to speak about his father, who grew up in extreme poverty. Wearing handmade clothes, he sold newspapers in the street to make ends meet. As he entered his teen years, he yearned to be a self-made man.

“He joined the military, he was 17, and he lied about his age,” Joseph said. He was very underweight and was told to eat a pound of bananas overnight and then weigh in. He did just that, meeting the weight requirement.

His father was a paratrooper, with well over 40 jumps, and a machine gunner in the Vietnam War. Upon his return, he joined the Laredo Police Department and became a captain.

“Growing up, I felt like my dad was one big mystery …this proud honored veteran and I hardly knew anything about him at all .. I didn’t know any of the stories other than he was a machine gunner,” Joseph said. “I knew deep down, he had a story to tell - like all the veterans here.”

Joseph stressed that the book about his father is special.

“It’s not a book about war; it’s a book about his legacy. That’s the part we don’t see. There is so much to their story,” Joseph said. “It’s not just, what did you do for your country but who are you? That’s why I wrote that book about my dad. I want to capture those moments that drove him to join the military.”

After 10 years, the book took shape. He pulled out the slim book to show the students. He explained that there was a reason for the short length of the book.

“My dad’s journey took a surprising turn. My dad showed signs of Alzheimer’s and he was deteriorating fast. The man who seemed invincible and unbreakable … he was fighting a losing battle for the first time in his life,” Joseph said. “He survived war, but that battle in his mind was a losing battle, and all we could do was support him.”

Fortunately, Joseph’s father was able to read the book.

“He passed away in 2022. I was honored to show him what legacy he left behind … there in his final moments. Everyone stepped out for a coffee break. I stayed with him. It was just the two of us. We didn’t know these were his final minutes. He led a full life, he was a true hero for our community, our country but, most importantly, my hero,” Joseph said.

Joseph, who wears his dad’s dog tags daily, is working on the second edition of the book.

“His legacy will continue,” said Joseph.

Joseph urged students to find a veteran and listen to their story. He encouraged them to not just ask about what country you served in, what weapons you used or what branch did you join.

“Ask what led you to join the military, what happened before, what happened after. They have stories to tell,” Joseph said.

The event honored 24 visiting veterans and recognized four family members who attended to represent and honor veterans no longer with us, said librarian Rocio Villarreal.

“These ceremonies provide an essential opportunity for our students to hear firsthand stories and learn about the hardships our service members endure in protecting our freedoms. Our goal is to inspire patriotism, a deeper love for our country, and appreciation for our veterans,” Villarreal said.

“Additionally, members of our faculty and student body had the opportunity to spend quality time with their Veteran family members during a special breakfast, allowing for conversation and fellowship with other service members and their families,” she added.

This year, the entire campus community participated: 150 students from various clubs collaborated on the ceremony, 200 students attended with their teachers, and the entire student body lined the hallways for our school-wide Veterans' Parade.

“Our goal is for our students to understand the true meaning of sacrifice that comes with serving our nation. Students learn the importance of gratitude and are taught to love and appreciate our country and the freedoms we enjoy,” Villarreal said. “These are freedoms that were bought with the sweat, blood, and tears of every man and woman who has served in our military.”

Joseph Byrd, Alexander High School assistant principal, is the author of a book about his late father, who served in the Vietnam War

Students participated in a parade held to honor veterans visiting their school

Students showed their respect for veterans who visited their campus