82R5879 MGR-D
By: Pena H.R. No. 381
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Emilio De Los Santos III has been chosen as the 2010
recipient of the Dan Garcia Memorial Achievement Award presented by
the Veterans County Service Officers Association of Texas; and
WHEREAS, This prestigious annual honor recognizes the
accomplishments of a county veterans service officer or assistant
officer who has performed above and beyond the call of duty, who has
been involved in all aspects of veterans' affairs, and who has been
active in the community the officer serves; honorees must also
display a record of continuing education and a patriotic spirit;
and
WHEREAS, Mr. De Los Santos earned the commendation as a
result of his notable work to assist veterans in South Texas in
achieving improved access to medical care and other services; he
has been a leader in the movement to establish a U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs hospital in the Rio Grande Valley so that veterans
who live in the area do not need to make a five-hour trip to San
Antonio for appointments; moreover, he helped galvanize local
support for Proposition 8, a Texas constitutional amendment passed
in 2009 to authorize funding for the construction and operation of
VA hospitals; with the Veterans Alliance of the Rio Grande Valley,
he has contributed to the creation of a VA health care center in
Harlingen, and he continues to press for a full-service facility in
the region; and
WHEREAS, Mr. De Los Santos has been the director of the
Hidalgo County Veterans Service Office since 2002; in that role, he
helps veterans and their family members in preparing claims for
compensation, insurance, pensions, educational benefits, and
medical care, and he helps them with appearances at Board of
Veterans' Appeals hearings; he also raises awareness about programs
and benefits available for former service members through public
speaking engagements and organizes outreach initiatives such as
veteran enrollment fairs and welcome-home celebrations for
returning military personnel; and
WHEREAS, Committed to keeping elected officials in Austin and
Washington informed of the needs of those he serves, Mr. De Los
Santos has testified before the Texas Legislature and the United
States Congress and promoted state legislation related to a
homestead exemption for disabled veterans; he is a member of the
regional board of directors of the Veterans County Service Officers
Association of Texas and received the Outstanding Service Officer
of the Year award in 2007; in addition, he was recently appointed by
President Obama to the Selective Service System Local Board, and in
2010 he was chosen to be part of the VISN 17: VA Heart of Texas
Health Care Network Veterans Advisory Board; and
WHEREAS, A U.S. Army veteran who served during the Vietnam
War era, Mr. De Los Santos was employed for three decades by the
Weslaco Independent School District; he holds a master's degree in
education and has also worked as Region One Adult Basic Education
Service Center director; he has further distinguished himself as
president of the Weslaco Mid Valley Lions Club, as commander of VFW
Post 10464 in Weslaco, and through his involvement in Weslaco youth
sports leagues; and
WHEREAS, The dedication and enthusiasm Emilio De Los Santos
has brought to his pursuits have made a positive difference in the
lives of numerous Rio Grande Valley residents who valiantly served
their nation in the armed forces, and his efforts in their behalf
are truly deserving of recognition; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby honor Emilio De Los Santos III on being chosen as
the recipient of the 2010 Dan Garcia Memorial Achievement Award
presented by the Veterans County Service Officers Association of
Texas and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. De Los Santos as an expression of high regard by
the Texas House of Representatives.