Lt. Gen. Pat White, III Corps and Fort Hood commander, unveils the Spc. Vanessa Guillén gate at Fort Hood, Texas, April 19, 2021. (U.S. Army video by Staff Sgt. Daniel Herman)

Transcript

Remain standing for the honors to the nation. I invite you to pray with me, our precious Suddenly father. We pause before you on this special day to dedicate a gate which will stand for generations in remembrance of Sergeant Vanessa again who was tragically taken from us a year ago. Hard sake with sorrow and despair. Our soldier was taken from us by violence and even a year later we struggle to understand how this happened and to find meaning and value in the pain. Lord, We have no answers, but we know that you whose son was murdered is not blind to human evil and the darkness of evil does not conceal your power in your presence. Grant us strength and courage to live and grow through this pain with unwavering hope and faith. Help us to see your goodness and made this gate stand as a reminder for the thousands who pass each day that we have been given a sacred trust. America’s sons and daughters may we lead and care for our soldiers? Well it is in your holy name, we pray. Amen. Mhm. Mhm. Yeah. Mhm mm mm. Mhm mm mm hmm. Mhm. Mhm mm hmm. Mhm. Yeah. Mhm. Yeah. Right. Yeah. Mhm. Yeah, mm. Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated at this time. We would like to pay special recognition to all general officers. Sergeants, major distinguished guests, soldiers and friends of Fort Hood in attendance today. The music for today’s ceremony is provided by the first Cavalry Division Band led by first Lieutenant Bonnie Alger. The color guard for today’s ceremony is provided by the third calvary regiment led by sergeant, first class Jeremiah Edwards. Ladies and gentlemen, the Commanding General, three Corps and Fort Hood. Lieutenant General Pat White. Well, good afternoon everybody. Um special thanks for the G and family for making the trip here for this. I think this is uh this is going to be hard. I’m just going to tell you right now. I think we also have this on facetime so Miss Gloria can see what’s going on here. At least we’ll get it back to her. So today we’re gonna honor and we’re going to celebrate a specialist Vanessa again and the tremendous influence that her life had and continues to have and to inspire and implementing actions to improve trust, disciplined and teamwork across our team here at Fort Hood and throughout our army. This gate, as many of you know, already leads directly to the third calvary regiment area where Vanessa was assigned and where she lived day to day and where she served her country honorably. I want current and future soldiers to understand the impact of what we’re doing here today. So in coordination with the family who agreed to allow us to do this, we’re going to dedicate a gate that has her name on it, has her picture and you can come learn just a little bit about Vanessa, but mostly it’s so in 234 years we haven’t forgotten what this is all about, what this moment is about in our history. So again, thanks to the gang family for being here. It wouldn’t be a moment in history without you. The permanent gate makes it clear right. As I just said, we’re not going to forget Vanessa. Every day this gate opens up for everybody coming in for PT and at night everybody piles out, going back to wherever they live. Her legacy is gonna live on through this monument here that you’ll help us unveil this memorial and through our people first initiatives that you are more than familiar with. We’re gonna ensure our soldiers and our families and our Department of the Army civilians are always at the center of what we do, but mostly that we remember. And so thank you for joining us here this afternoon. God bless you and your family’s phantom lethal. And at this time, if I could ask the game family, please join me. Commands are Major Burgoyne in the third. See our team at the front, we’d like to allow you to unveil this Specialist, Vanessa Guillen was born September 30 1999 in Houston texas. In June 2018. She enlisted in the Army as a 91 foxtrot, small arms and artillery repair. Upon completion of basic combat training at Fort Jackson south Carolina and advanced individual training at Fort lee Virginia Specialist Gideon was assigned to Third Cavalry Regiment, the Brave Rifles at Fort Hood texas. A proud Texan specialist Vanessa G. And volunteered to serve in the United States Army and set an example for her community. She was known for her discipline, physical fitness, technical expertise and professionalism. Her tragic loss on April 22 2020 became a seminal event for the United States Army, resulting in significant institutional change. The specialist Vanessa Guillen gate leads directly to the 3rd Cavalry Regiment area where Vanessa lived and worked. The gate is accessed by thousands of soldiers, civilians, and families. Each day, it stands as a constant reminder that America’s sons and daughters deserve our best leadership. Okay, Before we move to the large gate, we’re gonna give the family about 10 minutes here at the memorial. So please respect their wishes. Um, don’t approach him unless they ask to be approached and if you’re wanting to talk to him, you’ll have an opportunity over at the large gate. Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes today’s ceremony. Thank you for attending.