McAllen Firefighters Retire Following Decades of Service

Two McAllen firefighters were the guests of honor at a special ceremony on Wednesday, June 1, 2011. Greg Martinez and Pete Davila were both retiring from the McAllen Fire Dept. after decades of service. Both men were treated to a new McAllen Fire Department tradition.

The first assignment of all new recruits is to learn how to properly raise and lower the United States flag on the fire department grounds. The new tradition is to have all retirees with at least 20 years of service lower the flag as a symbolic last assignment.

All on duty fire staff gathered at the flag pole at 1:30 pm on June 1st as Pete Davila was marched to the pole to raise and lower the flag. When lowered, an honor guard carefully folded the flag and presented it to Davila as a memento of his years of service. Then Greg Martinez went through the same ceremony. Afterwards each man was given a “last ride” in a fire engine and given a seat of honor.

Several volunteers from the firefighter staff will be handcrafting a shadow box display case for each of the flags presented to the retirees. The flags can then be properly displayed in the retired firefighters' homes and kept as a family heirloom.

Costa Messa Helps Marathoners Run For a Cure

McAllen, TX (May 30, 2011)— For five consecutive Monday's in the month of
May, Costa Messa Restaurant has been donating 10% of their portion of their
ticket sales to the local chapter of The Leukemia Lymphoma Society (LLS).
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is committed to curing Leukemia,
lymphoma and myeloma, and helping patients and their families.
The support they seek provide research, patient and community service
and public help education, among other services.

LLS receives no federal funding, the participants that join Team In Training -
Leukemia Lymphoma Society, receive a complimentary admission to the marathon
of the season that they sign up for, this season it is the Rock and Roll Marathon
in San Diego, California, participants in team in training also receive marathon
training provided by a group of coaches that also volunteer for this organization,
and flight and hotel accommodation along with a team in training t-shirt
for the day of the race.

This season's Team In Training, has had a minimum of $3,000 requirement for
fundraising per individual in order to run thru the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.
Participants that join this team, must raise those funds. "I can't say that it has
been easy, but this whole training has been rewarding, knowing that someone
who is fighting this disease is benefiting from my running and fundraising makes
it more enjoyable" said Carlos Muriel, member of Team In Training - RGV, running
at the San Diego, California Marathon. "I wouldn't of been able to do the fundraising
without the support from Costa Messa Restaurant, Helping Hands Monday has
truly been a blessing" added Muriel.

This Tuesday May 31st, Costa Messa Restaurant will be doing the check presentation
to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society - Team In Training, RGV Chapter at Costa Messa
Restaurant at 3p.m. Please join us.

Costa Messa Restaurant is located on 1621 North 11th Street McAllen, TX
78501-4113. For More information about Team In Training please contact
Jean Gearhart, Campaign Manager at Jean.Gearhart@LLS.org

McAllen Memorial Day Program

Colonel Kramer Keynote Speaker at McAllen Memorial Day Program
Groundbreaking also planned for “American Spire of Honor”

The public is invited to attend a Memorial Day program at the Veterans War Memorial of Texas (29th St. & Galveston) in McAllen at 9 A.M. on Monday May 30th. Colonel David Kramer, U.S. Army (Ret.), a veteran of WWII, Korean, & the Vietnam war will be the keynote speaker for this ceremony to remember and honor the country's fallen veterans.

In addition to this annual ceremony, there will also be the ground-breaking for the long awaited "American Spire of Honor". The public is encouraged to bring cameras & video recorders to capture this historic occasion. Many city and county officials will be in attendance to break ground for the 105' granite spire which will be the actual memorial in the center of the complex.

For further information, please contact Col. Frank Plummer at 956-631-2511 or Jan Hartzog at 956-605-3486.
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9:00 am
Monday, May 30, 2011
Veterans War Memorial
29th and Galveston

McAllen Airport Sculpture Dedication

The McAllen International Airport will
formally dedicate a sculpture donated by Mr. and Mrs. Kirk and Jeri Clark on
May 31st at 10:00 a.m. in the airport terminal lobby.

The aluminum and bronze sculpture entitled “*Aluminum Overture” *was created
by internationally renowned artist Thom Wheeler of Taos, New Mexico.

The sculpture will be dedicated to the local Veterans, as well as Mr.
Clark’s father, Major Charles D. Clark, who served as a B-17 pilot in World
War II in the 8th Army Air Force, 308th Bomb Group. Major Clark was shot
down and captured by the Germans and spent over a year in a prisoner of war
camp.

“We are honored that Mr. and Mrs. Clark chose the McAllen International
Airport as a home for this sculpture. It is a fitting tribute to his father
and all our Veterans,” said Philip K. Brown, Director of Aviation.

“Jeri and I are delighted to present ‘Aluminum Overture’ to the McAllen
International Airport in honor of my father and our local Veterans. It
celebrates our love for the City of McAllen and represents our sincere
appreciation for the countless sacrifices of our Veterans,” said Kirk Clark.

The public is invited to attend this dedication ceremony in the McAllen
International Airport Terminal Lobby, 2500 S. Bicentennial Blvd., McAllen,
Texas.

*McAllen-Miller** International Airport** serves over 700,000 passengers
annually. For more information, visit us on the web at
www.mcallenairport.com or visit our social networking sites. *

Unofficial Vote Totals For McAllen City Election 2011

Here are the unofficial vote totals for the McAllen City Election 2011. Votes will be canvassed Wednesday, 
May 18, at 10 am, at McAllen City Hall, City Commission Chambers, 3rd floor.

Click on the attached spreadsheet:

Unofficial Results City of McAllen Election 2011

To view results for the McAllen ISD races, check on the school district's website: McAllen ISD Website