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Fallen Soldiers Honored in 2006 Veterans Day Weekend Ceremony
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| Sgt. Richard Casillas |
Alumni, administrators, veterans, cadets and friends of the University gathered at a Nov. 12, 2006, ceremony on campus to honor TCU war veterans. The ceremony was held at the TCU Veterans Plaza in the heart of the campus in front of Reed Hall. TCU Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr., and Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams, a TCU Trustee and a member of the Class of 1972, each shared remarks at the event. Sgt. Richard Casillas — the father of First Lieutenant Landon Casillas, a 2004 TCU graduate killed earlier this year in a helicopter training accident — spoke of his son’s early and continuing love of helicopters and flight.
TCU’s joint ROTC Color Guard presented colors at the beginning of the ceremony, followed by the national anthem. The Chancellor and the Secretary of State each spoke of the importance of honoring veterans, and Chancellor Boschini recognized veterans in the audience. Following the speeches, a wreath was laid in honor of fallen soldiers.
“It has been said: ‘This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave,” the Chancellor said. “TCU's Veterans Plaza is a testament to all of the brave Horned Frogs who have given so much so that America remains the land of the free. Many here today have fought the good fight to keep this dream alive. To you, we offer our undying thanks.
“This space also is a memorial to our fallen heroes. All who walk upon this campus on this day of remembrance — and on all the days to come — are and will be reminded of our lost heroes — of their honor, of their valor and of their ultimate gift to us all. Many of their families and loved ones are with us today. To you, we humbly offer our gratitude for your sons and daughters, your mothers and fathers, your brothers and sisters, your friends and loved ones.”
 Secretary Williams discussed TCU’s military legacy and commitment to service of country.
“As we speak, Horned Frogs all over the world are making our country, and this university, extremely proud,” he said. “Last year, we dedicated this Veterans Plaza to a noble calling. It stands as a symbol of the men and women who have left this campus as graduates and returned as heroes. And it serves as a permanent reminder of those patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice and didn’t return.
“Looking over the list of more than 80 individuals who were a part of the TCU family, I am humbled by the patriotism felt throughout this campus. And as we honor the addition of a new name to this list of heroes, 1LT Landon R. Casillas, we’re reminded that ‘Patriotism is not a short, frenzied outburst of emotion, but the steady dedication of a lifetime.’ The lives we honor here today may have been cut short, but I believe the honor, courage and devotion to their country were strong enough to last through generations.”
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