The Edinburg City Council recognized Valentin Hernandez, a 98-year-old World War II U.S. Army veteran, during its regular city meeting on Thursday.
Born on Feb. 14, 1921, in Mexico, Hernandez and his father moved to Weslaco when he was 2 years old.
He enlisted and was inducted on Oct. 8, 1943, serving as a Rifleman 745, according to his honorable discharge papers.
In that same year, his date of entry was on Oct. 29 at Little Rock, Ark.
After serving two years, six months and 12 days, his separation was on April 19, 1946, at Fort Bliss, Texas.
In 1950, he married Olivia Castillo, and they had eight children: Hector, Heraclio, Gracie, Cristela, Ronaldo, Vance, Daniel and Linda Lucy.
“He has survived much in this world, he’s blessed with the things that matter most in life,” Cristela Hernandez told the Council. “He has not sought glory, material wealth, political influence or power. He is an honest, hardworking, decent man, who believes in self-sacrifice for his family and for his country.”
Hernandez received decorations for the American Theater, and European-African-Middle Eastern, the Good Conduct and Victory medals.
Mayor Richard Molina also proclaimed April 7 to the 13 as National Library Week.
The Dustin Sekula Memorial Library was a recipient of the 2018 Achievement of Excellence in Libraries Award from the Texas Library Directors Association for the ninth year in a row.
TLDA is dedicated “to raise awareness about municipal public libraries and public library issues, support and advocate for improve[d] methods of public library service, and maintain high standards of professional ethics,” according to its website.
With this award, the Dustin Sekula Memorial Library is considered to be in the top 10 percent of public libraries in Texas.
In other business, the councilmembers approved a resolution authorizing the City of Edinburg to create a Public Safety Advisory Board.
The advisory board will “evaluate and provide recommendations that will enhance public safety, improve outcomes and demonstrate the effective and efficient use of public resources,” according to the resolution.
The board members will be appointed during a city council special meeting on Wednesday.
“We always ask the [residents] to help us. So, we need as much eyes and ears as we can get, and as many suggestions that we can get, so that way we can come to consensus,” Molina told The Rider about the resolution.
The council took no action on a task order for professional architectural services for code analysis and nonstructural plans review for the Hidalgo County Courthouse Project.
“The item was considered for no action because the staff still has to do some further review on this particular item, with both the contractor that put in the proposal and the county as well,” Jesus R. Saenz, director of Planning and Zoning, told The Rider. “More information is needed before we present it to council.”
In consent agenda items, the council:
–awarded RFP No. 2019-015 to purchase computer hardware from CDW-G Government LLC in the amount of $16,619.09;
–authorized the purchase of a new 350G LC FT4 excavator through BuyBoard from Doggett Heavy Machinery Services of San Juan in the amount of $344,880.47;
–authorized the purchase of three new articulated dump trucks through BuyBoard from ROMCO Equipment Co. of Mercedes in the amount of $1,059,716;
–and authorized the purchase of a new Hydromulcher through BuyBoard from Justin Seed Co., of the North Texas city of Justin, in the amount of $108,821.39.
Letty Leija, director of Library & Cultural Arts, speaks about the programs that the Dustin Michael Sekula Memorial Library offers. The library was recognized the 2018 Achievement of Library Excellence Award from the Texas Municipal Library Directors Association.
