Irving Honors Veterans

Irving—The city of Irving honored veterans of all armed services on Veterans Day at Veterans Memorial Park and in the Jack D. Huffman Community Building auditorium.

The event featured a laying of the wreaths procession led by Marine Corps Staff Sergeant David Gutierrezand a playing of‘Taps.’

“Every time ‘Taps’ is played, if you’re inside a military base, the guys and the soldiers within the base, they come to attention and stay there until it’s finished,” Gutierrez said.

“[The laying of a wreath shows] a respect. There is usually a grave, and you’re laying the wreath there, over your fallen soldier. You have all kinds of military. It’s for all of them, no matter what branch you come from,” he said.

Gutierrez served in the Marines for six years, starting the day after he graduated from Carter High School in 1971. He then joined the Texas National Guard, where he served until 1997.

“Veterans Day reflects on the people that saved our country,” Air Force Captain Paul Deansaid. “[They saved it] in a lot of ways when you think about it. Having known so many in the military, a lot of them are gone now, so it’s important to me.

“I come from a military family. My father Albert Dean was in the army. He landed in France two days after D-Day and was there until the end of the war in Germany. Afterward, he stayed in the military, and we moved all around the world. Started in Fort Knox, then two years in Japan.We were up in the D.C. area, went to Germany.

“My tour was Taiwan and Vietnam, so I love the country.

“I have one friend, we were in Japan together in 1948, and I’m still in contact with him. He lived next door, and he went Navy,” Dean said. “I’m still in contact with classmates of mine from the [Air Force] Academy.

“When the Korean War started, my dad went to Korea.

“After high school, I was able to go to the Air Force Academy. I spent four years there pilot training and graduated in 1961. I finished pilot training and went to Vietnam, where I flew C-130s,” Dean said. “My brother Richard was in the 101^st Airborne, and he got to Vietnam just before me. Every once in a while I would pick him up in my C-130 and fly him around. He later joined the FBI.”