Seguin magazine is published twelve times a year by the Seguin Gazette.
Publisher
Elizabeth Engelhardt
Magazine Editor
Desiree Gerland
Writers
Alex Lowe
Dalondo Moultrie
Bianca Rawlings
Abbey Shultz
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Welcome to a very special edition of Seguin Magazine, dedicated to the brave Veterans who have served and defended the United States of America. This issue holds a special place in my heart, as my grandfather, Major Paul L. Bark, served three tours in the Vietnam War and retired from the U.S. Army in 1976, and my brother, Chief Petty Officer William F. Bark, Jr., proudly served in the U.S. Navy for twelve years. Coming from a military family, I deeply understand the sacrifices that Veterans and their families make. The heartache of seeing loved ones deployed for months or years, the uncertainty of their safety, and the lack of regular communication can be overwhelming. Yet, what sustains them through it all is the love, respect, and gratitude we show them. It is our appreciation that helps fuel their strength.
In this issue, we are honored to share the inspiring stories of local veterans and their unwavering service to our nation. You will also find touching tributes to some of our local heroes, through photos lovingly shared by their families.
As you turn the pages of this magazine, I hope you’ll take a moment to reflect on the immense challenges these Veterans have faced, and where their resilience has brought them today. If you encounter a Veteran, whether they’re wearing a Veteran’s ballcap or not, I encourage you to pause and thank them for their service. Those few words of gratitude hold more power and meaning than you may ever know. On behalf of the entire team at the Seguin Gazette, we extend our deepest thanks to all the courageous men and women who have served and safeguarded our country.
Elizabeth Engelhardt
Publisher
elizabeth.engelhardt@seguingazette.com
Uniform Duties
Navy Veteran Builds a Legacy of Leadership and Service
Dina Dillon has dedicated her life to service. This includes time in the Navy, being founder of the Guadalupe Valley Young Marines, service at the Veterans Outreach Center (VOC) and even her membership in the Pecan Valley Communicators Club, where members give free feedback to anyone looking to improve a speech or presentation.
Story by Abbey Shultz
Photos by
Dillon said her time in the military helped motivate this life of giving back.
“I think it made me stronger mentally, as well as physically, of course,” Dtillon said. “And I volunteered [to do it], that was another thing. I can see through my whole life, the volunteering has been just woven in.”
Dillon took the lesson to heart when she began her higher education journey after having kids. While attending classes pregnant, spending her Saturday’s getting credit hours and even taking her son to school with her at different points throughout her education, Dillon managed to get two associate degrees and a bachelor’s degree.
“I had encouragement and I did it,” she said. “I’m still very proud of myself for that. So it can be done and people just need to do it. It’s like, ‘okay, let’s step out of my comfort zone,’ and I did. And, yes, it’s a piece of paper, but it’s been beneficial to me.”
Another stepping stone was one of her son’s interests in the Young Marines. Dillon began volunteering with the program in Tennessee after her son joined and eventually became a member of the board of directors with the national program. Her deep connection to the Young Marines truly began, though, when her son was in a car accident, she said.
“My son had been in the program for about a year and ended up getting in a car accident after his grandma picked him up and he was all in his uniform,” Dillon said.
Her son had to be airlifted to a hospital, and when he came to, learned they would have to cut off his Young Marines uniform. One of the chapter’s sergeants was able to talk to Dillon’s son briefly beforehand.
“He said, ‘you know, we can replace the uniform but we can’t replace you,’” she said. “For me, that was a hook. With Young Marines, it was bigger, it was something more.”
Upon moving to Seguin, Dillon learned there was no Young Marines chapter and founded the Guadalupe Valley Young Marines chapter 15 years ago.
“We moved from Tennessee to here in Seguin in 2007 and I was encouraged to start the program, because there wasn’t one at all in South Texas,” she said. “And I did. In 2009, we started the Guadalupe Valley Young Marines and have been going ever since.”
All four of Dillon’s sons completed the program and, along with other graduates, Dillon said she can see how the program’s focus on giving back followed them to college and careers.
“It’s just an amazing program,” she said. “We focus on community service and leadership and becoming a good citizen. And a lot of the kids that come out of the program, they don’t necessarily go into the military, some do, but many of them go on to be teachers, firemen, policemen and are still giving back to their communities.”
When she isn’t working with the Young Marines, Dillon works for the Guadalupe County Veterans Outreach Center, supporting veterans and working with other organizations to set up events like the Veterans Day Ceremony, where Dillon has served as the master of ceremonies the past few years and is slated to do so again this year.
“We’re so fortunate here in Seguin with the organizations, the American Legion, the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars), the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) and the G.I. Forum,” she said. “We’re willing to come together and meet and work on events in our community. Not all communities, I’ve found, have that where [people] will work together.”
Dillon’s ability to do all this communicating, give back her time to her community and be there for others in times of need relies on personality traits and qualities she’s had for a long time, she said.
“I can see throughout my life being almost a customer service and PR type person, and being outgoing, and how that’s also been woven throughout all of the jobs I’ve had, all of the places I’ve lived and the different things I did,” she said.
Built to Serve
An Airman's Life dedicated to service and Community impact
Jamie Cervantez’s military journey is one of dedication, resilience and an unwavering commitment to service. From his days as an Air Force aircraft maintenance specialist to his current role as a respected advocate for veterans in Seguin, Cervantez has spent over four decades making a difference. His career is a testament to the impact one person can have and this November, as the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter celebrates its 60th anniversary, the community honors not just the organization but also Cervantez’s enduring contribution to those who served.
Story by Bianca Rawlings
Photos by Victoria Gaytan
Reflecting on his 20-year career in the United States Air Force, Cervantez recalled many positive foundational memories during a time he credited as a staple in shaping his personality.
“I was in the United States Air Force. I served for a little over 20 years and enjoyed it,” he said. “I worked on several aircraft, mostly attached to fighter aircraft, and I got to see the world.”
His dedication took him across the globe, from Korea and Europe to assignments at stateside bases, including a base in Arizona and New Mexico. The experience instilled in him a sense of discipline and purpose that has continued to guide him in his work with veterans. Another momentous milestone Cervantez had in the Air Force was meeting his -wife, who also served while they were both stationed in Germany.
After retiring from the Air Force, Cervantez wasn’t ready to step away from service. He found a new mission, one that allowed him to continue supporting his fellow veterans. He joined the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and then transitioned to Bluebonnet Trails Community Services, where he formulated many strong partnerships with other organizations and colleagues.
“A big thing I learned from working at the VA with so many other veterans was that I was not alone in my own struggles and problems,” Cervantez said.
His work at Bluebonnet Trails included facilitating both support groups and one-on-one support sessions. It was more than just a job; it was a chance to help countless individuals and families with whom he had a strong connection as a fellow veteran, Cervantez said.
In 2012, Cervantez joined the DAV Chapter in Seguin, where he has been instrumental in shaping the organization’s mission. His vision and leadership have turned the chapter into one of the most respected veteran organizations in Guadalupe County. At DAV, he has earned the admiration of his coworkers and fellow advocates.
Lyle Heindenwith, the senior vice commander at DAV, shared some
kind words about his colleague and fellow veteran.
“Jamie is an inspiration,” she said. “He’s done so much for veterans of all ages, and he always goes above and beyond.”
Another coworker and veteran, Marlin Howze, adjutant at DAV, added how impressed he is by Cervantez’ extensive experience in all aspects of veteran services, from mental health to legal proceedings.
“It’s an honor working alongside Jamie,” Howze said. “His commitment to helping veterans is unmatched, and he brings a vision to our work that elevates everything we do.”
One initiative that both of Cervantez’ colleagues agreed was greatly impactful was the court advocacy program where Cervantez played a key role in developing support for veterans facing challenges in the legal system.
The Veterans Treatment Court program is essential in making sure veterans are given a fair chance at re-integrating into civilian life and managing challenges such as PTSD, Cervantez said.
For Cervantez, his work is more than just a career; it’s a lifelong dedication to serve his fellow veterans.
“I’ve been with the DAV now going on 13 years…we’re dedicated to what we do and we do it as volunteers.”
His humility and unwavering dedication make him a beloved figure within Seguin’s veteran community, embodying the values of integrity and service he developed during his time in the military.
As DAV prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary this year, it also honors Cervantez for his decades of selfless service. Through his roles at the VA, Bluebonnet Trails and the DAV, he has touched countless lives, ensuring that veterans receive the care, support and respect they deserve.
For Jamie Cervantez, service to his country didn’t end with his retirement from the Air Force — it became his life’s work.
A True Renaissance Man
A Life of Service, Skill and Versatility Beyond the Battlefield
When people speak of the Greatest Generation, it conjures up images of brave young men volunteering to serve their country in a righteous fight against Hitler.
But these men were not entirely defined by that one selfless, patriotic, courageous act. Some, like Seguin native James Jennings Ulbrich, went on to become real Renaissance men. Ulbrich’s life was varied and full of accomplishments as teacher, rancher, oil roustabout, steel salesman, carpenter, sculptor, inventor and builder.
His magnum opus may well have been the hand-constructed building that sits on the Lazy U Ranch in Seguin located near Lake Placid that eventually became the gathering place for rehabbing veterans and active-duty members.
“It started out as a place where the wounded soldiers would come to rehabilitate and do things like kayak fishing just to get back into the swing of things,” daughter Nancy Russell said. “After the war ended, we started having veteran groups and active-duty groups utilize
the facilities, scout troops as well. It is a non-profit. There has never been any charge to come here. It is a river retreat, intended as a place for soldiers and veterans to come and relax and enjoy each other’s company.”
Ulbrich was born April 7, 1927, in Poteet. He spent his childhood surrounded by many acres of his father’s fields of strawberries and other crops. He was crowned Poteet Strawberry King in 1954. In his later life, he’d tell anyone who would listen about his vivid memories of his childhood in Poteet. Luckily, he survived many youthful mishaps including drinking kerosine at 2 years old, being thrown from a Model T at 4, setting the family Christmas tree on fire at 5 and being run over on his bicycle at 10 years old.
At 17, he volunteered to serve in World War II in the U.S. Navy. He was anxious to serve his country on a ship during the war, but was instead stationed in a desert in California. His unit was preparing to serve on an aircraft carrier, already having their V-Mail addresses, when “the bomb” was
Story by Alex Lowe
Photos courtesy of Nancy Russell
dropped. Then his orders changed, and he separated from the service in August of 1946. Ulbrich used the GI bill to attend John Tarleton College, where he played football.
He married a big-city girl named Edie. Together they had two children — Phil and Nancy. Jim earned a master’s degree from Texas A&I and became a teacher at Seguin High School, which worked well with his ranching activities.
“In 1969, he purchased the land,” Russell said. “Without him, none of this would have ever happened. As a young man, he used a VA loan to purchase the land. That is what he would do, he would buy and sell land. It was my husband, Craig Russell, who started the SS American Memorial Foundation but, again, without him buying the land and taking care of it, this could not have happened.”
Jim began walking in 1979, every day except Sundays, and did so until just a few weeks before his death at 96 years old. At the age of 83, he hiked 110 miles in the Swiss Alps with a backpack and a suitcase.
Jim moved to Seguin in 1959. He was the founder of the Lazy U Ranch, using the same cattle brand that his father registered in 1910. He purchased 100 acres along the Guadalupe River in 1969; a parcel of land that has remained undivided since 1866. Nancy and Craig purchased this land in 2003.
Jim’s dream was to build energy-efficient homes from his own “recipe” using road base with just the right touch of cement as the building material, the ones used by local German settlers.
“He was always ahead of his time with the energy-efficiency aspect of building,” Nancy said. “It didn’t catch on like he wanted it to, but it really should. That building method is very inexpensive and extremely energy efficient. Not many people were really thinking about it in the way that he did so I think it was a unique thing for him to do.”
Jim worked to find the perfect balance between lime and concrete, and then waited to see how it held up
in the South Texas heat and humidity, Nancy said.
“The building has stood the test of time,” she said. “It is still there and it is not crumbling. He built wooden forms that were 2 feet by 3 feet, and he would set them up so that they weren’t touching each other. Then he would mix his special base and pour it into that form and let it set and harden. Then he would remove the form. It was like making blocks. He was an older man when he did all of this in his 70s — block by block until finally it was finished.”
His hand-built building prototype of this construction method, with its 2-foot-thick walls, became the impetus for the SS American Memorial Building and Foundation on the Lazy U Ranch, which has provided a much-needed river retreat and respite, free of charge, to over 24,000 active duty service members and veterans at the location. He literally laid the foundation, and the legacy will continue, as those he touched with his kindness, generosity, wit and spirit carry on.
“He actually built the building that would become the memorial to active duty and veterans,” Jim’s daughter said. “He built it by hand, literally. It is made in the exact same way as Sebastopol, which was built in the late 1800s utilizing a construction method that early German settlers employed in which materials were taken straight from out of the earth. My dad did it utilizing those same techniques only a hundred years later with just a wheelbarrow, a mixer and a shovel.”
Once completed, Craig and his shipmates found it was a peaceful place for them to gather for rest, relaxation and recuperation, Nancy said.
Current plans call for a 70-acre veteran’s mental wellness park located on the property through the SS American Foundation. Without Jim Ulbrich, thousands of veterans would not have benefitted from the healing properties of the beautiful riverfront, Lazy U Ranch longhorns or the Memorial building he created by hand that evolved into the SS American Memorial.
Heroes Among Us
A Program of Honor and Remembrance for Those Who Served
Though his wife remains nonverbal as she receives palliative care at a Seguin nursing home, Glyn McAlister still remembers wife Kristi as the bossy Air Force nurse he met in 2005 in Germany.
Frontal lobe dementia began to take over Lt. Col. Kristi McAlister’s mind and body around 2018 and has her receiving palliative treatment at Walnut Springs Nursing Home.
On a recent fall day, nursing home staff and volunteers with Hope Hospice’s We Honor Veterans program paid a visit to the home in Kristi’s honor. The gathering of a couple dozen folks certainly touched Kristi as it also moved him, said Glyn, a semi-retired member of the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force reserves.
“Those in the military travel so far yet it doesn’t mean anything to us. It’s not until you retire that you realize the journeys and distances they travel,” he said as tears welled in his eyes thinking of Kristi’s various travails. “That is why it was so good to see so many people here to do this.”
The ceremony was just one of many Hope Hospice hosts across its service area stretching through nine area counties including Guadalupe, Comal, Bexar and others.
Hope Hospice did not begin the program — spearheaded by the National
Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs — but adapts it for use to recognize the achievements of veterans and their family members Hope serves, Hope Hospice Community Liaison Chris Sitton said.
“The VA and NHPCO got together understanding that veterans have different issues and concerns at end of life,” he said. “Sometimes, that’s related to the conflict they experienced, whether it be in a war setting or trauma they experienced from service, to service member issues, things like that. The whole idea of the program is just to give folks a better chance at a peaceful passing.”
We Honor Veterans isn’t just about the celebratory ceremonies, Sitton said. Hope Hospice also tries to help address mental and emotional needs of veterans receiving end-of-life care, he said.
Hope team members help enroll veterans into VA programs if they need it and offer education on available benefits and services, Sitton said.
The agency also provides veteran-to-veteran volunteer programs that allow veterans to open up more about their service while receiving hospice care, he said.
“Part of it depends on the family’s needs,” Sitton said. “A lot of times (the
Story and photos by Dalondo Moutlrie
volunteers) will sit and let the family go take a break. They’ll have conversations and share stories about their time.”
For the emotional ceremonies, Hope Hospice employees and volunteers gather along with the honored veteran, his or her family and others, he said.
They highlight the veteran’s oath, talk about what it meant to serve, discuss the symbolism of the American flag and more, Sitton said. The ceremonies provide another chance for veterans to experience and possibly discuss the camaraderie they felt while in service, he said.
“Then we present them with several different items related to those things,” Sitton said, without going into specifics to spoil the surprise for future honorees. “We wish we could do this for others in the community but there’s a certain amount of cost to the things we give so we just aren’t able to do it for everybody. But we want to do it for our patients while they’re with us.”
Kristi’s ceremony pulled at the heartstrings.
Glyn lovingly rubbed his wife’s head as members of the Hope Hospice Honor Guard, veterans themselves, presented Kristi with gifts. He turned on many of the attendees’ water works when telling the story of their first meeting.
She was an Air Force nurse stationed in Germany and he was with the RAF’s fire service, Glyn said. He needed help with a project and she was the only person that provided it, seemingly reluctantly, he said.
“Three months later, she said, ‘You know the only reason I’ve done this is because I fell in love with you,’” Glyn said. They married three years later in 2008. She started showing effects of what was deemed depression in 2014 and was officially diagnosed with dementia a few years later, he said.
Kristi eventually retired and now lives out her life at Walnut Springs with Glyn visiting her here from the U.K. once a year, he said. He would like to come more but the costs and emotional toll prove prohibitive, Glyn said.
“It’s very tragic,” he said.
But the Hope Hospice We Honor Veterans Program provided a momentary departure from the tragedy and a glimmer of light as his love nears her end.
VETERANS OF SEGUIN
SPC Adam L. Chase
CPL Jordan c. Guerrero
U.s. Marine Corps 2007-2011
SPC Francisco Gonzales
U.S. Army - Vietnam National Guard 9 years
Amy McCarthy
SPC E4 Bobby Ray LaRue
MGySgt Edward G. Hilsdorf jr.
U.s. Marine Corps. 30 Years
MSgt Eugene G. Freiert U.S.
Jenke
COl Marvin H. Grimm
U.S. Army 1950-1951
Marvin Lee Grimm
U.S. Army 1968-1971 Lt Col Ford G. Martin
SGM Linda Kessinger
SGM Daniel Kessinger
CPL Albert Hernandez U.S.
Fred Lagunas
E4 SPc John Huerta
Lynn Muncy
SGT Barry K. Meza
PVT Lynn Muncy II
M. Mims
Lionel L. Redix
U.S. ARMY 1966 - 1970
Michael Redix
U.S. ARMY 1987 - 1990
LtCol Patricia A. Redix
U.S. ARMY
Cpt earl E. reDdix III
U.S. ARMY
Frank I. Redix
U.S. ARMY 1967 - 1970
Vance B. Redix
U.S. ARMY 3 years
Vancy “Vinny” B. Redix Jr.
U.S. ARMY Reno W. Reiley
Reno A. Reiley
Donnie Odom - 519th FA Bn U.S. ARMY 1953-1955
Joe Patterson
U.S. Army
sgt Kaylyn Ramirez
U.S. MARINE CORPS. 8 Years
E3 Elaine Reamer
U.S. Navy 4 years
SPC4 Gloria CAMACHO Rangel
U.S. ARMY 1979-1982
Tsgt patrick H. O’BRYAN U.S.
darrell phelps
U.S. air force 1958 - 1978
CMSGT JERRY RAMIREZ
U.S. AIR FORCE 1980 - 2004
SMSGT felisa ramirez
U.S. AIR FORCE 1982 - 2004
Manuel Rodriguez
U.S. air force 1958 - 1962
Joe C. Rodriguez
U.S. air force 1958 - 1962
Manuel L. Rodriguez
U.S. Marine CorpS 1980 - 1986
LCPL Cesario Perez Sr
U.S. Marine corps. - Vietnam
SRA Mark Shellard PO3 Marvel Maddox Col Charles Foss Col Ronald Colunga Lt Col Melvin J. Grones Lt Chuck Askey
U.S. AIR FORCE
NAVY
ARMY Signal Corps.
NAVY
Not pictured: PO1C James Campa - U.s. Navy and LCpl Douglas Hawkins - U.S. Marine corps.
E3 Larry Woods
CPT Larry Weir
Herbert V. Williams Jr.
CMSgt Marian Watts
U.S. AIR FORCE 28 Years
Norwin H. Vogel
U.S. Navy 1950 - 1954
Domingo Urquiza
U.S. ARMY 1956-1958
TSGT Jacob Valdez
U.S. AIR FORCE 2013-Present
SGT e5 Victoria Valdez
U.S. ARMY 10 years
SSG Alex Urias
U.S. ARMY 10 Years
PhM1c Rudy Trost
U.S. Navy - WWii
po3 Jim Ulbrich
U.S. NAVY 1945-1946
Jesse Wallace RD2 Charles Villeneuve
U.S. NAVY 1966-1970
MSG David Watts
U.S. AIR FORCE 26 Years
SGt Marion Stolicki
U.S. ARMY SPC4 leonard Sutton jr.
ARMY 1962 - 1964 Lloyd Sutton
Army 6 years LT Margo Trost
U.S. Navy - WWii
e4 Dwain Brant Trost
U.S. COAST GUARD 4 Years
EVENT CALENDAR
- NOVEMBER -
Annual Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony: Eleventh – 10 am
This event is sponsored by Guadalupe Valley Veterans Coalition with the City of Seguin and Guadalupe County Veteran Services. Parade starts at 10 a.m. at the corner of Weinert and Austin St. and ends at the Seguin Coliseum for the ceremony at 11a.m.
Lights & Sirens Cornhole Tournament: Sixteenth – 10 am
The Seguin Police & Fire Citizens Academy Alumni Associations are joining forces to host the 1st Annual Lights & Sirens Cornhole Tournament as a fundraiser to support Seguin's first responders. The event will include food trucks, raffle items, silent auction items, snacks and music by DJ Dtrayne. BYOB. Cost to participate is $100 for 2 man teams with cash prizes.
Location: Max Starcke Park East-Patricia K. Irvine-King Pavilion, 1412 River Drive E.
Third Thursday: twenty-first – 4 - 8 pm
Businesses and shops in downtown Seguin are open with sales, events, snacks and fun! Each month features a different, exciting theme. Shop Seguin. Shop online or in store.
Location: Central Park, 201 S. Austin St.
Thanksgiving Eve Street Party: twenty-seventh – 5 pm - 12 am
Seguin Brewing is hosting an exciting street party, providing plenty of space to accommodate a large crowd. The pizza line open the entire time to satisfy your cravings. Enjoy beer bucket and pitcher specials throughout the night, and look forward to a surprise free event that’s sure to add to the fun. It’s guaranteed to be a great time, so don’t miss out!
Location: Seguin Brewing Co., 111 W. Gonzales St.
- DECEMBER -
Lighted Holiday Parade: fifth – 6:30 - 8 pm
Featuring over 70 entries decked out in lights and celebrating the holiday. The parade will start at the intersection of Austin and College and travel south on Austin Street to Central Park. At the end of the parade, the mayor will hit the switch to turn on the lights in downtown and Santa will be there for photo opportunities.
Coca Sip n' Stroll: SIXTH – 6 - 9 PM
Stroll through downtown tasting over a dozen varieties of homemade hot chocolate. Seguin’s downtown businesses will keep their doors open late for some shopping. Other activities will include live entertainment, photos with Santa, and a variety of food vendors. Don’t miss it!
