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Texas Learners

Thursday, March 19, 2009 14:35 | Albert Renteria (Administrator)

New Learners March 16, 2009 Austin, TX - Nina Gayheart - Michael Sosa - Franc Montalvo - Eric Harrington - Albert R Renteria.JPGI am at the Austin Airport waiting for a late flight. While waiting thinking of my trip to Texas, I found myself visiting memories of the past.

It has been a few years since I have visited Texas, and it remains as friendly as ever. It was a busy, but a very productive trip. I met with many I knew and met many more new friends.

The visit of the past is reflected in this posted photo where Nina Gayheart joins me with three Marines I had the honor of serving with.

I met Franc Montalvo during 1983 and we have been connected by distance for some time. I think it was about five years since we last met. Franc is now retired and settled in Austin. Welcome Franc, as one of the first Learners of Texas. Franc is in the center of the photo.

The tallest gentleman is Michael C Sosa and we served together at 3rd Battalion 1st Marines. I am a firm believer that one learns from another and Mike taught me many things and what I learned most from Mike is to trust at all cost and learn from any mistakes. I had the opportunity to have lunch with Mike today and honored by his thoughts. It is Mike that has charged my means to serve and I thank him!

Eric is the fourth from the left in the photo. He too served with Mike and I. We all served on the Maiden Voyage of the USS Essex during 1994 in support of the Somalia withdrawal. I was proud to learn of Eric's post service success and his vision for future endeavors. I can remember Eric's demeanor during deployment and my responsibility to provide him the tools to serve others. He taught me the importance of always making more tools so that a service to others is second to none.

These Marines are just three of many that influenced me to create this organization and it was the many civilians that taught me how much the Community wants to Serve Veterans.

Texas is the third State we have signed Learners and with what I learned from this trip we are 47 States to go!

I want to extend my gratitude to John and Sigrid for hosting a dinner event yesterday. I met an extraordinary young man and his name is Austin. He is only 13, but you would easily mistaken him to be much older. Austin served as a reminder to me on why I do what I do! Thank you Austin!

After I spend a couple of days home I am off to Vancouver WA to sign for our second Center, which we are planning for a grand opening during May 2009 in honor of Memorial Day. From there, I head back home on the 25th and get ready to head to Chicago to sign on more Learners.

I want to thank you for reading my blog and for sharing with me how best to serve you so that together we can eradicate the notion of a homeless Veteran by 2035. God Bless, Al

Comments

  • Thursday, March 19, 2009 17:58 | Eleanor Tobias
    Again, Al has demonstrated his dedication to and why he serves all of our veterans. It is interesting, also, to learn how we learn from each other, even if we aren't aware of it at the time. That's one of the reasons his method works. He is constantly learning as he helps others in this program. We could all take a lesson from that

    Congratulations, Al, and we will support you ad infinitum!
    Semper Fi Fran
    Link  •  Reply
    • Saturday, March 21, 2009 16:21 | Albert Renteria (Administrator)
      Fran,

      The community is to be congratulated and I applaud your efforts in getting Vancouver WA started! Tomorrow we will get to excited the community and lay the ground work for your grand opending during May 2009 in honor of Memorial Day.

      Thank you so very much for your incredible dedication and steadfast support to your community and in serving our Veterans. Semper Fi, Al
      Link  •  Reply
  • Saturday, March 21, 2009 15:38 | Sigrid Gilbert
    Al, I have to smile at having felt concern that if you stayed at our home, you would be too far from the "action", as in 40 minutes from downtown Austin, but come to find out, we were dead center between Franc and Nina. It was such an honor having you here. I appreciate all the little stories of and insights you shared. Thanks to you I had the privilege
    of meeting Franc, one of your first Texas learners, and wife Sandra and witnessing his signing. What great people!

    Yes, Austin is incredible. Can you imagine a guy in high school at the OI storage at 8 AM last Friday during his spring break, picking up product too heavy to ship to the troops and, with Bill, spending a couple hours taking it down to Camp Mabry? A wonderful family!

    I would like to know how I am ever going to keep up with the learner blogs, if you keep signing them on so fast, Al. These
    veterans have ALL been very impressive sharing of themselves and know they have the best mentor.

    Thanks for your gifts of love and wisdom for all of us,
    Sigrid
    Link  •  Reply
    • Saturday, March 21, 2009 16:24 | Albert Renteria (Administrator)
      Sigrid,

      You and John have given so much of your time and I appreciated the new discovery I had with John. As John noted so well, we must all be aware of our natural resources so that we leave behind our great land in good order to our children and our children's children.

      Please extend my deepest gratitude to Perry and Mike for meeting with me during my visit. I am certain your community will enjoy the empowerment and tools we will provide to serve Veterans in the Great State of Texas. I humbly remain your servant. Al
      Link  •  Reply
    • Saturday, March 21, 2009 16:27 | Albert Renteria (Administrator)
      Smiling, fast? This is a very slow start. So enjoy the slow beginning and you will see fast will become faster and in no time we will have 12,288 Learners by the end of the year. However, a quick solution is to invite all of your community to join us so that your community enjoys all that we do along side with you. God Bless, Al
      Link  •  Reply

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