SOUTHMOST VETS' DAY PARADE REACHES 25 YEAR MILESTONE: YOLI ROSENBAUM, SINCE PASSED, RECOGNIZED AT CEREMONY

(FREEDOM ISN'T FREE. BECAUSE OF THIER SACRIFICE, WE LIVE FREE.)

It seems like only yesterday that a group of veterans and Southmost residents got together and organized a parade recognizing Brownsville veterans and their contributions to the defense of this country. But suddenly, it has been 25 years since that first parade in the populous Brownsville barrio. During the ceremony, Yolanda Rosenbaum, who passed away in November 2013, was recognized as the founder of the Veterans Day Committee that led to the organization of the Veterans Day Parade. She and her sister Viola also owned Rosenbaum Flowers, which became a node of community involvement and political organization. Our heartfelt gratitude to them and to all our veterans.

The original founding committee of the annual parade consisted of (left to right) Raul Leal, Yolanda Rosenbaum, Lydia Gonzalez, Dr. Carl Montoya, (middle row) Joe Lucio, Rafael Ruiz, Millie E. Colton,  (back row) Fernando Arellano, David Rivera, Rosie Cavazos, Irma Peña, and Donald Colton.