Former Round Rock City Councilman, Veteran, to Give Keynote Adress

Former Army Veteran and Rond Rock City Councilman Earl Hairston will give the keynote adress at this year’s Round Rock Veterans Day Celebration.

The Veterans Day Celebration will be held at Veterans Park and start at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, according to the Round Rock city government website. The event will begin with a presentation of colors followed by acknowledgement of military veterans, patriotic music and dedication of recognition plaques for the park’s Veterans Monument.

Information on the process to get plaques and provide donations to the monument will be provided by Bryan Williams, assistant city manager of Round Rock, reported the Austin American-Statesman. Williams is also a veteran.

Hairston was on the City Council from 1998-2001. He was a member of the U.S. Army Reserve until 2013, when he retired with the rank of Colonel. During his military career Hairston served two tours in Afghanistan and one in Africa as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. Hairston also served in the Gulf War.

Hairston told the Statesman that he wants people to ”actually mean it,” when they say thanks to Veterans this year.

“Give a nice firm handshake and look a man or a woman in the eye and say it,” he told the paper. “After that, I think that they should try to understand the problems that veterans encounter when they return.”