Metcalf Minute

As the cool
fall weather settles in, my family and I want to wish you and your loved ones a
very Happy Thanksgiving. This is one of my favorite times of the year, a season
to pause, reflect, and give thanks for our blessings and for the incredible
people who make Montgomery County such a special place to call home.

Last week,
our community gathered to honor our veterans at the Montgomery County Veterans
Memorial Park, where we unveiled the new education center name: The Honored Mission Veterans Museum – The
Jimmie C. Edwards III Education Center.
Named in honor of Judge Jimmie Edwards’ extraordinary vision and leadership,
this center will serve as a living classroom where future generations can learn
the story of liberty, told by those who wore the uniform and by the families
who carried the burdens here at home.

This park
means a great deal to me personally. I have watched it grow from an idea into a
place of meaning, reflection, and service. I often think back to its beginnings,
long before there was a single monument or museum.

Around 2004,
when my dad, Tommy, served as Mayor of Conroe, he and his fellow council
members, now Mayor Duke Coon, Webb Melder, the late Jerry Streater, Pat George,
and Jay Ross Martin, worked with TxDOT as the agency prepared to widen I-45. At
the time, TxDOT planned to make the area a dry retention pond, something
unworthy of serving as the gateway to Montgomery County’s largest city and
county seat. Working together, the City and TxDOT transformed what was
originally a simple drainage area into something more, adding ponds and water
features that welcomed people into our community.

Fast forward
to 2016, when Judge Jimmie Edwards built upon that foundation with a vision for
a place that would honor our veterans, first responders, and their families. At
that time, he asked for my help on the state side in moving the veterans park, then
hidden in Downtown Conroe, to a location worthy of its purpose. From that
moment, I committed to doing everything I could at the state level to help the
park grow and fulfill its mission.

I was proud
to lead in that effort in the Texas Legislature. In 2021, I secured $7 million
in state funding for the park, followed by another $5 million this past
legislative session to continue expanding its exhibits, educational
programming, and ability to welcome more students, veterans, and families.

What began
as a vision in 2016 has come to life and will continue to grow for many years.
These investments are more than bricks and mortar, they are commitments to
memory, meaning, and the character of Montgomery County. They signal that Texas
believes in teaching our children the story of liberty, told by those who wore
the uniform and by the families who carried the burdens here at home. Because
of Judge Edwards’ vision, every person who walks through those doors will leave
with a deeper respect for our veterans, first responders, and a clearer sense
of what it means to be an American.

Veterans Day
is more than a date on a calendar. It is an instruction to our hearts: Stop,
Remember, and Recommit. Remember those who stood a post so we could sleep in
peace. Remember those who sailed into danger and flew into harm’s way. Remember
those who came home with visible and invisible scars, and those who gave the
ultimate sacrifice. Recommit to serving our neighbors, strengthening our
communities, and teaching our children that citizenship comes with duties, not
just rights.

The
Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Commission and its many community partners
use this park as home base for countless outreach efforts that strengthen our
community and support those who have served. One example took place on Saturday
during the Veterans Day celebration: Operation Veteran Food Drop-Off, benefiting Meals on Wheels. This is the
heart of Montgomery County: neighbors stepping up to fill a need, lend a hand,
and ensure no veteran or senior is left behind.

To our
veterans: We cannot
repay the debt we owe you, but we can strive to be worthy of it. We can invest
in places like the Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Park that preserve your
stories and educate the next generation. We can show up for you and your
families not just on Veterans Day, but every day. We can honor your service by
how we serve our community.

To our
community: Thank you
for believing in this park. Thank you for giving, volunteering, and championing
its mission. The investments and efforts we have made, including $7 million in
2021 and $5 million this year, are commitments not only to brick and mortar,
but to memory, meaning, and the character of Montgomery County.

As we
celebrated the name reveal of The
Jimmie C. Edwards III Education Center
this past weekend, let us recommit ourselves to the values that make this place
possible: Duty, Sacrifice, Service, and Love of Country. I look forward to
celebrating the grand opening soon.

That same
spirit carries us into Thanksgiving. As we gather with family and friends, I
hope we each take a moment to give thanks for the freedoms we enjoy, for the
men and women who secured them, and for the strong community that upholds them.

From my
family to yours, may your Thanksgiving be filled with gratitude, good health,
and the blessings of faith, family, and freedom.

May God
bless you, your families, and the great State of Texas.