SAN ANTONIO — A steady drumroll filled Edgewood Veterans Stadium on Memorial Day. In all, 45 minutes of the constant beat rang out in between names of Edgewood ISD graduates who died during service.
EISD Interim Superintendent Phillip Chavez spoke at the ceremony honoring fallen military members and explained the significance of Memorial Day to the Edgewood area.
"The Edgewood family has made great sacrifices for our freedoms," he said. "Our school district experienced the highest number of casualties in the nation."
There were 53 casualties in the Vietnam War from the Edgewood School District and 10 of those soldiers were graduates from the class of 1967.
"1968 was the heaviest fighting in the Vietnam War, the largest amount of casualties," Vietnam veteran Roy Reyes said. "When we arrived in Vietnam, we arrived in the worst of it."
Reyes knew all 10 of those 1967 graduates because he served with them. Before that, he was their classmate, friend, and brother. When he joined the Marine Corps, he did it as part of the "buddy plan" alongside his fellow graduates.
"The thing I miss most is their comradery," Reyes recalled. "I remember how full of life they were, and now they're gone. And so that leaves a very big void in me and in my heart because I miss them. I miss them a lot."
That loss can be especially painful on days like Monday. But this annual ceremony, which Reyes helped create 30 years ago, gives him some solace.
And as the names of the fallen Edgewood graduates were announced, Roy stood solemnly with sticks and a snare in hand, honoring those he served with so many years ago.