For Immediate Release: May 16th, 2024
Contact: Jake Bywaters
830.267.9623
[email protected]
Texas Veterans Endorse Tony Gonzales and Denounce Brandon Herrera for Mocking Veteran Suicide
San Antonio, TX – Today, over 100 veterans across South and West Texas published a letter declaring their support for Tony Gonzales in the May 28th runoff election and denouncing Brandon Herrera for his irreverent comments mocking veteran suicide.
U.S. Air Force Veteran and current Terrell County Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland who helped organize the effort said, “As a Veteran myself, with a son who recently returned from the Middle East, and having worked alongside many Veterans during my career in the U.S. Border Patrol, I understand how important it is we have a representative who will fight for our active-duty service members and veterans. Brandon Herrera’s dismissive attitude towards veteran issues is not just offensive but disqualifying. It’s time for us, as veterans, to rally behind a candidate who genuinely understands and supports our community and needs— Tony Gonzales.”
Congressman Tony Gonzales issued the following statement in response to the outpouring of support from Texas veterans:
“I’m very grateful to have the backing of so many men and women who have also worn the uniform. I spent 20 years in the Navy on missions around the world. I understand the sacrifice veterans and their families have made. That’s why I make it my mission every single day in Congress to honor those sacrifices by fighting to ensure veterans are not forgotten and get every single resource they have earned.
Brandon Herrera is not a veteran. He’ll never know what a veteran goes through when he wakes up in the morning or when she is trying to fall asleep at night. His approach to veteran suicide — mocking and laughing about it — is a slap in the face to veterans and all those currently serving. Texas 23 has a proud military community and Herrera’s comments are just further proof that he’s not one of us.”
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