by Michael Robinson |Uvalde Hesperian
October 14th, 2024
Top Photo Left to Right: Uvalde City Manager Vince DiPiazza, Mayor Pro-Tem Everardo “Lalo” Zamora, 2nd Lieutenant Shaun Roach and Sergeant First Class Benjamin “Ben” Galluppi
Service men and women of the North Carolina National Guard answered a call to mobilize.
According to Sergeant First Class Benjamin “Ben” Galluppi of the North Carolina National Guard, their platoon arrived in Uvalde in September of 2023. He said part of their goal was to help the community heal.
“The hardest part of deployment is going to a place you have no family. Here we have the opportunity to get to know the people. I want people to be able to trust people again,” Galluppi said.
He continued saying, “Every single person in this room has made a difference to somebody.”
During their stay in Uvalde, they performed over 1200 volunteer hours of Community Service work including food distribution and playground builds. On Wednesday, October 2nd, the North Carolina National Guard platoon members joined Uvalde County City officials and members of the Tomas Valle American Legion Post 479 and community members gathered for a farewell dinner held at the Ssgt. Wille de Leon Civic Center for presentations and an exchange of keepsake souvenirs from Uvalde and North Carolina.
Uvalde Mayor Pro-Tem Everardo “Lalo” Zamora joined City Manager Vince DiPiazza in presented 2nd Lieutenant Shaun Roach and Sergeant First Class Benjamin “Ben” Galluppi with the Making a Difference Award which included a plaque with the Key to the City for their service to Uvalde. According to Zamora this was the first Key to the City ever presented by the City.
Local Retired U.S. Navy veteran Dolly Schultz and Uvalde Mayor Cody Smith worked closely with the North Carolina Platoon during their stay in Uvalde.
“These young men and women have been instrumental in so many projects throughout the community, they immersed themselves wholeheartedly and became one of us. They will be greatly missed,” Schultz said.
According to one of the North Carolina National Guard members, while Texas barbecued brisket was certainly a new favorite for many of them, he still preferred the North Carolina barbecue sauce.
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