Honoring Veteran Fathers: A Father’s Day Tribute from Houston and Beyond 🇺🇸
“A father is someone you look up to no matter how tall you grow.”
On this Father’s Day, we take a moment to salute not just the fathers who raised us, but those who also raised their right hands in service to our nation.
Veteran Fathers: Duty, Family, and Sacrifice
Being a dad is no small task. Being a veteran dad brings a unique kind of strength, discipline, and love. From deployment to reintegration, the journey of a veteran father is filled with sacrifice and resilience.
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Dakota Burd, a human intelligence collector with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 18th Military Police Brigade, receives a surprise visit from his two daughters, Eloise and Mathilda Burd, at U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria, Germany, May 15, 2025. Soldiers are encouraged to spend time with loved ones to strengthen relationships and maintain balance between work and home life. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Tanisha Karn
Whether you served overseas or stateside, active duty or reserve, your commitment has shaped the lives of your children and community. Your stories of quiet leadership, late-night calls home, homecomings, and hugs are the fabric of our nation’s strength.
Houston Celebrates Its Heroic Fathers
U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Jesus Quintanilla, a Greenville, South Carolina native, ground electronics system maintenance technician with Marine Corps Communication-Electronics School, Training Command, Training and Education Command, poses with his child during a Father’s Day photoshoot at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, June 12, 2024. The Combat Center is dedicated to honoring and showing appreciation to active-duty fathers and father figures who not only are committed to serving their country but also their families. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Anna Higman)
In Houston, we are lucky to have a vibrant veteran community full of proud fathers who continue to serve in their families, neighborhoods, and careers. Across the city, local veteran service organizations, churches, and civic groups are hosting Father's Day celebrations to show gratitude to our heroes at home.
Here are a few ways you can honor veteran dads this Father’s Day in the Houston area:
Attend a family picnic or veteran cookout at Memorial Park or Hermann Park.
Visit the Veterans Memorial at Houston National Cemetery for a quiet moment of reflection.
Write a thank-you letter or create a homemade card with your kids for a veteran dad in your life.
Volunteer with a local veteran organization in his honor.
Beyond Houston: A Call to Reflect
For those outside the Houston area, reflect on the veteran fathers in your life. Call them. Hug them. Thank them. Their stories deserve to be remembered, and their sacrifices honored.
Whether you're a new dad navigating fatherhood after service or a grandfather who served decades ago, this day is for you. You’ve fought battles on and off the field, and your legacy lives on through every child who watches how you lead, love, and live.
To All the Veteran Dads: We Salute You
Today and every day, we thank you—not only for your service but for the strength, patience, and love you’ve shown as a father. You are our heroes in uniform and at home.
Happy Father’s Day from Houston and beyond. 🇺🇸
Staff Sgt. Vega Noe, battalion substance abuse control officer, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, and a native of Houston, and his daughter Abigail, prepare their hot dogs during a father/daughter luncheon aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., March 9, 2014. The luncheon connected the Marines with their daughters and gave them a chance to meet other families in the battalion before they deploy to Okinawa, Japan, in April. The event included several games, a cupcake decorating table, and a large lunch