Veteran Dalton Rice gives keynote remarks at Memorial Day Program

Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice, who had a distinguished 13-year career in the U.S. Army, provided the keynote address during the 2025 Kerr County Memorial Day Program on Monday morning, May 26.

First an infantryman, Rice deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005. After completing U.S. Special Forces training, he was assigned to a Commander’s In-Extremis Force Unit in A Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group at Fort Campbell, KY.

Upon leaving active duty, Rice joined the Texas National Guard, serving with C Company, 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group in San Antonio. He later served with the Special Operations Detachment – Africa out of Austin, completing a six-month tour in Germany with Special Operations Command Africa, where he contributed to contingency response efforts throughout Africa, before being honorably discharged and pursuing a career as a paramedic, firefighter and healthcare administrator.

He has been the city manager for the City of Kerrville since 2023.

The following are his remarks delivered during the ceremony:

Good morning everyone,

It’s an incredible honor—and I’ll admit, a deeply humbling one—to stand before you today. I can think of so many more distinguished veterans and families who have carried heavier burdens and walked harder roads. And yet, here we are, together, to reflect, to remember, and to honor.

Before we begin, let me first recognize and thank the Gold Star families in attendance. Your presence today is a testament to the strength, love, and enduring sacrifice that can never truly be put into words. You represent the very heart of what Memorial Day is about.

I’d also like to acknowledge our distinguished guests who have joined us this morning: Mayor Joe Herring Jr., members of the Kerrville City Council, Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly and our County Commissioners, active duty military and first responders.

Thank you for your leadership, your support of our veterans, and your commitment to honoring those who have given everything for our freedom.

Let me ask you a question. How many of you have lost someone in uniform? How many of you know someone who has? Look around. That’s the weight of today. That’s the reason we’re gathered here.

We say this often, but it bears repeating: Memorial Day is not a happy holiday. It’s not a day of celebration in the traditional sense. While many of us — including myself — will spend this weekend with friends and family enjoying a barbecue or some sunshine, let us never lose sight of why we are able to do that. This day is for those who gave up that very privilege, who laid down their lives so we could live in this amazing country -- free and unafraid.

We all carry our stories. Some of us wear them openly. Others silently. What we’ve seen, what we’ve done, and who we’ve lost ... those memories don’t vanish. And if you’re struggling with that, please know: you are not alone. We carry these memories not just as burdens, but as bonds -- links to one another and to those who never came home.

Through quiet moments, through shared glances, and sometimes through dark humor that only those who’ve been there understand, we keep them with us. In remembering them, we remind ourselves that their lives mattered. And, that we’re still here for each other.

Every Memorial Day, my phone lights up with phone calls and messages from guys I served with. We share stories — some hilarious, some heartbreaking. We remember the ones who didn’t make it home. We remember the stupid things we did as young men and women, trying to make sense of chaos. We remember their faces, their families, their kids. Not just today. But, but every single day.

Many Memorial Day speeches dive deep into its history. And they should. But this morning, I want to take a moment to talk about something we often keep to ourselves, a silent killer: mental health.

Combat is terrifying. The chaos, the noise, the loss -- it leaves a mark. But sometimes, coming home brings a different kind of fear. A silent one. One that too many never overcome. We lose far too many brothers and sisters long after the battle is over. And that should haunt us just as much as any battlefield.

So, as we honor, remember, and celebrate the lives of those we lost, let’s also look out for each other. The “foxhole” of civilian life — of normalcy — can be just as challenging as the ones we dug in sand or mud. We must be willing to reach out, to speak up, and to check in.

Earlier, I asked how many of you have lost someone or know someone who has. Almost every hand went up. Let that remind us of something powerful: while today is a day of remembrance, every day is a day to remember. To carry forward their stories, their legacies, and most importantly, to live in a way that honors their sacrifices.

May we never forget what they stood for.

May we always remember who they are.

Thank you.