B/CS Chamber of Commerce Connections February 2015 | Page 3

presidential PERSPECTIVES AN ABSOLUTELY INCREDIABLE EXPERIENCE! Rich White Chairman Robert “Bobby” Bisor Chairman-Elect/Administration Glen Brewer Immediate Past Chairman Kathy Krusie Vice-Chair Community Enhancement Uri Geva Vice-Chair Communications Mary Beckman Vice-Chair Leadership Jody Rodriguez Vice-Chair Membership David O’Neil Vice-Chair Business Enhancement Arty Brieden Vice-Chair Finance & Physical Resources Paul Atkinson Stephen Beck Neal Briers Lori Bruffett Sharon Burt Crystal Dupre Vicki Flenniken Katie Fox David Gardner Rudy Grimaldo Barron Hobbs Jason Jennings Rayne Knight Chase Murphy Casey Oldham Brandi Ring-Cooper STAFF President/CEO Royce Hickman Director of Finance Lori Farrell Director of Operations & Public Affairs Burl Haigwood Manager of Business Programs Lucia Cropper Manager of Member Services Carrie Archer Membership Investment Representative Heather Barlow Communications Coordinator Brittany Coker Executive Assistant Tracy Bates Business Programs Coordinator Kelli Davis Receptionist & Membership Assistant Linda Espiriqueta The Chamber Connections is a publication of the Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 3579, Bryan, TX 77805. Published monthly, the Chamber Connections is a public service to Chamber members. Editorial and advertising inquiries should be addressed to Brittany Coker at the above address, by phone at [phone], or email [email protected]. www.bcschamber.org This past December I had one of the most rewarding experiences of my life – I was part of our local delegation that attended the opening ceremonies of the “From Texas to Bastogne – Texas Aggies Go to War” exhibit in Bastogne, Belgium. The opening of the exhibit was timed to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge. There were many highlights to the trip, but I must admit that, for me, the biggest highlight Immediate Past Chair, Glen Brewer, and I with the Mayor of was the opportunity to experience the Bryan, Jason Bienski, the Mayor of College Station, Nancy welcome we received from our first minute in Berry, and the Mayor of Bastogne, Belgium. Belgium until we departed. I was particularly overwhelmed by the unbelievable welcome we received when we first arrived in Bastogne – American flags flying all over the city, pictures of American soldiers, such as General Patton, hanging from buildings, signs of “Thank you” and “Welcome” visible in the windows of almost every business in Bastogne and the sign painted on one café that said “Welcome to the Texas Aggies.” I shall never forget the enormous pride I felt riding down the streets of Bastogne and the deep appreciation I felt for the warm welcome given to our delegation. The people of Belgium and particularly the people of Bastogne, have done an incredible job of passing down from generation to generation the history behind the reason they are a free people and the knowledge of who paid the price for that freedom. Their appreciation for American soldiers and for Texas Aggies who served in World War II is amazing. We could learn something from them about remembering those who served and particularly those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. I also learned that many American soldiers owe their lives to courageous people from Belgium who risked their own lives in order to provide food, shelter, clothing or medical aid to the American GI’s fighting in the Battle of the bulge! The exhibit is extremely well done and is emotionally very moving. They have captured the Spirt of Texas A&M like no one else I know. The exhibit starts with an information piece on Texas A&M today and then takes you back to the A&M campus in the early 1940’s. They walk visitors through the history of the war and our involvement in the war, starting with Pearl Harbor and ending in a room where they play Silver Taps as the names of almost 1,000 Aggies who died in the war are scrolled on the wall, by class year! None of us left that room with dry eyes! The Exhibit will be in Bastogne for two years and then will come to our community permanently. During my walk through the different rooms that comprise the exhibit, I keep thinking to myself – I can’t wait for all of this to come to Bryan/College Station. It will be a major attraction! The trip was also an opportunity for the Research Valley Partnership and Texas A&M University to promote benefits between the Wallonia Region of Belgium and our community. This Belgium Economic Mission aspect of the trip will have a major impact on the future of our Bio Corridor. Delegates on the mission represented multiple facets of public/private leadership including the Mayors and City Managers of both Bryan and College Station, representatives of the Brazos County Commissioners Court, Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, the Office of Technology Commercialization for the Texas A&M University System, the Texas A&M Health Science Center, the Texas Aggies Go to War Exhibit Task Force, College Station ISD, the B/CS Convention & Visitors Center, the Brazos Valley Arts Council and our Immediate Past Chair, Glen Brewer and myself representing the Chamber of Commerce. As I stated at the beginning of Royce H. Hickman President/CEO this article, this experience was one of the most rewarding of my life! Connections February 2015 1