Mission, Texas- Veterans Day this year will be extra special for the students, staff, and the family of the campus namesake at Joaquin Castro Elementary School. During its annual Veterans Day ceremonies this year, the campus will officially unveil a new building plaque reflecting the school’s new name. The ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, November 11, at 8:00 a.m. The campus is located at 200 S. Mayberry Rd., Mission.
On October 14, the Mission CISD (Consolidated Independent School District) Board of Trustees voted to change the name of Joaquin Castro Elementary School to Captain Joaquin Castro Elementary School, to appropriately reflect the military rank earned by the campus namesake.
On December 2, 1952, the Board of Trustees renamed the East Side School the Joaquin Castro Elementary School in honor of Mr. Joaquin Castro, a former student. That school was closed in the summer of 1968. However the name was officially transferred to what had been known as Citriana Elementary School. Based upon background information in district records, the decision to name the school after Castro was made due to the positive example he set through his life before entering the U.S. Air Force in 1941, and through his military record of service. On February 1, 1943, then Lt. Joaquin Castro was classified as missing in action. He was a Flying Fortress pilot. His military service is strongly reflected in the school’s identity.
In August of this year, the district received copies of correspondence from the U.S. Department of Air Force reflecting a correction of military records concerning Castro. He was posthumously promoted to the grade of captain and awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, with three Bronze Service Stars.
The Mission CISD Board of Trustees agreed it was appropriate to reflect the correct military rank in the official name of the school bearing the name of Joaquin Castro.
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