PERMANENT PLAQUE DEDICATION. Pictured are the individuals who attended the ceremony at Flores Park Saturday. The Hispanic Chamber was instrumental in establishing the permanent plaque for brothers Enrique ‘Henry’ Flores and Manuel ‘Kino’ Flores Jr. (Photo by Gloria Bigger-Cantu) Two Kingsville brothers who gave their lives for this country while serving in World War II and the Korean Conflict are being remembered as heroes here and as heroes for this nation.

Their legacy will forever be remembered with these words etched on a bronze plaque: “Los Hermanos Flores Park; In Memory of Brothers “Enrique “Henry” Flores and Manuel “Kino” Flores Jr.”

These memorable statements were among the many commendations expressed at the permanent plaque dedication held Dec. 5 at the Flores Park, located at the intersection of E. Santa Gertrudis Avenu and 12th St. in Kingsville.

Permanent plaque honors fallen Kingsville military brothers. Many dignitaries and Flores family members attended the dedication that was a project of the Hispanic Chamber.

Community leader Maggie Salinas, chairman for special events on the Hispanic Chamber executive board, initiated this project because she said she “had a loving interest in that park for years.”

The only marker identifying the park was a wooden sign that was not a permanent. The park had been used for Diez y seis de Septiembre celebrations in the past, and Salinas noticed the need for a more dignified plaque to honor the young military men.

“This plaque symbolizes the importance and memory of these two young men who lost their lives for our freedom and our country,” Salinas said. She landscaped the park in 1979 when she

Among those honoring the fallen soldiers was Gilberto Uresti, a businessman and member of the Hispanic Chamber who served as master of ceremony.

FLORES FAMILY MEMBERS — A permanent plaque dedication was held at Flores Park Saturday. Three of their brothers attended the ceremony along with other family members. Pictured from seated from left are Enrique Flores, son of Arturo Flores; Soledad V. Galbert; Christian Cantu, great great nephew of Kino Flores’ widow, the late Leocadia Garza Flores. Standing from left are Gilberto Uresti, Maggie Salinas, Humberto, Arturo and Noe Flores, Oralia Basaulda, and Christina G. Hinojosa. (Photo by Gloria Bigger-Cantu). Others on hand included Kleberg County Judge Pete De La Garza, Kingsville Mayor Sam Fugate, Kleberg County Sheriff Ed Mata, Johnny Macreno, president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Frank Guerra, a representative, from the office of Solomon P. Ortiz.

Kingsville city commissioner and war veteran Arturo Pecos also assisted with the ceremony.

Salinas, Noe and. Humberto Flores expressed gratitude to the people present. Noe and Humberto Flores spoke briefly at the dedication.

“Both men bravely gave their lives for our country,” Guerra, who was one of the first speakers, said.

“At this park, families and friends will continue to meet to talk, have picnics, and play. The children will run around the playground as they make news friends and reacquaint with old ones,” he said.

“From time to time a child will ask, ‘Mom, Dad, who were the Flores Brothers?” Guerra said.

“I ask each of you to please share with your children, their grandchildren and friends, the story of the Flores brothers so we can preserve history and let the young generations know why we enjoy the freedoms and liberties we have today,” a letter from Congressman Ortiz stated. “I thank all who were involved in honoring the Flores brothers today. A grateful nation will never forget their ultimate sacrifice.”

Humberto Flores and Noe Flores also read letters that they received from their brothers.

The letters focused on educational topics and asked them how they were doing in school. Humberto Flores read where his brother included $5 in the envelope, and he noted that was a lot of money at that time.

Humberto Flores is a retired Army major, and Arturo Flores is a retired U.S. Marine Corps major. Arturo Flores, who now lives in Mexico and Japan, attended the ceremony. Arturo Flores, who was visiting family in Corpus Christi, said he was very pleased with the dedication. He said there were six brothers in the family. Five of them served in the military.

His father worked for the railroad; his mother was a housewife and the family lived at 306 East Lee.

“When I visit Kingsville, I go up and down the street where we used to live,” Arturo Flores said.

His oldest brother Willie Flores, an educator, died in 2001 at the age of 81. He served in the Army. Arturo and Humberto Flores are both Viet Nam veterans. Arturo Flores, now a retired professor from the University of Maryland, served 28 years with the U.S. Marines. Humberto Flores, who lives in Killeen and Corpus Christi, served 20 years in the Army. Noe Flores is a retired professor from Texas Weslyan University in Fort Worth. He lives in Wells, Texas and Fort Worth.

Military Service

Manuel “Kino” Flores Jr. and Enrique “Henry” Victor Flores served in two different military branches. Manuel “Kino” Flores Jr. died September 18, 1944 at the age of 24 in Holland in a plane crash during the British Operation Market Garden.

Navigator Manuel “Kino” Flores Jr. was ferrying American paratroopers to Holland when his plane was shot down on the second day of attacks. He was the only one in the crew who died. He was buried at the Boschweg Cemetery in September 1944 and later brought to Margaraten in preparation for reburial in the U.S.

On April 28, 1949; he was reburied at Fort Sam Houston Cemetery in San Antonio, according to information provided by Arturo and Noe Flores.

His final rank at his death was lieutenant, and he was assigned to the U.S. Army Air Corps 60th Transport Group.

Henry Victor Flores was killed in action Korea on Oct. 6, 1952 at the age of 20. He was serving with the 2nd battalion, lst Marine Regiment in the Fishhook Operation in the vicinity “Punchbowl” in North Korea.

According to information from one of the officers, it was 11: 30 p.m. that night when their unit was receiving heavy mortar fire from the North Korean and Chinese troops. A mortar landed directly on Henry’s gun emplacement, killing him and his assistant machine gunner instantaneously.

He was about to finish the first half of his combat tour and was scheduled for rest and recuperation in Japan in 10 days. He is buried in the National Cemetery at Fort Sam Houston side-byside with his older brother, Manuel.

In September — 65 years later — Noe Flores and his wife traveled to Holland and visited with an eyewitness of the crash of a C-47 plane that killed his brother in Schijindel.

Noe Flores met with Thijs Hellings, who had researched the facts of the operation, called Market-Garden, one of the transports that was hit by German anti aircraftfire. The crash landed near his parents’ home. Hellings showed Noe Flores the exact spot where the plane crashed. Lamber Van Rooji, an eyewitness, provided additional information of the crash.

Noe Flores and his wife viewed several parts of the plane that had been found and saved by Hellings . The couple also visited the exact spot where the original grave of his brother had been located. They took several photos of their visit.

At the plaque dedication, Judge De La Garza, commended the young men and also read information concerning the history of the Flores Park that was reported in the Aug. 2, 1978 edition of the Kingsville Record and Bishop.

Park History

The city commission had unanimously adopted the name recommended by a 10-member citizen committee appointed to name the park.

The late Nerio Garza, a city commissioners and educator, has been credited for being instrumental in naming this park.

The piece of property had not always been a park. In fact, this was the location of a sewage lift station. Prior to the lift station, it had been a play area for the kids who lived in and around the S.F. Austin Elementary School and Teatro Carpa in the area of 12th Street, and Alice and Lee Streets.”

The area was surrounded by natural small hills that bordered the Tranquitas Creek. In those days the creek carried plenty of water that was a good swimming hole and fishing place for tadpoles.

According to the newspaper article, after World War II, when Kingsville started growing towards the east, the lift station grounds became more popular as a playground for the new neighborhood children.

Interestingly, a sort of small knoll was left where a tennis court is now situated. The knoll later played a very important part of the community.”

Other information shared by De La Garza was that the park developed slowly. It was the first park to have a “quiosco,” the now popular kiosk or round bandstand.

This stand became the central meeting place for numerous types of gatherings, such as political gatherings and campaigns, Boy Scout activities, and concerts.

The knoll was the beginning point of the live passion play that the local Hispanic Catholic Churches used to depict during Lent. The knoll represented the Orchard of the Olives where Jesus Christ prayed all night before his betrayal.

The park continues to be a playground for the locals. Much of the recreational equipment for the smaller tots has been brought by the city and some donated by service organizations. For many years, youth groups volunteered to maintain and paint the playground equipment.

Although Henry Victor Flores and Manuel Flores Jr. died in countries foreign to them, and their burial sites are not here, their names and memory will continue to be at home with Parque Hermanos Flores- — the Flores Brothers Park.