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In service to our country

Have you forgotten how it felt that day?-- Darryl Worley country music singer/songwriter. I never will.. September 11, 2001. Where were you when the world stopped turning?-- Alan Jackson country music singer/songwriter. The September 11 Digital Archive will help you remember.

A sad milestone was reached Tuesday as the the total American service men and women that have given their lives in Operation Enduring Freedom defending our country and the freedoms it stands for reached 1000.
You know sometimes it really doesn't hit you until it is personal.

Eddie Dawson, Ike Garza, Clay Hubbard, James Watson, Austin Voss, Randy Casey, Mike Montgomery II, and Mark Rutherford. I hope that I have not made a mistake or left someone off the listing of these men from Santa Anna who are serving our country. If I have it is because I have only recieved a few e-mails regarding those from Santa Anna in service to our country. So this short list is my best effort.
You know sometimes it really doesn't hit you until it is personal.

1007 American soldiers or sailors have died in Operation Enduring Freedom as reported by the Department of Defense and the Iraq Coalition Casualty Count. Pray for our country, our leaders, and our soldiers and sailors.

Many service men and women return home safely. Operation Tribute to Freedom Homecoming Photographs.

A little behind..

Well I am afraid that I didn't have a lot of time to work on the site itself this past weekend but I have several things going on that I am working on and excited about so check back real soon.

I got some really good pictures of the football and volleyball games that I should have up early in the week so keep watching the Sports page.

If you haven't done so yet be sure and check out the Community Links page. Laurie Powers, daughter of Sammie and Ima Powers, all Santa Anna folks, has really done a nice job on the Santa Anna, Chamber, HDO webpages.

TYFL Santa Anna Cowboys..

While at the Junior Varsity Football game Thursday I noticed some little guys practicing over on the practice field and of course I had my camera taking some pictures of the game so I thought I would check them out. These little guys were really letting the pads pop getting ready for their first game at the the Brownwood Junior High on Saturday. Their name is the Santa Anna Cowboys and they are made up of mostly 5th and 6th graders from Santa Anna and are coached by Santa Anna dads Juan Suarez, Prizzel Washington, and Martin Valencia.

I also have some pictures that I will try to post this weekend of the JV game which they won against the Robert Lee Steers 55-6 with the mercy rule with 7:48 left in the 4th quarter.

I also finally got the second half pictures of last Friday's game posted on the Sports page.

Santa Anna Folks get visit from the Princess of May..

Cindy finally got brave last Friday and ventured over to the visitors' side of our field to get a glimpse of Princess Briana Steele now of May formerly of Santa Anna.. you know she was born to a Santa Anna family at the time!

She had visited the Friday before to the home side during the ACHS game but Sybil Eubank had the honors of holding her and rightfully so. Cindy got to hold her though this past Friday.. Princess Brianna sure is growing up and is such a little cutie.

Cindy, Princess Briana, and Natalie	..and she sure loves her daddy!

The Peltons really miss Natalie and Princess Briana going to games with us. But we wish them lots of luck in May and will welcome them to Santa Anna anytime!

A little personal business..

I have gotten a little behind on some things that I want to do with the site but it has been pretty busy around the Pelton's. I have been working some longer hours at work which has kind of cut down on some of SantaAnnaNews.com time.. gotta keep the bills paid you know.. and I hope that you have been enjoying or found useful some of the things that I have been able to do.

We have been so busy that I am kind of in a jam on a deal and maybe this will help.. or make it worse! I missed a pretty important day recently for the two most important ladies in my life and that was my Mom's Birthday, which also happens to be the 23rd anniversary of mine and my wife Cindy's first date - August 26th. Yes, I know it has been a couple of weeks but I am telling you "It's been crazy!"

I am really getting old and forgetful.. I think it has something to do with being a grandpa. Like my good friend, former co-worker, and preacher man from the Northside Baptist church of Santa Anna always told me, "I have gone to the "Here After".. I forgot what I was here after!"

Our nearly one year old Grandson, Dawson, was sick on that day with combination of real bad congestion, stomach ache, and cutting teeth and had to stay in Coleman Hospital for several days.. he is now OK by the way but he gave me a pretty good excuse for missing the day's significance.

First I will try to make up with my Mom, Pat Wright, by saying that she has always been there for me and my sisters. She is an inspiration to me and she is the one that taught me all of the things that moms teach their little boys and most important right from wrong and how to treat other people with kindness. She always taught us to make the best of what we had and to look on the bright side of life. She has always worked hard to keep us fed and clothed and still works hard everyday at Countywide Insurance in Coleman and around her house. Maybe this will get me by until I can make it up to her somehow.. Thanks Mom for everything!

Now for Cindy.. oh boy I am really gonna be in trouble when she reads this!
Some of you may have seen the first day of this site on her birthday with her picture and all.. I think I might still be in trouble over that! Anyhow, Cindy is also pretty important to me. She has done a good job of taking care of me over the last 23 years and the girls too. She puts up with me being "always right", my stubborn hard headedness, procrastination, and workaholic ways. If I could go back 23 years, I would do it all over again. Cindy, thanks for loving me.

Santa Anna Chamber of Commerce to host guests in town on the Western Trail Ride

The Western Trail Ride from Bandera, Texas to Dodge City, Kansas arrives in Santa Anna on the afternoon/evening of September 17, 2004. The ride will be escorted into town by our Police Chief Carlos Torres, who will be on horseback. The escort should be from the City limits on the Brady Highway to the Junior Rodeo grounds West of town, on the San Angelo Highway.

The camp grounds will be at the Junior Rodeo grounds and any overflow will be across the road on the Paul Martin land. Some of the motor homes and travel trailers will be camped at the Community Center.

This is the historic re-opening of the Western Trail and it is the hope that this trail will soon be marked with permanent markers identifying this trail from Bandera to Gallala, Nebraska as well as a life sized sculpture in Bandera.

The trail boss of this historic ride, Susie Heywood is a delightful 65 year-old grandma from Bandera who is full of energy and enthusiasm about this ride. She is the granddaughter of one of the legendary trail drivers who took three herds of Longhorns up the western Trail in 1876, 1881, and 1886.

We invite local residents to watch this event come into our small community and feel free to come to the rodeo grounds and visit with these people who are so passionate about The Western Trail.

When the exact time of arrival is known we will try to notify the public.

Contibuted by Wanda Campbell

Friday Night Lights

Another beautiful West Texas night for Mountaineer football. I hope you made it to the game.