The City of Southlake takes pride in employing world class employees who not only serve our community, but have served the entire country.

Meet our veterans, Engineering Inspector Julio Reyna III and Public Works Senior Equipment Operator Jason Camblin.

Both individuals served in the U.S. Army, Reyna for four years and Camblin served for 14 years.

Transitioning from the military to civilian life may have its challenges, however, the values remain the same.

“I continue to use values such as Loyalty, Duty, Respect and Integrity to better serve the citizens of Southlake,” Reyna explained.

Camblin also uses the values of Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage that were instilled in him while serving in the military and applies them in his service to the Southlake community.

When asked what Veterans Day means to them, Reyna and Camblin shared their thoughts.

“Honor, Sacrifice and Pride; it’s a day of appreciation for the people who served before me, during the time I was able to serve and those serving after me,” said Reyna.

Camblin defines Veterans Day as the “duty to the American way of life.”

To date, the City of Southlake employs 31 veterans.

Thank you for your service and for continuing to serve the citizens of Southlake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Milton Blake is a beloved and long-time resident of the Southlake community. He and his late wife, Beverly Blake, relocated to Southlake 15 years ago from Chicago to live near his daughter, Robin Cornish and her late husband Frank Cornish.

Blake and his wife were both active members in the community. She served as the Senior Advisor Commission chair while  he actively participates in the Mayor’s Alliance for Unity and Culture.

Before he and his family decided to make Southlake home, Blake was a very active member of the military. He served 32 years in the U.S. Army.

Blake always knew he was destined to serve. When he was a young boy, he participated in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. As a teenager, he participated in JROTC and eventually became commander of his high school unit.

After high school, Blake attended Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. He graduated in 1957, which is the same year he was drafted to the U.S. Army.

He attended basic training in Colorado at Fort Carson and was quickly promoted to trainee leader for his platoon.

He was later transferred to Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland where he worked in construction drafting, which included weapon plans. While he was there, Blake was recommended to participate in a post soldier competition, a contest where the top performers compete against other units. Blake won.

Not to long after his victory, Blake enrolled into cadet school at Fort Benning, Georgia and graduated as second lieutenant in 1959.

Following graduation, he transferred to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri where he continued to train troops for six months.

His expertise in training others led him to working for the Army’s training division.

Blake traveled to various states to train troops for the remainder of his career. He moved through the ranks as company commander, battalion executive officer, battalion commander and concluded his career in the G-2 (intelligence) unit. He retired as a lieutenant colonel.

After retirement, Blake returned to his childhood roots in Chicago and worked for the Reserve Office Association where he presented awards to high performing JROTC units at local high schools.

As things started to slow down, Blake and his wife, decided to make Southlake their second home for years to come. Blake lost his wife in August 2019. They were married 59 years. They have two children together, daughter Robin Cornish, and late son Milton Blake Jr., as well as five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Blake summed up what Veterans Day means to him in just a few words.

“It’s a celebration of patriotism and celebration of veterans and armed forces, he said. “Today they are honored for their services.”

If you happen to see Blake, be sure to thank him for his service.

The City of Southlake takes pride in employing world class employees to serve the Southlake community.

Veterans are valuable assets to our organization and are equipped with a specialized skillset and easily adapt to the City’s core values of Integrity, Innovation, Accountability, Commitment to Excellence and Teamwork due their military training.

The City employs 41 veterans who have served from various branches of the military. Among those are Emergency Manager Amanda Meneses and Police Officer Cpl. Robert Briggs.

 

Meet Amanda Meneses

Meneses served in the U.S. Navy for 14 years and held two positions, the master-at-arms and military working dog handler. She now serves the Southlake community as the emergency manager.

She said values are ingrained in her from day one at boot camp and still hold true to this day.

Meneses explained how the Navy’s core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment have a significant impact on her role and day-to-day activities.

“Honor. I am accountable for my professional and personal behavior. I am mindful of the privilege I have to serve my community. Courage gives me the moral and mental strength to do what is right, with confidence and resolution, even in the face of adversity. Commitment. It is my daily duty to join together as a team with co-workers, city employees and members of the community to improve the quality of our work, our people, ourselves and the community as a whole,” she said.

Meneses keeps these core values and their influence in how she serves the Southlake community, even after she’s been out of the Navy for 10 years. To her Veterans Day means four words: Honor, Sacrifice, Hope and Freedom.

Meet Cpl. Robert Briggs

Briggs served in the U.S. Army for 13 years. He now protects and serves with the City of Southlake Police Department. He said that lessons and experiences he has from the military are utilized every day in his career.

“These include lessons and experiences with leadership, logistics and analysis, as well as the Army values of Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage,” Briggs said.

He defines Veterans Day as a day to be grateful.

“We should of course always be thankful for the sacrifices in which our current and former military veterans have made for our personal freedoms and liberties. Veterans Day serves as an annual reminder for Americans to take time to deliberately thank our American Patriots,” Briggs said.

The City of Southlake would like to thank all veterans for their service.