Wounded North Texas Marine Gets Donated Vehicle

Post 178 Color Guard presented the Colors for a ceremony where a SUV was presented to Cpl. Michael Fox, a wounded Texas Marine.

Wounded Marine with Post 178 Golor Guard

A North Texas Marine has a new vehicle, thanks to a donated car and donated time. Cpl. Michael Fox was wounded in Afghanistan in 2011, when he stepped on an improvised explosive device and lost both his legs. On Thursday, Fox got a donated and adapted 2014 Nissan Pathfinder through the National Auto Body Council’s Recycled Rides program. Fox was nominated by Homes for Our Troops, a national nonprofit that builds and donates specially adapted vehicles to veterans.

“It’s incredibly humbling and I’m so grateful to all of you,” said Fox after his new ride was unveiled. “I can’t thank you enough.”

The SUV was donated by GEICO, and workers at Caliber Collision in Little Elm donated 200 hours to adapt it for Fox’s special needs. “I put myself in this guy’s shoes,” said auto painter Jesus Hernandez, whose brother is a Marine. “I would want somebody to reach out to me, help me out, make my life a little bit easier.”

“Right now I’m using portable hand controls on my wife’s vehicle, and this one has permanent hand controls,” explained Fox. “So it’s going to be a lot safer.”

The donated vehicle came with a bonus; a back seat full of toys for Fox’s 9-month old son, Grant.

“Our son was actually born on his ‘alive day’,” said Erica Fox. “All these little milestones, everything just comes together, and it’s just been a really long, but rewarding road.”

NBC5 was there to report the story, which you can watch here.

Presenting the Colors at the 2018 NAMPOW

Peter J. Courcy Post 178 was honored to present the colors at the 2018 NAMPOW (Vietnam era Prisoners of War) 45th Anniversary Freedom Reunion on August 18, 2018. This is an annual reunion and was held at the Omni Hotel at The Star Frisco, Texas.

2018 NAMPOW Color Guard
Honor Guard members (L to R): Dave Fautheree, Terry Meyering, Larry Marshall, Ted Ruybal, Delbert Parsons

2018 NAMPOW Color Guard Posting the Colors

2018 NAMPOW Color Guard Posting the Colors

2018 NAMPOW Reunion Dinner

2018 NAMPOW 45th Anniversary of Freedom Reunion Highlights
The national organization of former Vietnam POWs (NAMPOWs.org) held their 45th Anniversary of Freedom reunion August 15-19, 2018 in Frisco, Texas. Over 440 family and friends attended the event, along with over 120 former POWs. The video provides a highlight of the activities over the 4-days of the reunion.​
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBLBYJ96GfI

2018 NAMPOW FAREWELL BANQUET SPEAKER – DR ROGER E SHIELDS
This video includes the Farewell Banquet speaker, Dr. Roger Shields remarks on the last night of the national organization of former Vietnam POWs (NAMPOWs.org) 45th Anniversary of Freedom reunion August 15-19, 2018 in Frisco, Texas. Dr. Roger E. Shields worked in President Nixon’s administration and was responsible for the planning and execution of Operation Homecoming that returned the POWs to freedom in 1973.​
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipA3kpQ-EjY&feature=youtu.be

26th Congressional District Veteran Commendation Nominations NOW OPEN

26th Congressional District Veteran Commendation Flyer 2018It is my privilege to sponsor a special salute to honor local veterans, and I would welcome nominations from the community for the 26th Congressional District Veteran Commendation. The submission deadline is September 17th. The Congressional Veteran Commendation, in conjunction with the Veterans History Project sponsored by the Library of Congress, has been created to honor the distinguished veterans of Texas’ Twenty-Sixth Congressional District and to preserve their stories for future generations of Americans.

To nominate a local veteran for the 2018 Congressional Veteran Commendation, the completed nomination form, along with additional information pertaining to the veteran’s service, should be returned to my Lake Dallas office (2000 S. Stemmons Frwy., Suite 200, Lake Dallas, TX 75056) by September 17, 2018. Nominated veterans must be currently residing in the 26th District of Texas, served the nation honorably during their military career and subsequently demonstrated dedication to their community.

I will publicly recognize those individuals selected to receive the Congressional Veteran Commendation at the annual Highland Village “Salute Our Veterans” luncheon on November 9th. Also, my office hopes to conduct an in-depth interview with commendees, and that interview will be forwarded to the Veterans History Project to be added to the Library of Congress collection. For more information regarding the project, visit http://www.loc.gov/vets/.

If you have questions regarding the 2018 Congressional Veteran Commendation or to confirm an individual’s residency within the Twenty-Sixth District of Texas, please contact my Deputy District Director, Robin Vaughan, at 940-497-5031. I appreciate your assistance!

Sincerely,

Michael C. Burgess, M.D.
Member of Congress

American Legion Centennial Highlighted in 2019 Farmer’s Almanac

American Legion Centennial Highlighted in 2019 Farmer’s Almanac

Farmers Almanac 2019 Celebrates Legion CentennialThe 2019 issue of the Harris Farmer’s Almanac salutes The American Legion with a one-page article recognizing the organization’s 100th anniversary. Now on sale nationally, the annual collection of weather forecasts, notable events, predictions, gardening hints and more also profiles in the same issue Moina Michael, the so-called “Poppy Lady” who fueled U.S. attention on the flower and its meaning as a symbol for the fallen of World War I.

In the article “A Salute to The American Legion,” writer Veda Boyd Jones notes several of the organization’s accomplishments over the last century, including American Legion Baseball, Boys State, establishment of the Veterans Bureau, predecessor to the VA, and the 1944 GI Bill, as well as the Legion’s support for the most recent update of it, the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017.

Read more on the American Legion’s website.

Presenting the Colors for the Dallas Rattlers Lacrosse Team

On Saturday, August 4th at the Ford Center at The Star Frisco, TX, the American Legion Post 178 Color Guard presented the Colors for the Dallas Rattlers Lacrosse Team.

Left to right: John Ricca, Dave Fautheree, Ted Ruybal, Fred Rogers, Kevin Robinson