by Frisco Legion | Dec 12, 2021 | American Legion Post 178
(L-R) Delbert Parsons-Post 178 Commander, Terry Gilbert-Vice Commander Programs, and participants Anaira Upadhyay, Emma Ko, Mishaal Qureshim, Pranav Kalkunte, and Jedaiah Ward.
Four high school students from the Frisco area were named winners and received $250 college scholarships at the American Legion Post 178 Oratorical Scholarship Contest. The competition was held at The Grove at Frisco Commons on Saturday, December 11. The four orators will now compete at the district contest in Royse City on January 8, 2022, with other post winners from the 4th District.
Each contestant delivered a prepared oration as well as an oration on a randomly assigned constitutional topic. The four winners were Emma A. Ko, a senior, home school; Pranav Kalkunte, junior, Independence High School; Mishaal Qureshi, senior, Reedy High School; and Jedaiah D. Ward, junior, home school.
The American Legion Oratorical Scholarship Program began in 1938 and encourages high school students to study the U.S. Constitution and improve their public speaking skills. Post 178 annually holds this contest for students in the Frisco area to develop deeper knowledge and appreciation for the U.S. Constitution. The contest presents an academic speaking challenge that teaches important leadership qualities, the history of our nation’s laws, the ability to think and speak clearly, and an understanding of the duties, responsibilities, rights, and privileges of American citizenship.
by Frisco Legion | Dec 12, 2021 | Community, Press Release, Recognitions
Each December on National Wreaths Across America Day, the mission to Remember, Honor and Teach is conducted by coordinating remembrance wreath-laying ceremonies at more than 2,100 locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea and abroad.
The American Legion Post 178 will again actively participate in this year’s Wreaths Across America Ceremony and assist with the placement of 48,000 wreaths at the DFW National Cemetery on December 18. In addition to this event, post members will assist with wreath truck unloading on December 17 and wreath removal on January 15, 2022. Post 178 has participated in the national program since it was chartered in 2014.
In many homes, there is an empty seat for one who is serving or one who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Our service members sacrifice their time and safety every day of the year to preserve our freedoms.
REMEMBER our veterans that served and are serving America, HONOR the fallen veterans, and TEACH our youth about the service and sacrifice of our veterans and families.
by Frisco Legion | Dec 9, 2021 | Community, Giving Back
Bonham Veterans Home Donations Chair John Allen and Caren Cohen, Quilting Angels member, hold two unique fidget quilts.
Residents at Bonham Veterans Home are incredibly grateful for a group of sixty Quilting Angels from Frisco Lakes. These Angels donate quilts and fidget quilts yearly to the home.
Many in the group are spouses of veterans or veterans themselves who appreciate those who have served our great country. Quilting and sewing things for veterans and others is their way of thanking those who have sacrificed to keep it safe. This year, twenty quilts and sixteen fidget quilts were donated to Bonham veterans.
Since 2017, the Quilting Angels have donated 208 quilts and 68 fidget quilts to the veterans, Fidget quilts are sensory mats held in laps that have numerous items sewn on top that give veterans with Alzheimer’s or dementia in the memory care unit a sense of calmness when agitated. When the pandemic hit in 2020, the Angels also began sewing masks. To date, more than 8,500 masks have been donated to veterans, hospitals, medical and cancer centers, and to police and fire first responders.
The group of day quilters is led by Lori Kestila, while Maureen Schmiedel leads the smaller group of fidget quilters. To learn more, visit https://facebook.com/quiltingangels.fidgetquilts or contact Maureen at fidgetquilt@gmail.com.
The Lord bestows blessings on those who help the needy, and these Quilting Angels deserve many.
by Frisco Legion | Dec 7, 2021 | Community, Press Release
Post 178 veterans John Allen, Tim Schmidt, and Marty Martel presented donations and a $2000 check to Amanda Gilbreath, Veterans Land Board Onsite Representative.
Since its charter in 2014, Post 178 veterans have gathered and delivered Christmas cheer to the one hundred women and men veterans at the Clyde W. Cosper Veteran’s Home in Bonham, Texas. This year marked the eighth consecutive year that donations and gifts have been delivered.
This year donations were made by Oak Point and Brent Elementary schools in Little Elm, Texas. Jill Harrer, a Dyslexia Therapist at Brent Elementary, and daughter of members John and Vickie Allen, led donation collections. Donations included personal letters written to veterans by students at the North Texas Collegiate Academy. Nelson Middle School in Frisco also designed and donated a 50-foot banner with handmade poppies and veterans’ messages.
Frisco residents, Scott and Deborah Dillingham, baked 400 cookies for residents and staff members. More than 30 boxes of items were delivered which included 10 quilts and 16 fidget quilts for memory care patients that were made by the “Quilting Angels” group from Frisco Lakes. Donations amounting to more than $5,600 were delivered on December 2 by veterans John Allen, Tim Schmidt, and Marty Martel.
Post 178 and Auxiliary-Unit 178 always look forward to making Christmas a little brighter for these veterans.
by Frisco Legion | Dec 7, 2021 | Recognitions
Each year on Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Survivors, veterans, and visitors from all over the world come together to honor and remember the 2,403 service members and civilians who were killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. An additional 1,178 people were injured in the attack, which permanently sank two U.S. Navy battleships (the USS Arizona and the USS Utah) and destroyed 188 aircraft.
On Aug. 23, 1994, the United States Congress designated Dec. 7 as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Every year, remembrance events are held at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, culminating in a commemoration ceremony on Dec. 7.
by Frisco Legion | Dec 1, 2021 | American Legion Post 178, Community, Press Release
Eleven high school students from the Frisco area have registered to compete for college scholarships at the American Legion Post 178 Oratorical Scholarship Contest. The competition will be held on Saturday, December 11 at 9 A.M. at The Grove at Frisco Commons, 8300 McKinney Rd, Frisco, TX 75034.
Orators are required to write and memorize an original speech on some aspect of the Constitution, with emphasis on a citizen’s duties and obligations to our government. Additionally, the contest requires the orator to deliver extemporaneous remarks regarding one of four amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The specific amendment will be drawn on the day of the competition.
Four winners will be selected to proceed to the district contest in Royse City on January 8, 2021. They will compete with winners from other posts in the 4th District. The contest is open to the public and admission is free.
Learn more about the American Legion Peter J Courcy Post 178 at friscolegion.org.
