by larryw | May 30, 2023 | American Legion Post 178
Post 178 Honor Guard members Terry Gilbert, Bill Drake, Norm Burgess, Larry Wilhelm, and Ted Ruybal
The annual Memorial Day observance was held on Monday, May 29 at the Veterans Memorial in Frisco Commons Park by the City of Frisco, the Frisco Garden Club, and Frisco VFW Post 8273.
The event featured a traditional flag and wreath laying ceremony, patriotic music, and participation by local scouts. The Frisco Garden Club and the VFW have been coordinating Memorial Day services in Frisco since 1994.
Memorial Day is an American holiday, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971.
by larryw | May 26, 2023 | American Legion Post 178
Post 178 Color Guard and Cadets presented the Nation’s Colors and Service Flags at the 33rd Lone Star Corvette Classic. Photo Courtesy of John Brady.
On Saturday, May 20, 2023, the American Legion Post 178 Color Guard and cadets from the Lebanon Trail Navy Cadet Corps presented our Nation’s Colors and Service Flags at the 33rd Lone Star Corvette Classic at the Marriott DFW Hotel and Golf Club.
Color Guard veterans included Kevin Robinson, Larry Marshall, Larry Wilhelm, Terry Gilbert, Ted Ruybal, and Bill Drake.
Cadets that attended were Nathan Aaron, Christine Antonelli, Jashwanth Bandlamudi, Jashua Dawson, Ian Willink, Karma Roberts, Morgan Williams, and Camila Ciofuli Suarez.
The Classic is a major event of the Lone Star Corvette Club, which was founded in 1982 and has over 1,200 members in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Proceeds benefit the Speedway Children’s Charities and The National Corvette Museum.
The Classic was a two-day event. On Friday there is an opportunity for parade laps at one of North Texas’ premier tracks, Eagles Canyon Raceway. On Saturday, the day was full of sun, great cars, and wholesome fun. It started with a car show at the parking lot and ended with dinner, awards, and a live auction.
by larryw | May 24, 2023 | American Legion Post 178, Boys and Girls State
Post 178 completed its annual orientation for the 2023 Boys State delegates.
Post 178 Boys State Committee members recently completed its annual orientation for the 22 Boys State delegates who will represent 13 Frisco ISD high schools and 1 independent school in Austin at the University of Texas in June. The orientation was held at the Frisco ISD district office.
Larry Wilhelm, Boys State Committee Chairman, said “The purpose of the orientation is to provide information that helps the delegates know what to expect during the five-day program. It also allows both the delegates and their parents to ask questions that improves their understanding of the program.”
The American Legion Boys State, an 86 years-old program, is among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instructions for high school students. It is a participatory program where each delegate becomes part of the process of his local, county, and state government.
Using the highly effective experiential learning process, delegates are exposed to the rights and privileges, duties, and responsibilities of a franchised citizen. The training is objective and practical with city, county, and state governments operated by the delegates elected to various offices.
Since June 2014 and including the 2023 selected young men, Post 178 has sponsored 177 Texas Boys State delegates. The highly competitive Texas Boys State program supports mentoring youth, which is one of the Four Pillars of The American Legion.
by larryw | May 10, 2023 | American Legion Post 178
The Lake Highlands High School Wildcat Battalion Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) held their 3rd Annual Pass in Review and Award 
Ceremony on May 5, 2023. Lieutenant Colonel Robert Gerald, US Army (Retired), Senior Army Instructor, and Master Sergeant Calvin Washington, US Army (Retired), Army Instructor, invited three American Legion Post 178 Executive Committee officers to present several awards.
Vice Commander Jeffrey Anderson and Post Executive Committee member Larry Wilhelm attended the ceremony and jointly presented awards to two outstanding cadets. The American Legion Peter J Courcy Scholastic Excellence Award was presented to Cadet/CPT Tanya Ventura, Echo Company. Cadet/1LT Emily Anthony, Headquarters, was awarded The American Legion Peter J Courcy Military Excellence Award.
The Lake Highlands High School Wildcat program was established in 2019 and currently has approximately 100 cadets. The program includes numerous 
special teams: Raider Team, Color Guard, Drill & Ceremony, Rifle Team, and Saber Team. The battalion’s mission is “To Motivate Young People to Be Better Citizens.” More than 30 awards were presented during the ceremony which concluded with the longstanding military traditions of a Change of Command and Pass in Review.
by larryw | May 8, 2023 | American Legion Post 178, Recognitions
Cadet Lieutenant Junior Grade Jake N. Tramel accepts the American Legion Military Excellence Medal.
Cadet Lieutenant Junior Grade Kai J. Schlabach accepts the American Legion Scholastic Excellence Medal.
The Lebanon Trail High School Navy National Defense Cadet Corps (NNDCC) held their 2nd Annual Awards Banquet on May 2, 2022. Major Gary Billings, USMC (Retired), Senior Naval Science Instructor, invited members of Post 178 to attend to present American Legion excellence medals.
Commander John Stammreich and Adjutant Jose Torres, Sr. presented medals and certificates to two distinguished cadets. Cadet Lieutenant Junior Grade Jake N. Tramel, Lebanon Trail High School, was awarded the American Legion Military Excellence Medal. Jake will attend the United States Merchant Marine Academy and plans to become a US Naval Aviator. Cadet Lieutenant Junior Grade Kai J. Schlabach, Reedy High School, was awarded the American Legion Scholastic Excellence Medal. Kai will attend the University of Arkansas on an Air Force ROTC scholarship and plans to join its cyber warfare program.
The mission of the Cadet Corps is to motivate young people to become better citizens and effective leaders. The teaching goals of both the Cadet Corps and the Post 178 Americanism programs have identical focuses: leadership, teamwork, personal responsibility, a sense of accomplishment, and service to the nation. American values and patriotism are also highlighted in both programs.
Classique Jewelers, an active post supporter, donated medal engraving.
by larryw | May 5, 2023 | American Legion Post 178, Community
Photo Caption – (L – R) Post 178 Volunteers Ted Ruybal, Terry Gilbert, Ed Reed, and Larry Wilhelm place ten pipes at Stonebriar Park. Not pictured is Jose Torres, Sr.
Throughout the year, Post 178 volunteers assist the Frisco Sunrise Rotary Club to display the United States Flag in many of our neighborhood to honor our country. The Rotary Club places the 3’ x 5 ‘ United States flags in front yards for six annual holidays and picks them up after each holiday.
Post 178 members locate, bury, and mark the location of 12” PVC pipes in front lawns to hold the flagstaffs. Their efforts provide a fundraising opportunity to support the post’s patriotic programs.
Recently, 5 volunteers worked three consecutive days, driving more than 150 miles to complete more than 50 installations in preparation for the upcoming Memorial Day holiday.
If interested in participating, contact Larry Wilhelm at larryw104@gmail.com.
