The City of Frisco and the Frisco Garden Club will host a 9/11 Remembrance at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, September 11. The ceremony will be at Freedom Meadow in Warren Sports Complex, located at 7599 Eldorado Pkwy. The annual ceremony honors the memory of those who died in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and will include the Frisco Fire and Frisco Police Honor Guards and the Heritage High School Coyote Chorale.
Photo by John Brady
The 2023 Post 178 Texas Boys Statesmen were honored at the Frisco City Council meeting on August 15, 2023. Larry Wilhelm, the Program Committee Chairman, presented the statesmen to Mayor Jeff Chaney and council members. Mayor Cheney proclaimed the day as “Frisco Boys Statesmen Day”. He further recognized the vital role high school principals, counselors, and teachers play in the nomination process of prospective delegates.
The group of 20 incoming seniors who attended the 2023 Texas Boys State program from June 11 through June 17, 2023, received a proclamation.
The American Legion Boys State program began 85 years ago and 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.
Since June 2014, including the 2023 selected young men, Post 178 has sponsored 177 Texas Boys State delegates. The highly competitive Texas Boys State and Boys Nation programs support mentoring youth, which is one of the Four Pillars of The American Legion.
Photo Caption – (L-R) Ed Reed, Post 178 Commander. Major Gary Billings, USMC (Ret.), Lt Col Ivan Acosta, USAF (Ret.), and Ted Ruybal, Post Liaison Committee Chair.
The Frisco ISD Navy National Defense Cadet Corps program was established with 69 cadets in 2021 at Lebanon Trail High School by Maj Gary Billings. Because of its success, the program enrollment for the 2023-24 will be 114 cadets. As a result, Lt Col Ivan Acosta, USAF, (Ret.) recently joined the program as an additional instructor.
Ed Reed, Post 178 Commander, and Ted Ruybal, the newly assigned Post Liaison Committee Chair, recently met with Maj Billings and welcomed Lt Col Acosta to the Cadet Corps. All discussed ideas that will ensure the continuation of their highly successful partnership. The cadets have participated in many post activities since their program was established.
The Navy National Defense Cadet Corps (NNDCC) program and the Post 178 Americanism programs share common missions. The mission of the Cadet Corps is to motivate young people to become better citizens and effective leaders. Post 178 Americanism programs, such as, Boys State, Oratorical Scholarship Contest, School Awards, and Scouting, have an identical mission. The teaching goals of both programs are focused on leadership, teamwork, personal responsibility, and a sense of accomplishment.
Post 178 is honored to partner with and support the Lebanon Trail High School Navy National Defense Cadet Corp.
Photo Caption: Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney proclaimed August 8, 2023, as “Purple Heart Day.”
The Frisco Veterans Advisory Committee recently held the annual Mayor’s Purple Heart Social to recognize and honor Frisco veterans who were Purple Heart recipients. Many organizations attended the celebration including Peter J Courcy Post 178.
Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney and city council members Tammy Meinershagen and Laura Rummel attended the event. Mayor Cheney read a proclamation signifying August 8, 2023, as “Purple Heart Day.” Fifteen veterans received a certificate from Mayor Chaney commemorating their service.
The City of Frisco is a “Purple Heart City” that supports all six thousand veterans that reside there. Post 178 became a “Purple Heart Post” in May 2021. Post 178 estimates that more than 20 of its 450 members have been awarded the medal.
The Post 178 namesake, Peter J. Courcy, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2009, was awarded the medal posthumously. The post has several members who are multiple recipients of the medal.
