by larryw | Feb 22, 2022 | Color Guard
Honor Guard members performing military funeral honors for Burnett “Burnie” Louis Sutter:
(L – R) Larry Marshall, Larry Wilhelm, Charlie Daniels, Ted Ruybal, and Fred Rogers.
The Post 178 Color Guard currently consists of twelve members, eight of which participate in the Honor Guard performing military funeral honors for veterans. The Post has been providing this service since the post was chartered in 2014.
The Post 178 Honor Guard recently was honored to participate in a worship service celebrating the life of Burnett ”Burnie” Louis Sutter. Near the end of the worship service the Post 178 Honor Guard performed the military funeral honors to present a United States flag to his only daughter, Sandra Daun Richards.
All eligible veterans, including military retirees, are entitled to military funeral honors. At a minimum, the funeral honors ceremony will consist of the playing of taps and the folding and presentation of the U.S. flag. At least two uniformed military personnel shall perform the ceremony. If a bugler is not available, an electronic recording will be played. One of the uniformed military personnel will be from the deceased veteran’s parent military service and will present the flag to the next of kin.
Mr. Sutter was awarded a Post 178 Honorary Life Membership on April 7, 2021, his 100th birthday. At the time, Mr. Sutter was the most senior of the post’s six World War II veterans. He was a US Army World War II veteran and served in the ”Tough Hombres”, 90th Division, 358 Regiment, M Company. He landed at Utah Beach, Normandy, France, in June 1944. For his military service in France, he was awarded the French Legion of Honor medal in 2018.
by larryw | Nov 14, 2021 | Color Guard, Community, Recognitions
The Frisco High School Choir, and Orchestra and American Legion Post 178 Color Guard presented a Veterans Day tribute to honor local area veterans.
The program included patriotic songs which were led by Julie Daniels, Director FHS Orchestras. Post 178 Chaplain James Schaub gave the invocation and benediction. The Post 178 Color Guard presented and retired the Nation’s colors. Larry Wilhelm, Color Guard Captain, and Ted Ruybal concluded the program with the POW/MIA remembrance service.
The program honored and listed the names of the eleven young men who lived in Frisco who have been killed in action since World War I. Each is honored at the Veterans Memorial in Frisco Commons with a plaque at the Wall of Honor, as well as a trail marker describing their service.
The eleventh soldier listed was Corporal Peter John Courcy, U.S. Army – Operation Enduring Freedom, who was killed in action on February 10, 2009, in Afghanistan. He was 22 years old. Because Peter had attended Frisco High School, a special tribute honored him.
Peter J Courcy is the namesake of Post 178.
by larryw | Jun 16, 2021 | Color Guard, Memorial, Press Release
Post 178 Color Guard events during May 2021.
Photo #1 – Texas Gold Star Families Memorial Dedication
Photo #2 – Memorial Day Program at Sunrise Senior Living
Photo #3 – 31st Annual Lone Star Corvette Classic at Texas Motor Speedway
Photo #4 – Armed Forces Day Celebration at Prairie Estates Skilled Nursing
Photo #5 – Texas Motor Speedway INDYCAR Race
Photo #6 – Memorial Day Observance at Frisco Commons Park
Photo #7 – Armed Forces Day at Frisco Roughriders Game
Photo #8 – Allen Americans Hockey
The American Legion Post 178 Color Guard has been in high demand in 2021. Its participation in events during 2020 were almost nonexistent because of the pandemic. But as COVID-19 restrictions have eased, requests to present the Nation’s Colors have increased dramatically.
The guard maintains a remarkably busy schedule for presenting the Nation’s Colors in Frisco and surrounding communities at numerous events, such as grand openings, ballgames, schools, holidays, community events and American Legion functions. Its Honor Guard also performs funerals and memorial services for area veterans and members of Post 178 upon request of the family. It also is qualified to perform services at the D/FW National Cemetery.
The guard was formed in 2014, the same year Post 178 was chartered. It currently has 12 members who fill various positions: flags, rifles, bugle, saber, and detail leader. In 2020 because of COVID-19, the number of events were reduced to ten. The number of events was 40 and 58 in 2019 and 2018, respectively. In May 2020 only 1 event was completed, however, 8 were completed in May 2021. The number of events should return to normal levels in 2022.
Besides time dedicated to scheduled events, practice is held monthly. Additionally, members pay more than half of the $400 in uniform costs. The post also has a Service Flag Detail that presents the flags of the United States Services and averages 3-4 events per year.
Post 178 is proud of its Color/Honor Guard. It provides services at no cost, but accepts donations, and welcomes interested parties to contact Color Guard Captain Larry Wilhelm at friscolegion.colorguard@gmail.com. To learn more visit friscolegion.org.
by larryw | May 28, 2021 | American Legion Post 178, Color Guard, Press Release
Color Guard Members L-R Terry Gilbert, Fred Rogers, John Ricca, Larry Marshall, Thor Anderson, Theodore Ruybal, and Larry Wilhelm Photographer-Jeanie Beal
Service Flag Detail
Army – Don Swift, Marine Corps – Eric Bonar, Navy – DaNee’ Jensen, Air Force – Raymond Cage, Space Force – Korrie Ragsdale, Coast Guard – Brett Ragsdale Photographer-Jeanie Beal
On Saturday, May 22 the American Legion Post 178 Color Guard presented the Nation’s Colors at the 31st Annual Lone Star Corvette Classic at the Texas Motor Speedway. The Classic is a major event of the Lone Star Corvette Club. Proceeds benefited the Speedway Children’s Charities and The National Corvette Museum.
Founded in 1982, the Lone Star Corvette Club has over 1,000 members in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. It offers just about any activity an owner of “America’s Sports Car” could want: Road Trips, Day Triops, Open Road Racing, Drag Racing, Autocross, Car Shows, Displays, Parades, and more.
by admin | Nov 15, 2018 | Color Guard, Events
The Post 178 Color Guard presented the Colors during a pep rally at Lakeside Middle School, Little Elm, on November 9th. Post member Felipe Vargas is the Vice Principal at the school and under his direction this was the first time the students had seen the Colors presented.
L-R >Ted Ruybal, Fred Rogers, Larry Marshall, Larry Wilhelm.
by admin | Aug 24, 2018 | Color Guard, Giving Back, Marine Corps
Post 178 Color Guard presented the Colors for a ceremony where a SUV was presented to Cpl. Michael Fox, a wounded Texas Marine.
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.
