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 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.
by Frisco Legion | Nov 25, 2021 | Community
Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday that occurs on Thursday, November 25, 2021. In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Native Americans shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. For more than two centuries, days of thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and states. It was not until 1863, during the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November.
In many American households, the Thanksgiving celebration has lost much of its original religious significance; instead, it now centers on cooking and sharing a bountiful meal with family and friends. Turkey, a Thanksgiving staple so ubiquitous it has become all but synonymous with the holiday, may or may not have been on offer when the Pilgrims hosted the inaugural feast in 1621.
Today, however, 90 percent of Americans eat the bird—whether roasted, baked, or deep-fried—on Thanksgiving, according to the National Turkey Federation. Other traditional foods include stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. Volunteering is a common Thanksgiving Day activity, and communities often hold food drives and host free dinners for the less fortunate.
by Frisco Legion | Nov 24, 2021 | Community, Recognitions
Members of the Nelson Middle School Junior Honor Society honored American Legion Post 178 veterans by presenting them a fifty-foot banner of poppies, saying “NMS Loves Veterans.” More than 1,325 poppies were constructed by students in the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. The idea for the banner was conceived by National Junior Honor Society members who wanted to find a way to involve students in honoring veterans.
Elizabeth Mulroney, Junior Honor Society sponsor, accompanied the students. During the presentation, the students recited the meaning of Respect, Integrity, Service, and Excellence – the school’s motto. Ms. Mulroney said, “The students were excited to present the banner to honor Post 178 veterans on behalf of the entire student body.” Vice Commander Ed Reed accepted the banner on behalf of the post’s members.
The banner will continue to honor veterans when it is given to the veterans that reside at the Clyde W. Cosper Texas State Veterans Home in Bonham, Texas. Post 178 annually holds a donation drive for its more than one hundred elderly veterans. Former Post 178 Chaplain John Allen, Tim Schmidt, and Marty Martel will deliver the banner and donations in early December…just in time for Christmas.
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 | Nov 12, 2021 | American Legion Post 178, Community, Giving Back
It is the time of year for donating wreaths for the Dallas – Ft. Worth National Cemetery. The deadline for donations is December 1. Currently, 48,500 wreaths are needed to ensure no veteran is left behind.
Go to www.honordfw.com to donate. For every two wreaths donated at this site, a third will be received free. If you would prefer to donate by check, make it payable to Wreaths Across America and mail to 1672 Angel Falls Dr., Frisco, TX 75036.
This year’s ceremony will be on December 18, 2021, at 10:50 A.M. If attending, please arrive by 10 A.M. to allow time for traffic and parking.
If you are unable to attend and would like a wreath laid on a loved one’s grave, please forward the name of the veteran, section, and site number to the address above and a volunteer will lay the wreath.
Carpooling from the Walmart parking lot at FM 423 & Stonebrook will occur on the following dates:
– Truck unloading – December 17th 8:00 A.M.
– Ceremony & placement – December 18th 9:00 A.M.
– Removal – January 15, 2022 7:30 A.M.
