The City of Frisco and the Frisco Garden Club will host a 9/11 Remembrance at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at Freedom Meadow in Warren Sports Complex, located at 7599 Eldorado Pkwy. The ceremony will include the Frisco Fire and Frisco Police Honor Guards.
In attendance at the Social were many Purple Heart recipients, a Medal of Honor recipient and community leaders. Councilman John Keating read a City of Frisco proclamation that honored the Purple Heart recipients. Each Purple Heart recipient in attendance was presented with their own proclamation giving each soldier his own special memento honoring their service.
There were several notable speakers that evening that included Florent Groberg who spoke of his experience leading up to his Purple Heart moment and President Obama’s presenting him with the Congressional Medal of Honor. A live auction raised money for Frisco’s very own Purple Heart Monument to be erected at the Frisco’s Veterans Memorial in Frisco Commons Park. The Medal of Honor Mobile Museum was out front of the venue and was available for all to tour. Many Military Order of the Purple Heart were present from the local, state and national level.
American Legion Post 178 is proud to be a “Purple Heart Post. “
Post 178 members are invited to attend the Welcome Home Opening Ceremonies on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at 7:00PM at Warren Sports Complex, 7599 Eldorado Pkwy Frisco, TX 75034 . Plan to arrive a few minutes early to secure parking and your reserved seats.
WELCOME HOME OPENING CEREMONY DETAILS:
Photo Caption: (L-R) Post 178 members Joanne Schumm, Terry Gilbert, Larry Wilhelm, and Ted Ruybal. Photo by Ed Reed.
While participating in Frisco Merry Main Street festivities on Saturday, December 2, 2023, American Legion Post 178 volunteers informed attendees and distributed information about reducing the rate of veteran suicide. The American Legion is leading a nationwide initiative – “Be the One” – to eliminate the stigma related to mental health treatment, and in turn, lower the number of veterans who die by suicide every day.
The number of veterans who die by suicide every day is estimated to be between 17 and 22. The American Legion and its 12,000 posts nationwide have elevated “Be the One” to be its top priority, empowering veterans, servicemembers, their family members, and civilians to act appropriately when a veteran may be at risk. The initiative intends to bring more awareness to the problem while providing resources to those who may be able to help save the life of a veteran.
Post 178 veterans that volunteered at Frisco’s Merry Main Street included Larry Wilhelm, Terry Gilbert, Joanne Schumm, Ted Ruybal, Thor Anderson, Bill Drake, John Stammreich, and Ed Reed.
If you know a veteran who needs immediate help, please refer him/her to the Veterans Crisis Line – Dial 988 then Press 1.
Mayor Pro Tem John Keating, Major Gary Billings, USMC, Retired, Post 178 Commander Ed Reed, Terry Gilbert, Post 178 Vice Commander-Programs
Despite unfavorable weather, veterans and their families joined other citizens on Friday, November 10 at the Frisco Veterans Memorial to celebrate Veterans Day.
Terry Gilbert, Post 178 Vice Commander-Programs and U.S. Air Force veteran was emcee. Ed Reed, Post 178 Commander and U.S. Air Force veteran, welcomed attendees to the ceremony. Mayor Pro Tem John Keating, a U.S. Army veteran, shared insights about service and dedication to our country.
Major Gary Billings, USMC, Retired, was the ceremony’s special guest speaker. He is the Senior Military Science Instructor at the Frisco ISD JROTC Navy National Defense Cadet Program. He shared comments about the history of Veterans Day and offered confidence that the country’s youth is being well prepared to continue the strong defense of our country and democracy.
The Post 178 Color Guard, led by Captain Bill Drake, and cadets from the Cadet Program presented the Colors. Leslie Rainey sang the national anthem and “God Bless America.” Chaplain Pam Break, Auxiliary Unit 178, provided the invocation and benediction.
A special thanks goes to the City of Frisco, its Parks and Recreation and Communications Departments.
Major Gary Billings, USMC, Retired, Senior Military Science Instructor for the Navy National Defense Cadet Program at Lebanon Trail High School
A Veterans Day Ceremony to celebrate and honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice will be held on November 10, 2023, at 11 a.m. at the Frisco Veterans Memorial in Frisco Commons Park, 8000 McKinney Road, Frisco, TX 75033.
The American Legion Post 178 is coordinating the ceremony.
The ceremony will include a special welcome from Mayor Jeff Cheney. The keynote speaker will be Major Gary Billings, USMC, Retired, Senior Naval Science Instructor at Lebanon Trail High School with the Navy National Defense Cadet Corps FISD program.
Major Billings enlisted in 1998 in Seattle, Washington. He attended Officer Candidate School after graduating from Penn State University in 2005. He was deployed to Iraq in 2007 and to the Middle East in 2008 with the US Navy. He was in Haiti in response to the 2010 earthquakes, and in 2014 in Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom. He also holds an MA from Marshall University. He retired in 2020 after 22 years of service.
The public and all veterans are invited to attend. Seating will be available.