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.
Veterans Day is intended to thank all those who honorably served in the military – in war time or peace time.
Veterans Day is observed every year on November 11th. Veterans Day was originally called “Armistice Day” when President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed this day in November 1919. Armistice is when warring parties agree to stop fighting and “Armistice Day” recognizes the end of World War 1 when hostilities ceased on November 11th at 11 A.M, 1918 (11th hour, of the 11th, of the 11th month).
On May 13th, 1938 Armistice Day was declared a legal holiday each year. A day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace. Originally Armistice Day only honored veterans of World War.
On November 11th, 1947 Raymond Weeks, a World War II veteran, organized a “National Veterans Day” parade in Birmingham, Alabama to recognize veterans of all wars.
This celebration led to Congress changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day in 1954 to recognize Veterans of all U.S. wars.
On 18 September 2018, Frisco’s Mayor Cheney presented a Proclamation to the 22 Boys State Delegates that attended Texas Boys State at the University of Texas in Austin. These young men, now seniors in high school, represented Post 178 and the City of Frisco.
Mayor Cheney stated “I, Jeff Cheney, Mayor of the City of Frisco, do hereby proclaim September 18, 2018 as: FRISCO BOYS STATESMEN DAY”.
Mayor Cheney praised the young men for their extraordinary efforts, accomplishments, leadership, and representing the City of Frisco. The Mayor had each of the Statesmen introduce themselves and tell which Frisco high school they were attending.
After introducing themselves and answering a few questions; the Boy Statesmen sang the Texas Boys State song to all attendees. We can be very proud of these young men for their accomplishments. They are the future leaders of our City, County, and State.
Now begins the time for the 2019 Boys State Program. We will be contacting each Frisco high school, Legacy Christian Academy, and our Home School contact for recommendations of juniors to be interviewed for Boys State. Post 178 Boys State committee includes Paul Jones, Ed Kelly, Marty Martel, Ted Ruybal, Larry Wilhelm, and Larry Marshall.
Mike Strand has been the Boys State Chair since Post 178 was formed in 2014. Mike must be congratulated for the outstanding job he did. He has developed the Boys State program to one of the best; if not the best, in the State of Texas. Thank you, Mike, for the job well done and you will be missed. Good luck in Colorado.
Submitted by: Larry Marshall – Boys State Chair
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.