(ROCKWALL, TX – March 6, 2017) American Legion Terry Fisher Post 117 in Rockwall celebrated the 98th birthday of the American Legion and recognized its largest group of Texas Boys State/Girls State delegates on Sunday, March 5.
A total of 19 boys and girls from Rockwall High School, Rockwall-Heath High School and Heritage Christian Academy will represent Rockwall County during the American Legion Department of Texas Boys State/Girls State programs in Austin this summer:
Texas Boys State
Cannon Avenetti (RHS)
Parker Bassett (RHS)
Drew Hargrove (HCA)
Hunter Honeycutt (RHS)
Bennett Laurence (RHS)
Tony Magliescau (RHHS)
Joseph Pabian (RHHS)
Matthew Schmid (RHHS)
Texas Blue Bonnet Girls State
Caroline Braddock (RHS)
Caroline Burton (RHHS)
Caroline Edwards (RHHS)
Molly Kate Evans (RHS)
Avery Foreman (RHHS)
Madison James (RHS)
Macy McCartney (RHS)
Avery Olmstead (RHHS)
Sara Regian (RHHS)
Joelle Sanders (RHHS)
Emily Schmukal (HCA)
Steve Lindsey, director of the Boys State/Girls State program, said the youth in Rockwall never ceases to amaze the staff of the program each year.
“I hear over and over from various personnel at Boys and Girls State in Austin, ‘I don’t know where you find these young people in Rockwall but they are absolutely outstanding.’ I hear those kinds of comments year after year,” Lindsey said.
Rockwall County Sheriff Harold Eavenson, special guest speaker of Sunday’s event, echoed Lindsey’s sentiments regarding Rockwall youth. For 10 years, Eavenson served on the Hawk Scholarship Committee granting scholarships to young students demonstrating the qualities of good citizenship during their high school years. “It’s amazing the quality of young people that I saw in that 10-year period. Rockwall County is certainly in good hands,” Eavenson said.
Post 117 Judge Advocate Lee Gilbert also presented Rockwall ISD Fine Arts Director Chris Kosterman with the Greatest American Award, honoring a non-military civilian who has gone beyond the call of duty in supporting the county’s veterans. Commander Mike Donegan also recognized Marvin Fleetwood with the 2017 Outstanding Post Member award.
Vice Commander Mark Kipphut then led a live auction for two tree benches with embedded coins representing each of the U.S. military branches and built by WWII veteran Vernon Ribera. The benches sold for $1,200 apiece, with the proceeds benefiting Post 117.
The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veteran’s organization. Focusing on service to veterans, service members and communities, the Legion evolved from a group of war-weary veterans of World War I into one of the most influential nonprofit groups in the United States. The Terry Fisher Post is the oldest non-profit in Rockwall County.
Story and photos by Austin Wells, Blue Ribbon News.
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