Round Rock, Texas

On 13 April 2023, the Texas Capital Area Chapter #4409 co-sponsored the "Our Community Salutes" Honor Day ceremony at the Palm Valley Lutheran Church in Round Rock, Texas. The purpose of the event was to honor the high school seniors in our community who have enlisted in the US Armed Forces. There were new recruits from more than a dozen high schools in Travis and Williamson Counties who participated in the ceremony. There were also recruits from each branch of service with a total of 80 recruits in attendance. There were 12 Army recruits attending this awards ceremony.

Our local Army Recruiting Company in Georgetown was represented by 12 new enlistees. Our chapter was pleased to assist this ceremony with our financial support as well as providing the printed program, new recruit  challenge coins, and the keynote speaker, CSM Brian A. Hester, Army Futures Command. The event was well attended with approximately 300 guest in attendance. Refreshments were provided for family and friends of the new recruits. The program consisted of an invocation, presentation of the colors, National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance, keynote speaker, Oath of Enlistment and special recognition of enlistees and presentation of OCS coin. 

The enlistees were also honored to have the 36th Infantry Band from the Texas Army National Guard provide music for the ceremony. The speech by CSM Hester was well received. Additionally, CW5 Edwin De La Cruz, Army Futures Command, administered the Oath of Enlistment to the new recruits. Our chapter set up a membership table and provided information to numerous family and friends of the new recruits. The Texas Capital Area Chapter purchased Premium Memberships for all 12 new Army recruits. We also took numerous pictures of the ceremony. This was an opportunity for our chapter to support the US Army Recruiting Company in our area and also the new families of the newly enlisted soldiers. The Williamson County Blue Star Mothers were also a big supporter of this ceremony. Our chapter worked with this organization to welcome the new Army families.