Our Community Salutes Celebration - Georgetown, Texas 24 May 2022

Members from the AUSA Texas Capital Area Chapter co-hosted the "Our Community Salutes Ceremony" with the Austin Chapter of Our Community Salutes to honor the greater Austin area high school seniors who have enlisted in the military forces of our Nation.   COL (R) Garry D. Patterson, MG (R) Halverson, COL (R) John Willis and Chaplain Bender assisted with the ceremony. 

The celebration was held at the Celebration Church in Georgetown, Texas. The ceremony honored new enlistees from the US Army, US Marine Corps, and US Navy. Approximately 30 new enlistees were honored during the ceremony and presented with a challenge coin from the Texas Capital Area Chapter 
and a certificate from the Austin Chapter of Our Community Salutes.  
 
The ceremony was highlighted by remarks from two guest speakers BG Ronald D. Sullivan, Chief Judge for the US Army Court of Criminal Appeals, and MG (Ret) Juan G. Ayala, USMC, Director, Military and Veteran Affairs Department for the City of San Antonio.  The President of the Williamson County Blue Star Mothers Association also provided remarks.  CPT Jack Hughes served as the Master of Ceremonies and provided remarks about his US Army experience.  Ms. Bonnie Vona, Director of Our Community 
Salutes of Austin provided remarks and was the key planner for this wonderful ceremony.  Refreshments were provided and the families of the new enlistees were able to socialize at the Celebration Church facility.  
The event was very successful and provided an excellent opportunity for our community and the Texas Capital Area Chapter to honor these high school seniors who have volunteered to serve our great Nation.