Gloria Fric with the Warrior’s Weekend sand sculpture
-Photo by Joy Fryou

Once again, my favorite lady, Gloria Fric, or more commonly known as the DRAGON LADY, is back in town! I was privileged to meet and talk with her on Thursday, the 16th of March, following her arrival in her camper accompanied by her loyal German Shepherd.

Speaking with Gloria and watching a portion of the 200 tons of sand arrive and be centered in the proper spot, I was previlidged to see her designs for the upcoming sand sculpture for Warrior’s Weekend here in POC. Gloria and her incredibly talented crew, with special artist, Karen Fralich from Canada in charge, have been working here on sand sculptures for seven exciting years. Each year they have brought another challenging view of an image that exemplifies what our Nation and its peoples owe to so very many. While we honor the heroes represented by Warrior’s Weekend, sadly, for 40 years or more the survivors of the conflict in Viet Nam were vilified and trashed; now, suddenly, they are finally receiving the respect they deserve.

I had the opportunity to really get to know Gloria and her stunningly talented crew of artists late one evening many years ago when they were pulling an overnighter due to weather. At that time, realizing the need for sugar and caffeine, I had made a large pan of chocolate and tasty cookie bars and Henry and I took it up to them, still warm from the oven. Later, Henry took one of our neighbors, an Army Veteran of Viet Nam, to see the work of these giving people. Our neighbor brought tears to the eyes of all those on site when he spoke of how much their work meant to him; and he also was the recipient of tears when these very wonderful people told him how much he meant to them. I won’t be tacky and say, “Pass the Kleenex, please”, but that was really what was needed, particularly when one after the other shared their experiences that friends, or relatives had told about their lives in Viet Nam and their experiences when returning to the States afterwards.
Gloria and her crew of artists honor our country’s defenders each year with a different, meaningful sand sculpture. My favorite was one done several years ago showing the boots of a soldier against the wall of names, and my photo was taken later showing a scorpion crossing the top of the boot.

This year there was a bit of a “hiccup” in the work as Gloria had fallen and broken the bones in her right wrist, thereby resulting in surgery and some time away from her project. As she had made an addition to the earlier plan, her presence was needed, broken bones and all, and therefore, she returned to the site with poise, enthusiasm, and just plain determination to resume her work. Actually, it was a very good action on her part arriving in POC two weeks early as several broken bones could not bring this lady down!

Glo received her name aka DRAGON LADY as a result of the many dragons she has sculpted in the sand for many years, many of them being Award Winning dragons. Both she and her sons and grand-daughters have spent many hours in the sand, putting together the long tail of each creature, and somehow, by many passersby admiring the dragon, she became known as “The Dragon Lady” – an appropriate “handle” for such a charming lady.

Gloria is somewhat of a world traveler, being born in Japan, educated in both France and Germany and many states in our country before arriving in Texas where her father retired from years in the Air Force. She then made Victoria, Texas, her home, graduating from Victoria High School where she keeps in constant contact with other fellow graduates in her class. But she continues to travel to many beach communities, constantly displaying her talent with once again, a stunning dragon. Her expressive face bearing a warm and congenial attitude shows that there are no strangers in her life; Gloria has beautiful dark eyes, a constant smile and a blond ponytail waving as she moves. This Lady Sparkles!

This is the seventh event in Port O’Connor for Gloria and her talented crew, and we trust we’ll see many of them again next year, captained by a totally healed Dragon Lady!