We Honor Our Warriors

Archived in the category: General Info
Posted by Joyce Rhyne on 16 Jun 23 - Comments Off on We Honor Our Warriors
Greg Sullivan with his big catch

Greg Sullivan with his big catch

Greg Sullivan
32 years service to our Country
This was Greg’s first time to be part of Warrior’s Weekend, and he was honored to be here. He even won 2nd place for the biggest fish caught!

Greg joined the U.S. Army in 1984, in 1988 he joined the Texas National Guard where he worked as a helicopter mechanic and crew chief. He was deployed to Iraq in 2007 for 18 months as Special Operations. He was selected as a fixed wing intelligence Operator when he was deployed to Afghanistan in 2010. After serving 32 years, he was medically retired in 2018.

Greg enjoyed the camaraderie and love of fellow soldiers, the meals provided and the fishing excursion at Warrior’s Weekend. He expressed his thanks: “Sometimes in life a simple ‘Thank You’ does not seem sufficient. It is with heartfelt gratitude that my wife and I would like to extend our love and appreciation to Ron and Sherry Kocian and the organizers of Warrior’s Weekend. We will return.”

Walter-Taylor
Walter Lee Taylor
Retired Navy

Walter Lee Taylor served in the Navy for 28 years as a combat medic. We applaud his service for our country!

He was deployed five times. Four of those five were in Iraq. The other tour was with Desert Storm. His duty stations were in Alaska, Korea, Germany, Ft. Campbell in Kentucky with the 101st Airborne Division, Fort Gordon in Georgia, West Point in New York, and in California at the Army’s National Training Center.

Walter is originally from Norfolk, Virginia. Walter’s father was in the Navy as well. Walter commenting about his service said, “Serving is not about the money. It’s about the people and the commitment.” He also said, “I loved being a medic. I loved taking care of people and watching soldiers grow and mature.”

Walter was one of many veterans who came the weekend of May 19th and 20th to Port O’Connor for the annual Warrior’s Weekend held annually to honor our veterans who served our country well. G.K. Chesterton said, “The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.”
-Tanya DeForest

Don-Williams
Don Williams
“Soldier Ready”
Don Williams, a Warrior’s Weekend board member and a Vietnam veteran, is “soldier ready.” One of his passions is being part of an organization called “Patriot Guard Riders.” This all happened starting in 2017. He is a “Ride Captain” which means he is over the motorcycle escort for any war vet that is to be buried at Fort Sam in San Antonio. Don says that this is “one of the most honorable things one could possibly do.”

Another passion that Don, his wife Claudia, and their family have is hosting disabled vets on their ranch in the Halletsville area four times a year. The disabled vets come to hunt, but there’s so much more since they are lavished with support not only from Don and his family but invited guests as well! In fact, the guest list has grown to up to 275 people! Don said, “It’s beyond words when the disabled vets stay in your home. They have stayed in touch with our family for 17 years.”

Don is proud to have served in Vietnam while in the Army. He worked in communications while serving our country. Don mentioned that Vietnam Veteran’s Day was celebrated in April and commemorated 50 years.
-Tanya DeForest

Blessed by Warrior’s Weekend

The Sullivan Family

The Sullivan Family

 

 

My name is Denise. I wanted to share a little big about ouselves and our time during Warrior’s Weekend in Port O’Connor.

I worked as a Corrections Officer for Texas State Prison from 1988 to 1996. I relocated to Olympia, Washington with my family in 1996.

From 1998 to 2022 I worked as a Corrections Deputy. In my field I worked Death Row, Ad. Seg. as well as Chemical Dependency Program. I was fortunate to work and support the local Drug Court program for many years.

I retired in August, 2022 after 31 years as Corrections Officer/Deputy.

Our family is primarily First Responders. As a result, we have seen and feel the effects of PTSD, Depression and Alcoholism.

I had the opportunity to attend Warrior’s Weekend with my husband Greg. What a blessing! For me, it was an answer to so many prayers! I feel the impact will be ongoing. We have HOPE.
An added blessing for me was getting to know Barbara during our stay at 54 Johnny Lane. She is very kind and intuitive. A BIG HUG AND THANK YOU FROM THE SULLIVANS.

Until next year with Gratitude and Love,

Denise and Greg Sullivan

Warrior’s Weekend
Special thanks to all those who helped us with our part of the Warrior’s Weekend. There would be no possible way for us at the Chapel to provide the Saturday Morning Breakfast for this community’s special guests! We had so many helpers, some of whom we did not previously know, come out to our Friday evening “Egg Cracking Party” that all 1,500 eggs were cracked, mixed, and most of the cleaning works was all done in about 20 minutes! We had a team of people from Friendswood, Huntsville, and El Campo who were here at 3:00 a.m. on Saturday morning to help us cook, roll, and serve the 750 sausage and egg tacos. We had people at the 6:30 breakfast serving time to provide the coffee, juice, and milk, plus the tacos and apples.

If I start naming the helpers, I am certain I would forget someone. So, we just say a huge ‘THANK YOU!” to all who helped in the upfront things as well as the back kitchen area.

Pastor Joane

 

Athletes of the Year

Archived in the category: Announcements, General Info, School News
Posted by Joyce Rhyne on 16 Jun 23 - Comments Off on Athletes of the Year

Screenshot_20230518_034204_Gallery
Jesus Jaramillo Vasquez and Jai’Lynn Boots were selected as the 2023 male and female athlete of the year at Seadrift School.
Jesus participated in baseball, football, and basketball.
Jai’Lynn participated in all 5 sports the school had to offer including making A Team for the first ever Calhoun Jr High Softball team. Both students are also members of the National Junior Honor Society at Seadrift School. Jai’Lynn is the student council president as well.

Facelift Update by Diane Cooley

Archived in the category: General Info
Posted by Joyce Rhyne on 16 Jun 23 - Comments Off on Facelift Update by Diane Cooley

So much excitement is in the air at the Community Center now that we have reached our goal for the first phase of our FACELIFT PROJECT. Work will not begin until late fall when rentals are more sparse for the pavilion, but big changes are being planned. The biggest change will be the addition of 4 more stalls in each restroom. That will be a much needed improvement. There will also be more storage space, a food prep area, improvements to the small kitchen, a new pull down counter door, paint, sidewalks, new tables (20 being donated by the POC Community Service Club) and chairs, plus other repairs and cleaning. If you have been a contributor to this much needed undertaking, THANK YOU SO MUCH. It won’t be long before things will start to happen at the Pavilion.

We are not resting on our laurels! We have already been working on plans for PHASE II which is the main building. Bids have been received and grants and fundraisers are in the works. The tentative amount we are hoping to raise for this part is $75,000.00. No construction is planned for the main building. The kitchen will get new appliances, counter tops and paint. New flooring will be installed throughout the building. The youth room will get new counter tops and all will be painted. This is just a partial list. There are outside improvements that are planned as well.

Our next planned fundraiser will be our second annual, bigger and better. CLAY SHOOT on October 13-14, 2023. If you participated last year, you certainly want to enter again this year. More details will be available as we get closer to fall. Mark your calendars now so you won’t forget.

We take donations anytime and they are very much appreciated. This project benefits our small community in so many ways. Organizations that rent the complex bring much needed revenue into POC. People are able to use it for free for community meetings, funerals, senior citizen luncheons, and so much more. This complex is the cornerstone of POC. Help us insure it is here for many years to come. Take donations to POC First National Bank or mail to PO Box 812, POC, 77982. Please make checks payable to POC Community Center Fund, Inc. Payments can be made online through PAYPAL,POC Communty Center. Become a supporter of the FACELIFT PROJECT and donate today.

Seadrift NJHS Donation

Archived in the category: Announcements, General Info, Organizations
Posted by Joyce Rhyne on 16 Jun 23 - Comments Off on Seadrift NJHS Donation

Seadrift School National Junior Honor Society

Seadrift School National Junior Honor Society


The Seadrift Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society was so pleased to be able to donate $300.00 to the Calhoun County Senior Citizens Association (AKA the Heritage Center). The Center served over 3,200 meals last month – which was a record!

(Pictured in center is our 8th grade NJHS President – Clay Brumfield and Rebecca Jernigan – Executive Director CCSCA, and all of the 7th & 8th grade NJHS members).

A Memorable Event

Archived in the category: Events, General Info
Posted by Joyce Rhyne on 16 Jun 23 - Comments Off on A Memorable Event

Memorial-Day
Since the year 2000 Calhoun County has honored those who sacrificed for our freedom. May 27th was another historic event in our county to honor our war dead. Jeff Miller, an American veteran, once said, “The willingness of America’s veterans to sacrifice for our country has earned them our lasting gratitude.”

It was a picture-perfect morning that Saturday on May 27th when members of the American Legion, our U.S. Congressman Michael Cloud, our County Judge Richard Meyers, Port Lavaca Mayor Jack Whitlow, first responders and local police, the area JROTC, and a myriad of well-wishers came together for a Memorial Event at the Port Lavaca Marina. There were speeches, a roll call of our war dead, and a flag-burning ceremony that all made a fitting salute to those who helped make our country great.

In the photo are pictured members of the American Legion with JROTC officers holding flags and on the far right is U.S. Congressman Michael Cloud giving a Memorial Day speech.
-Tanya DeForest

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