For ifo & tickets: http://www.pocofest.net

Robyn Stringo graduated with honors from Calhoun High School. She plans on attending Austin Community College to pursue a career in nursing. She is the daughter of Anthony and Denise Stringo of Port O’Connor and the granddaughter of Jesse and Linda Stringo of Port O’Connor and Rose Marie Knobles of Port Lavaca.

CHS 2016 Graduate Chase Spicak is the son of Chuck and Becky Spicak of Port O’Connor.

Five year Letterman in Golf (Varsity 8th Grade), he will be attending Texas A&M University- Kingsville and was accepted into the Business Program.
Go Hoggies !!!

Chelsy Winefeldt graduated from Hope High School. She plans on attending Victoria College and would like to pursue a career in welding. She is the daughter of Melissa Hammans of Corpus Christi and the granddaughter of James and Lina Stringo of Port O’Connor.

Alex Gabriel Clifton graduated from Calhoun High School on Friday May 27, 2016. Alex is the son Mike and Beverly Clifton of Port O Connor.
Alex is a BSA Class of 2014 Eagle Scout. He plans to attend college in the fall & pursue a career in electromechanical technology engineering.

Peter DeForest Jr., son of Peter and Stacey DeForest of Seadrift, is a 2016 graduate of Calhoun High School.

He has been a Junior Firefighter with Seadrift Volunteer Fire Department since he was 14 years old.

He plans to attend Victoria College in the Fall.

Collin Elliott Anderson, son of Henry and Judy Anderson of Port O’Connor, graduated from Concordia University in Austin, TX, on Saturday, April 30, 2016. He earned his Master’s of Education in Educational Administration. Anderson is employed by Calhoun Co. I.S.D. and currently teaches first grade at Seadrift School.

Janie Goldman, daughter of Johnny and Joyce Rhyne of Port O’Connor, graduated from University of Houston – Clear Lake, earning a Masters of Science, Molecular Biotechnology.

Calhoun Sandies Softball 2016-Robyn Stringo received All Acedemic-All District, Co-Defensive Player of the year and 2nd Team All-District Outfielder. She was also chosen to play in the area All-Star game. She is the daughter of Anthony and Denise Stringo of Port O’Connor.

To all of our POC community, we would like to extend our most sincere gratitude for today’s scholarships! These two young ladies Miranda Stringo & Robyn Renae Stringo were the recipients of the Christopher Ragusin POC Grand Slam Scholarship, the Port O’Connor Chamber of Commerce Scholarship, the Port O’Connor Community Service Club Scholarship, and the Port O’Connor PTO-Naomi Albrecht Scholarship…

What a Catch! Warrior’s Weekend X

Although once again battling the weather, Warrior’s Weekend X was successful thanks to our great donors and volunteers. Over 900 wounded heroes and caretakers took to the bays of Port O’Connor and Port Lavaca to enjoy a day to forget the cares of their wounds, surgeries and doctors’ appointments.

It is always so gratifying to see the 400 plus boats awaiting our heroes in front of Froggie’s or at the Sanctuary. Every year we worry a bit whether or not we will have the boats we need but they always sign up and show up. Thanks especially to Robert Sanders (Froggy) and his folks for putting up with the mess our heroes made trying to get in out of the rain and thanks so much to the gracious folks of the Sanctuary who make loading our heroes on boats so much more efficient. This is a very big team effort and it takes all of us to make it work.

You should be able to see more pictures of the event on our Facebook page, Warrior’s Weekend–Texas and shortly on our website, www.warriorsweekend.org. As you read this, we have already been involved in two fundraisers for next year and more are on the way. This is a must if we are to continue, and if you could hear the comments/compliments of the heroes, you would know we should.

There are many stories associated with Warrior’s Weekend and I will give you the “gist” of just one of them. We had a warrior who really wanted to attend—his first time—to honor his fallen battle buddy, Kerry Danyluk of Cuero. Little did he know that Kerry’s mom, Diane, flew all the way from South Dakota to attend Warrior’s Weekend in honor of her son and they got to meet. What a special time that was for both of them. The stories go on and on and keep us going on also.

As mentioned before, plans are underway for Warrior’s Weekend XI which will be held the weekend of 19-21 May of 2017. Our largest fundraiser in Victoria, the Muster, will be held on 25 March of 2017 but stay tuned for other opportunities to give/donate to this most worthy cause. We hope you were able to enjoy the sand sculpture and Warrior’s Weekend Field of Honor along with the weekend and please help us continue to let these heroes know that their service and sacrifice has not, and will not, be forgotten by the patriotic folks of South Texas.

We are always looking for good volunteers so please don’t hesitate to contact us and we’ll put you to work honoring those who deserve it the most as far as we are concerned.

Each flag represents a Warrior who gave all.

Loading up for a day of fishing at Warrior’s Weekend.

Photos by Mike Hessong

Warriors Weekend 2016 was a matchless success! More than 900 wounded veterans, modern day heroes, came from military bases, hospitals, rehabs centers, homes and communities across the country to enjoy a weekend of fun, food, fishing and friendship. These veterans, wounded in service for America, deserve more than our gratitude. Many of them have struggled…struggled to survive, to return, to be healthy and whole again, to find their way back into their families, communities and their former lives. This special weekend offers them a chance to connect with others who share a personal understanding of the struggles. It gives them a little hint of the appreciation many Americans feel for them and their sacrificial service. The experience presents many of them an opportunity to salt water fish for the first time, while others get outdoors and active for the first time in a long time of recovery. Hopefully it imparts to them a sense of joy and hope and renewed determination to face the struggles, conquer the hurdles and find what is next in life for them after their service. It was, as always, a privilege to share time, hear stories, trade smiles and hugs and handshakes, see the unbounded excitement of ‘fish-on’, hear the tales and experience the weekend with these men and women who may be some of the most unsung heroes in our nation. To them I am truly grateful.

While the sacrifice is negligible and the service small by comparison, there are some others that I really want to thank for making Warriors Weekend 2016 possible. I want to give a big hand to all the hands that make it happen. A year or more ago, the directors and leadership of Warriors Weekend.org began planning, fundraising, scheduling and organizing for this year’s event. They worked right up to the moment the defenders of freedom arrived and did not quit until well after they departed, as well as being cheerfully on…on call, on duty, on the carpet, on display, on task, on… the entire time of the event. Their unpaid work of love and commitment is a staggering load, especially when you realize they have lives, jobs, families and struggles of their own that do not stop or take a break just because it is Warriors Weekend. Without them this event would not be possible.

In addition, hundreds of volunteers from not only our area but across our state and even other places give of their time, their funds, their talents and abilities, offering their hands to help our warriors. More than 1,700 hands made cakes and cookies, 500 hands cooked and grilled, prepped and packaged; and more than 2,000 hands made coffee, poured milk, juice, tea, and coffee, cut pies and stirred salads, set up tables and chairs, took out trash and washed dishes. Some were old and used to hard work, some were young and eager to serve, many were hands that served in more than one location.

400+ hands kept us safe and secure as they directed traffic and managed security, hundreds of hands flew planes, drove buses, cars, vans, trucks, golf carts and other vehicles, at least 500 hands fueled boats and prepped fishing equipment, 250+ hands cleaned fish and packaged filets for travel home with warriors. 300 or more hands got sandy to make art that honored and more than 400 hands shot pictures and videos that report, commemorate and celebrate the highlights of the weekend.
A 100 or more hands massaged and masseused while others offered first aid and healing assistance as needed. Many offered homes and beds and bunks their hands made ready. Young hands cheered and old hands clapped, child hands made cards and senior hands waved flags, some injured hands cracked eggs and some dirty hands moved dirt and woodchips to manage the mud. Some imprisoned hands volunteered and counted it a privilege.

To all those hands and the giving hearts they represent I say THANK YOU EACH AND EVERY ONE! I pray you found it a blessing in return multiplied a hundred times over to come, to serve, to offer your hands in whatever way you can to honor and thank and support our heroes.

Warriors Weekend is a huge event, but in the end, it is about the little things. It’s about the hand up, the hand out, the hands on and all hands on deck, the hand of friendship you extend and the hand of encouragement you offer. No hand is too big, none too small, none too unskilled to make a difference. When the task is big, many hands make the labor light and the task joyful. I hope your hands of service brought you joy, because I know they brought joy to those you served.
Wash up, file your nails or get your patriotic polish ready as we would like to reserve your serving hands in advance for next year.