The City of San Marcos, with assistance from the Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee and local veterans’ organizations, will be hosting a month of service opportunities starting with “Honor a Veteran”.
From November 1 through November 7, the public is invited to submit a photo of a veteran they wish to honor by visiting https://arcg.is/0nyCrf. The submissions can be viewed in a photo album that will be created on the SMTX Community Services Facebook page or in the San Marcos, TX Veteran Stories app.
Honorary Grand Marshals for this year are Retired Air Force Lt. Col. George Carruthers who served in WWII where he was awarded the Purple Heart Medal and served in the Vietnam War where he flew over 100 mission; also serving as Honorary Grand Marshal is US Marine Corps Combat Veteran Sgt. Donald Dorsey who served as a Scout/Sniper during the Vietnam War and later organized the Texas Association of Vietnam Veterans where he works to serve the needs of veterans from all war eras.
Month-long, the public is encouraged to decorate their home, vehicle, bike, and/or place of business with flags, bunting, yellow ribbons, and other patriotic items. The public is also encouraged to turn their porch light green for the month for the “Greenlight a Vet” initiative.
Each week a different service activity will be promoted:
- November 8-14 – Sponsor a Wreath: Sponsorship starts at $15 per wreath and volunteers are needed to assist with placing the remembrance wreaths on the gravesites on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, Wreaths Across America Day.
- November 15-21 – Write a letter: The public is encouraged to write a letter to a veteran living in a Texas State Veteran Home. The Veterans Land Board Mail Drop program allows us to show appreciation for a Veteran, their service and dedication to our great nation.
- November 22-30 – Donate to the Hays County Food Bank: The Hays County Food Bank along with the VFW Post #3413 and the Hays County Veterans Service Office will host a Veterans Food Assistance Distribution on November 21 and December 19. A list of foods to donate along with instructions on how to donate them can be found on the Hays County Food Bank website. When dropping the food items off, please include a note that the food is for the Veterans Food Assistance Distribution. Food items can also be ordered on Amazon and delivered to the Food Bank. Monetary donations can be made online at the Hays County Food Bank's donation webpage or by mailing them a check.
These opportunities will replace the traditional Veterans Day Parade the City hosts each year. Service actions do not have to be completed each specific week. Sponsoring a wreath, writing a letter, and donating to the Veterans Food Pantry can be done year-round.
For additional information about the Month of Service initiative and links to the partner organizations visit www.sanmarcostx.gov/parade.
About the City of San Marcos Parks and Recreation Department: The Parks and Recreation Department works to provide the citizens and visitors of San Marcos the highest quality of programs, parks, facilities, and services that positively enhances our community. The Parks and Recreation Department has a history of providing diverse and continuous programs for citizens and visitors and also excels in providing maintained parks such as Rio Vista Park, educational centers such as the Discovery Center, and many more activities and resources for everyone in San Marcos.
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