CONGRESSIONAL VETERAN COMMENDATION

Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26) announces a special salute to honor local veterans and welcomes nominations for the 26th Congressional District Veteran Commendation for 2024. The annual Congressional Veteran Commendation honors the living distinguished veterans of Texas’ 26th Congressional District.

“Our nation’s veterans have selflessly and honorably served our country and preserved our freedoms. It is because of their service that we enjoy all the liberties we are afforded,” said Congressman Burgess. “These brave men and women deserve our thanks and praise. I am grateful to recognize the veterans in Texas’ 26th Congressional District and honor their service through the 2024 Congressional Veteran Commendation.”

Nominations for the 2024 Congressional Veteran Commendation should be submitted to my Lake Dallas district office by September 9, 2024. The 2024 CVC flyer can be found here.

To be eligible for nomination, veterans must be currently residing in the 26th District of Texas, have served the nation honorably during their military career, and subsequently demonstrated dedication to their community.

Those individuals selected to receive the Congressional Veteran Commendation will be recognized and honored at the annual “Salute Our Veterans” luncheon sponsored by the Highland Village Business Association and scheduled for November 11th.

To obtain additional information regarding the Congressional Veteran Commendation, or to confirm residency within the 26th District of Texas, please contact Congressman Burgess’ Deputy District Director, Robin Vaughan, at (940) 497-5031.

2023 CVC Photo: (pictured l-r) Richard Crossley (CVC Board), Tom Kim (CVC Board), Timothy Qualls (2023 CVC Recipient), David Seals, Jr. (2023 CVC Recipient), Congressman Michael Burgess, Mary Garcia (2023 CVC Recipient), Melvin Sumrall (2023 CVC Recipient), Susanne Hechinger (CVC Board)

Past Congressional Veteran Commendation recipients are: 

2005

• Johnnie Bulen (U.S. Army), Lewisville
• LtGen Charles R. Hamm, (USAF, Ret.), Argyle
• Reby Cary (U.S. Coast Guard), Fort Worth

2006

• SgtMaj Thomas Blagg (USMC, Ret.), Denton
• Woodrow Wilson Burch, Jr., (U.S. Army/U.S. Air Force), Denton
• LtCol Ivan N. Glasscock (USAF, Ret.), Denton

2007

• LtCol Walter Dyer (USAF, Ret.), Highland Village
• Col Susanne Hechinger (USAF, TX ANG, Ret.), Flower Mound
• Col James P. Mariades (USMC, Ret.), Copper Canyon
• LtCol Edward “Red” Weir (U.S. Air Corps/Air Forces, USAF, Ret.), Denton
• Capt William B. Springfield (USMC, Ret.), Flower Mound

2008

• Staff Sergeant Mark H. Graunke, Jr. (U.S. Marine Corps), Denton
• Commander Robert Heid (U.S. Navy, Ret.), Flower Mound
• Sergeant Donald W. Pettigrew (U.S. Marine Corps), Gainesville
• Colonel Walter W. Pine (U.S. Army/U.S. Air Force, Ret.), Keller
• Major Earl L. Russell, III (U.S. Army/Army Reserve, Ret.), Gainesville

2009

• Corporal Arthur F. Berg (U.S. Army), Lewisville 
• Colonel Ernest L. Isbell (U.S. Army, Ret.), Highland Village
• Captain Hank Scheible (U.S. Air Force, Ret.), Denton 

2010

• Major Lee Roy Keith, (U.S. Marine Corps), Denton
• Sergeant Arlen Ray Mayfield, Jr., (U.S. Army), Lewisville
• Master Sergeant Guy Northrup, (U.S. Marine Corps), Lewisville
• Colonel Larry Patterson, (U.S. Army), Highland Village
• Major Richard Stewart, (U.S. Army/U.S. Air Force), Denton

2011

• Gary Alexander (Corporal - Marines), Gainesville
• Julius Fambry (1st Sergeant - Army), The Colony
• Donald Langa (Lieutenant Commander - Navy), Denton
• Joe M. Leonard, Jr. (Captain - Army), Gainesville
• Leroy M. Williamson, Sr. (1st Lieutenant - Army/Air Force), Denton

2012

• Robert Baird (Lieutenant Colonel - U.S. Army), Lantana
• Victor Durrance (Sergeant - U.S. Army Air Force), Gainesville
• Andrew Fortunato (Lieutenant Colonel  - U.S. Marine Corps), Keller
• Joe Gray (Colonel - U.S. Army), North Richland Hills
• Mugg Pawless (Private First Class - U.S. Army), Gainesville

2013

• Gilbert Brown (Sergeant - US Army), Lewisville 
• Jerry Galler (Storekeeper 3rd Class– US Navy), Highland Village
• James Rosengren (Major – US Army), Flower Mound

2014

• Charles Correll (Colonel - U.S. Air Force), Denton
• Peter Lane (Colonel - U.S. Air Force), Denton
• Jack Milligan (Lieutenant Colonel - U.S. Army), Highland Village
• Pat Smith (Colonel - U.S. Air Force), Denton
• William Splichal (Chief Warrant Officer 4 - U.S. Army), Trophy Club 

2015

• Jack Bailey (Major - US Army/Commander - US Navy), Flower Mound
• Forrest Beadle (Captain - US Army), Denton
• Doug Brown (Chief Warrant Officer - US Army), Flower Mound
• Andre “Frenchy” Rheault (Master Sergeant - US Air Force), Denton
• Gary Steele (Senior Master Sergeant - US Air Force), Denton

2016

• Roberta DuTeil (Lieutenant Junior Grade - U.S. Navy), Bartonville
• William “Bill” Lawrence (Colonel - U.S. Air Force), Highland Village
• Virginia “Ginger” Simonson (Lieutenant Colonel - U.S. Army), Highland Village
• Clinton Turner (Corporal - U.S. Army), Denton 
• Charles “Chuck” Wright (1st Lieutenant - U.S. Marine Corps), Frisco

2017

• Paul Farrar (Staff Sergeant - US Army), Denton 
• Donald Graves (Corporal - US Marine Corps), Fort Worth 
• Paul Perez Jr. (Master Sergeant - US Air Force), Flower Mound 
• Donald Phillips (Chief Petty Officer - US Navy), Denton  
• Johnnie Yellock II (Staff Sergeant - US Air Force), Lantana 

2018

• Virgil Aldag (Specialist 4^th Class - US Army), Denton  
• Lewis Duckwall II ( Gunnery Sergeant - US Marine Corps), Lake Dallas
• Robert Lessard (Sergeant First Class - US Army), Aubrey
• Christopher Martin (Colonel - US Army), Argyle          
• Gustav Wittschack (Sergeant First Class - US Army), Cross Roads

2019

• Sharon Balsley (Lt. Colonel – US Army), Corinth
• Carlos Gallardo (Captain – US Air Force), Frisco
• Tom Kim (Lt. Commander - US Navy), Highland Village
• Robert Kohankie II (Lt. Commander – US Navy), Flower Mound
• James Trombley (Sergeant – US Marine Corps), Frisco

2020

• Paul Bastaich (Senior Master Sergeant – US Air Force), Oak Point
• Richard Cook (Lieutenant – US Navy), Double Oak
• Jacob Schick (Corporal – US Marine Corps), Frisco
• Dennis Sheridan (Captain – US Army), Trophy Club
• Danny Weakley (Master Sergeant – US Army), Little Elm

2021

• Carolyn Bradford (Specialist - US Army), North Richland Hills
• Richard Crossley, Jr. (Lt. Col. – US Army), Flower Mound
• Karl Monger (Captain – US Army), Trophy Club
• Michael Shasteen (Petty Officer Fourth Class – US Navy), Frisco
• Ron Trees (Lt. Col. - US Air Force), Little Elm

2022

• James Brown (U.S. Marine Corps - Corporal), Sanger
• Jere Delano (U.S. Air Force - SSGT), Denton
• Lena Jackson-Lynch (U.S. Air Force – MSGT), Denton
• Daniel Joseph (U.S. Army - Corporal), Lake Dallas
• John Mulholland II (U.S. Navy – Petty Officer 2nd Class), Justin

2023

• Ms. Mary Garcia (Major – US Air Force) of Lewisville
• Mr. Timothy Qualls (Staff Sergeant – US Air Force) of Savannah
• Mr. David Seals, Jr. (Captain – US Army) of Frisco
• Rev. Melvin Sumrall (Corporal – US Marine Corps) of Denton