Cheerleading

Supporting the Troops

Early this fall, three organizations Community of Faith, Back the Blue Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, and Operation Lone Star Texans Supporting Our Troops - joined forces to collect items for care packages to send overseas to our outstanding military men and women serving our nation. The idea was the brainchild of two men: Bobby Roberts, a 30-year veteran of the Houston Police Department, the Director of Security at Community of Faith, and member of Back the Blue Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, and Jim Conley, a 37-year veteran of HPD, U.S. Navy Vietnam Veteran and President of Operation Lone Star-Texans Supporting Our Troops. Once the two felt their idea had credibility, Bobby approached Johnie Jones, head of Missions and Community Engagement at Community of Faith. Their mission was to increase the morale of deployed service members from all military branches by providing them with care packages filled with non-perishable food, personal care supplies, and miscellaneous fun items. They hoped the packages would help keep the recipients healthy, sharp, and motivated. From start to finish, the three-way coalition worked diligently to develop, execute, and manage the important project. Their fourweek drive ended on October 24 so they could be ready to pack and ship the packages by mid-November. Approximately 1.3 million active-duty personnel are stationed at roughly 750 U.S. foreign military bases that spread across 80 nations! And tens of thousands of service members on the front lines could benefit from an ongoing supply of hygiene, nutrition, medical supplies, and operational gear. If you’ve never heard of Operation Lone Star-Texans Supporting Our Troops, it is not affiliated with Governor Abbott’s Operation Lone Star, launched in March 2021 to respond to a rise in illegal immigration. Operation Lone Star Texans Supporting Our Troops is a 501(c)(3) Texas non-profit corporation founded by families who have had, or currently have, loved ones serving in the Armed Forces. Their mission is to provide fellowship, guidance, encouragement, and support to members of the United States Armed Forces and their families and friends.

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Three of their most well-known events include: • The Travis Manion Foundation 9/11 Heroes Run, which brings communities throughout the country, and around the world, together to honor the sacrifices of all the Heroes of September 11, including veterans, first responders, military, and civilians. • Memorial Day Weekend where, on Friday, they place a wreath on the grave of a high school friend who was Killed in Action in Vietnam on January 17, 1971; on Saturday, they place over 700 small flags honoring the names inscribed on the walls of the Fallen Warriors Memorial; on Sunday, they assist in placing several thousand flags on veteran graves at Houston National Cemetery; and on Monday, Memorial Day, they participate in ceremonies at the Fallen Warriors Memorial. • Two weeks before Christmas, the OLS-TSOT places 200 Christmas wreaths on the graves of veterans to honor their service and to remind their families that they will never be forgotten. The Back the Blue Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club consists of federal agents, peace officers, firefighters, paramedics, military veterans, and civilians. Their mission is to provide support to peace officers and law enforcement families in their times of need. When Back the Blue LEMC sponsors an event, all military branches, fire stations, and law enforcement agencies come out in force to participate in their amazing events. Community of Faith’s mission and community engagement programs focus on organizations in Houston and many different nongovernmental organizations around the world. Over the years, they have built and support an orphanage in Costa Rica, as well as a home for homeless elderly in Nicaragua. They have transformed an entire community, including an elementary school, trade school, and health clinic, for the Batwa people in Burundi, Africa. They routinely aid families impacted by natural disasters both locally and internationally, partner with organizations to support survivors of human trafficking, and much, much more. If you are interested in participating to help promote the morale of our deployed U.S. service members from all branches of the military, please contact johniej@communityoffaith.tv. Community of Faith is located 16124 Becker Road, Hockley Texas. In addition, Operation Lone Star-Texans Supporting Our Troops mails packages quarterly and on an as-needed basis. Should you have family members who are currently deployed, please email names and deployment addresses to OLS at OperationLoneStar@hotmail.com, or call Jim at 281-5135661 and he will see to it your loved one is added to the care package mailing list. For more information on Back the Blue Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, visit the Back the Blue LEMC Family & Friends Facebook page.

Around Fairfield

National Night Out: A Great Success

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. The ultimate goal of National Night Out is to make our neighborhoods safer and more caring places to live. The event enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while fostering a true sense of community. A HUGE THANK YOU to our area sponsors who helped us make our National Night Out event in Fairfield a fun time for all! We love serving our great community and meeting our neighbors. Special thanks also to our fire department and our Bridgeland High School Key Club! The Ellis-Nabors Team of the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gary Greene Team puts on the event in Fairfield each year. They recruit sponsors and set up the event. Wanda Abel, an agent with their team, started this event 4 years ago and it has grown every year. Together We’re Better!

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