Fredericksburg Mobile Food Pantry
2nd Saturday of Every Month at Fredericksburg
United Methodist Church

Next Drive-Thru Distribution is Saturday, May 10, 2025

50th Anniversary ending of Vietnam War May 1 - 4, 2025

Gillespie County Events:    
American Veterans Traveling Tribute Vietnam Moving Wall Exhibit will be Thursday - Sunday, May 1-4, 2025.  
Gillespie County Airport Open House will be Saturday, May 3, 2025 from 10 am - 3 pm. Opening ceremony at 10 am. 
Commemoration Ceremony and Reception will be Sunday, May 4, 2025 at 3 pm at the Hangar Event Center. 
Vietnam Era Veterans who served from August 5th, 1964 to May 7, 1975, (or in country Vietnam, November 1, 1955 to August 4, 1964) are welcome to participate. For the slide show presentation, please email 2 photos: Military Uniform photo and a current photo to Tami King at vietnam50fbgtx@gmail.com 

  Anyone wishing to donate to or sponsor this event, please click here to see details and submittal form.

Traveling Vietnam Wall Escort
WEDNESDAY APRIL 30th 1 pm

Anyone wishing to greet the Vietnam Wall Escort as it arrives at Lady Bird Park next Wednesday:  

The American Veterans Traveling Tribute's (AVTT) Traveling Vietnam Wall and Cost of Freedom Tribute will arrive in Fredericksburg on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, and will travel to the Pioneer Pavilion with an escort provided by local first responders including the Fredericksburg Police Department, Gillespie County Sheriff's Office and the Fredericksburg Volunteer Fire Department. 
The escort will leave from Arch Ray's parking lot at 4160 E. Hwy 290 at 1 :00 pm and proceed west on Hwy 290, turning south at State Hwy 16 (South Adams Street). 
The Rotary Clubs of Fredericksburg are asking those who wish to participate in the escort process to line Main Street and South Adams Street, or go to the entrance of Lady Bird Park to receive the wall. 
Unfortunately, members of the public are not allowed to be a part of the escort due to safety concerns. 
There will be an opening ceremony at the Pioneer Pavilion at 9: 30 am on Thursday May 1, 2025. The wall display will be open to the public from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm on May 1st and 2nd, and from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday, May 3rd. 
We hope you will join us in receiving this special tribute to the Fredericksburg community. 

Ex Military Flyers Meeting on TUESDAY, APRIL 15 (usually meets monthly on the 3rd Wednesday)

The next Ex Military Flyers meeting is on TUESDAY, APRIL 15, at the Bethany Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall at the same time of 11:00 am for a Meet and Greet, buffet lunch at 11:30 am, and the program at noon.  Ken Langley will present a program on Challenge Air which is a non-profit organization that provides free flights for children with special needs.  You can find the organization online at www.challengeair.com. Thanks to all who contributed to the "Boots" for the 50th Anniversary of the Ending of the Vietnam Era War as we donated $200 to the event. PLEASE RSVP with ROGER no later than Wednesday the 9th of April.  You can call cell phone 830-992-9205 OR email Roger at rwhcchansen@twc.com.

Dr. Kelly Cramer of Texas Tech University in Lubbock speaking at Fredericksburg VFW Post 7105 on Monday, March 3 at 7:15 pm

You are all invited to a special presentation at the Fredericksburg VFW Post 7105 on Monday, March 3rd at 7:15 pm. Dr Kelly Cramer is the head of the Oral History Project at the Vietnam Center and Archive at Texas Tech University in Lubbock.  We are lucky that he will be in the area and this is important due to the huge Vietnam Traveling Wall event coming up in May.  Here is a link to the Vietnam Center website: https://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/

Here is what Dr Kelly said when I asked "Who do you interview":  We interview anyone who lived through the Vietnam War era, broadly defined. The vast majority of our interviews are with American Veterans of Vietnam (all branches, MOS, time in country, etc.) but we do also interview those who served elsewhere during that time. Since our organization focuses on the Vietnam War that is the center of our interviews. We’ve also interviewed wives, widows, and children of veterans as well.

He said the presentation takes only 25-30 minutes and any later interview can be done over the telephone.  This is a great opportunity to get insight into the head of the world's largest Vietnam War Archive! 

The address for the VFW is 710 S Washington St, Fredericksburg and you do not need to be a member to attend this event. 

Texas Tech University's Vietnam Center & Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive seeking Vietnam Veterans to participate in Oral History Project

Oral History Project Information (click here)

The Vietnam Center & Archive Information (click here)

     Since 1999, the Oral History Project at the Vietnam Center and Archive has been conducting interviews with those who experienced the war, and who lived through the era. We believe it is vital that any true understanding of the war must include the input of those who participated in this historic moment. We strive to include all voices, including both military and civilian personnel who were in Southeast Asia and at support facilities world-wide. 

     It is essential that we continue to reach out to war veterans and wartime civilians in both the U.S. and Vietnam to capture their recollections for use by researchers, as well as for anyone who is interested in a more thorough understanding of the Vietnam War.  It is imperative that we record those voices before time takes them away, leaving future generations without that vital personal connection to one of the 20th Century’s most controversial, tragic, heroic, and enduring events. 
      Please help us preserve your history by participating in the Oral History Project at the Vietnam Center and Archive.  Visit:  http://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/oralhistory/ for more information. 

Honor Flight Austin is recruiting Veterans to apply for the Honor Flight trip to Washington DC.  

2025 SPRING FLIGHTS
Flight #97: April 25 - 26, 2025
Flight #98: May 30-31

Dates of Active Duty Service for Honor Flight / Applications 

WWII:  December 1941 – December 1946 

**

Korea:  June 1950 – 

January 1955 

**

Vietnam:  February 1961 –

May 1975

**

Cold War:  December 1941 – May 1975  

Cold War Veterans should use the Vietnam Veteran application till they create a new application. 

* WWII and Korean War Veterans can now live anywhere in the state of Texas.  
* Vietnam Veterans & Cold War Veterans (new category) must live in the surrounding 14 counties  (Bastrop, Bell, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Gillespie, Gonzales, Hays, Lee, Llano, Milam, Travis, and Williamson).  

Applications must have a copy of your DD-214, a military photo (if you have one) and a current photo.  VSO can upload the applications at local office to Honor Flight Austin, but please call before you stop by the office.  

For more information this is the website:  https://honorflightaustin.org/

Adult Volunteer Drivers Needed

The Fredericksburg High School Navy JROTC unit needs five (5) adult drivers to help the cadets put out and pickup flags on holidays.  If you can help, even one holiday per year, please contact the Fredericksburg High School NJROTC Teacher at Phone:  830-997-7551 ext. 1136.

The dates flags are set out are:
- Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday, third Monday of January

- Inauguration Day, third Tuesday of January every fourth year

- President's Day, third Monday of February
- Armed Forces Day & Peace Officer/EMS Recognition Day, third Saturday of May
- Memorial Day, last Monday of May 
- Flag Day, 14th of June 
- Independence Day, 4th of July 
- Gillespie County Fair Day, fourth Friday of August 
- Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance, 11th of September 
- POW-MIA Day and Constitution Day, third Friday of September 
- Columbus Day, second Monday of October 
- Election Day, first Tuesday of November every even year 
- Veteran's Day, 11th of November
- Pearl Harbor Day, 7th of December