Saturday, July 27, 2024
Granbury resident Gail Joyce was honored with a surprise proclamation by the Texas State Senate during a regularly scheduled meeting of the Hood County Commissioners Court May 14.
Joyce — the creator of the annual Field of Flags event and the Honoring Hometown Heroes Banner Program — was officially recognized Tuesday by Sen. Brian Birdwell and his wife, Mel, as Hood County Judge Ron Massingill read the proclamation.
According to the proclamation, the Texas State Senate recognized the Greater Granbury Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America, its founder, Joyce, and the 12th annual — and Joyce’s final — Honoring Hometown Heroes and Field of Flags program at Memorial Field, which will take place during the 2024 Memorial Day weekend.
"For more than a decade, the Greater Granbury Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America has honored our nation's fallen military service members, and commemorated the heroes who gave their lives to protect the United States,” Massingill read. “Honoring Hometown Heroes and the Field of Flags will provide attendees with the opportunity to acknowledge and pay tribute to those who sacrifice their lives and service to our country.”
Inspired by the sacrifice of her late husband, Larry, and her late younger son, Casey, Gold Star wife and mother Joyce founded Honoring Hometown Heroes and the Field of Flags to commemorate the bravery of courageous veterans.
"Gail has tirelessly devoted herself to honoring our esteemed troops, and this will be her final year leading the event,” Massingill read.
The proclamation also noted that military service members are truly deserving of special recognition, as their patriotism, selfless service and heroism will be remembered with respect and gratitude by their fellow Americans.
The Texas State Senate officially recognized Joyce and extended best wishes to the attendees of the 12th annual Honoring Hometown Heroes and Field of Flags program.
"We just hope to see you at our closing ceremony,” Joyce said. “It's gonna be really, really special this year as it'll be my last year to be really involved in this effort. I want to thank you as a community, because what started out as kind of a personal tribute for me has wound up being a huge community event.”
