August 2026 Commanders Corner

August's Meeting

---

Commander’s Corner

August 2026

Legion Family,

On September 11, 2001, I was a young man in my mid-twenties. My wife and I had just welcomed our third child, and like any young father, I thought about the future in terms of the world my children would grow up in.

That morning changed how I saw that future.

Our nation had not experienced an attack on the American homeland on that scale since December 7, 1941. But this enemy was different. There was no nation advancing under its own flag and no conventional army approaching our shores. An ideology drove the enemy we faced, and that morning it became clear to me that defeating it would be very different from the wars generations of Americans had fought before us. I remember looking at my young family and knowing their world would be different from the one I had grown up in.

Twenty-five years later, my oldest children are now a little older than I was on September 11, 2001. Looking at the world they inherited puts those memories into a very different perspective. The consequences of that day did not end when the smoke cleared, or even when the wars that followed began to wind down. They changed how Americans travel, how we secure our public spaces, how our government approaches threats, and how we balance personal liberty with the responsibility to protect the public.

My children grew up accepting security measures and restrictions as normal that I never imagined seeing in a free nation when I was their age. Whatever our individual views may be about where that balance should lie, much of the world they know can be traced directly to the morning of September 11.

That is one reason I believe remembering September 11 matters so much.

We are not simply remembering a historical event. We are remembering a day that changed the direction of our country, sent a generation of Americans to war, reshaped our communities, and continues to influence the lives of Americans who were not even born when the attacks occurred.

July 14 — Shake Shack Fundraiser

Thank you to everyone who came out for our July 14 fundraiser at Shake Shack in Cedar Park. Together, we generated a little over $350 in qualifying sales. Shake Shack also provided Post 911 with a $100 gift card, which we plan to auction off in the coming months to raise additional funds for the Post.

We would really like to make restaurant fundraisers like this a monthly event, but we need greater participation to make that possible. We needed to reach a minimum of $400 in sales, and we came very close.

This is one of the easiest ways for members who may not be as active in meetings or events to support the Post. You don’t have to volunteer for an entire afternoon or serve on a committee. Sometimes supporting Post 911 can be as simple as taking your family out for lunch or dinner.

Watch for another fundraiser email soon, and when you see it, please make an effort to attend. Bring your family or invite a friend. Who knows? You might sit down for a meal and meet a fellow veteran or Legionnaire while you’re there.

With enough participation, these fundraisers can provide both financial support for the Post and another opportunity for fellowship among our members.

August — Portrait of a Veteran Visits Post 911

Those who attended our August meeting had the opportunity to have their photographs taken by Eric Bowden with Portrait of a Veteran. Eric has dedicated his work to honoring veterans by capturing their portraits and preserving the faces and stories of those who served.

Thank you, Eric, for spending the evening with Post 911 and for the hard work you put into making this veteran look rather dashing in his photos — at least that’s what my wife said.

More importantly, thank you for what you are doing to recognize veterans and preserve their stories. If you would like to learn more about Eric’s work, view his portraits, or support this amazing cause, please visit Portrait of a Veteran.

August — Representing Post 911 and Texas Nationally

I also want to recognize Raymond, who recently traveled to Louisville, Kentucky, where he represented Post 911 and Texas nationally while speaking on emergency preparedness.

At the National Homeland Security Conference, Raymond presented on emergency preparedness and the work underway to help communities prepare for and respond to disasters. While there, he also met FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton on the evening of his confirmation by the U.S. Senate.

The meeting carried an interesting personal connection. Both Raymond and Administrator Hamilton are former special warfare divers, and both have continued their commitment to public service through work supporting FEMA’s mission of helping people and communities before, during, and after disasters.

Opportunities like this are something our Post should be proud of. Our members bring decades of military and civilian experience to Post 911, and that service does not stop at the Post or city limits. Having one of our own representing Post 911 and Texas on a national stage is a great example of the experience and commitment our Legionnaires continue to bring to their communities and our country.

August 29 — Welcome Alan Home from His Honor Flight

We have a special opportunity to welcome Alan home from his Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. Alan is scheduled to return to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport at approximately 8:20 PM. I plan to be there to welcome him home, and I hope many of you will join me in giving him the reception he deserves.

Please feel free to invite family, friends, fellow veterans, and anyone else who would like to help us give Alan a proper Texas welcome home after his Honor Flight.

September 3 — Free Amateur Radio Technician Licensing Course Begins

For those interested in amateur radio, a free, weekly Amateur Radio Technician Class licensing course begins Thursday, September 3, and continues through October 15.

The seven live Zoom sessions begin at 6:30 PM Eastern / 5:30 PM Central and are sponsored by the National Electronics Museum. Anyone interested can sign up by emailing roland.anders@comcast.net. Please share this opportunity with anyone interested in amateur radio or emergency communications.

September 5 — Partners in Preparedness Fair

The 2026 Partners in Preparedness Fair will be held from 9:00 AM to noon at Hisle Elementary School in Leander. The fair brings together organizations and resources focused on emergency preparedness and community resilience.

Post 911 will have a booth at the fair, and we would love to see you stop by and visit with us. It is also a great opportunity to learn more about preparing ourselves, our families, and our community for emergencies.

September — Support Our Local JROTC Programs

Every year, our local high school JROTC programs have to raise funds to support the activities, training, and opportunities they provide for their cadets. Post 911 currently supports both the Leander High School AFJROTC and Lone Star NJROTC programs, and I would like to extend that opportunity to our members.

These young men and women are learning leadership, responsibility, teamwork, service, and citizenship. Supporting them is a natural extension of the values we promote through the American Legion and an investment in young people who have chosen to challenge themselves and serve their schools and communities.

You don’t have to make a large donation to make a difference. Even $5 or $10 helps these programs move closer to their fundraising goals. If enough of us contribute a small amount, collectively our Legion Family can have a meaningful impact.

Leander High School AFJROTC: Please make your donation through Cadet Abigail Via’s fundraising page: https://raise.snap.app/donate/leander-high-school-afjrotc-2026/17179099?share_type=clipboard

Lone Star NJROTC (Vista Ridge): When making your donation, please enter Matthew Mejia as the Cadet Name so the donation is properly credited. http://www.lonestarnjrotc.com/store/c5/Donations.html

Whether you donate $5, $10, or more, you are helping local cadets continue participating in the activities and experiences that make these programs successful. Let’s show them that the veterans of American Legion Post 911 are behind them.

September — Guest Speaker: CW2 Scott Baker, Texas State Guard

We are pleased to welcome CW2 Scott Baker of the Texas State Guard as our September guest speaker. Scott serves as Commander of the Dive Training Center, Texas State Guard Training Command, at Camp Mabry in Austin.

Scott will share the Texas State Guard’s dive capabilities, training, and the role these specialized teams can play in supporting missions here in Texas. This is a unique capability many of us may not be familiar with, and a great opportunity to learn more about the men and women serving our state.

I encourage everyone to join us for our September meeting, welcome Scott to Post 911, and learn more about the Texas State Guard and its dive program.

September 11 — 25th Anniversary Remembrance Ceremony

On Friday, September 11, at 7:00 PM, Post 911 will host our 25th Anniversary September 11 Remembrance Ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park in Cedar Park.

September 11 is one of the most important events Post 911 puts on each year, and this year’s 25th anniversary carries particular significance. Our Post bears the number 911, and with that comes a special responsibility to ensure we demonstrate the promise Never to Forget through our actions.

We will gather to remember the nearly 3,000 people who were killed that day, honor the firefighters, police officers, EMS personnel, military members, and ordinary Americans who responded, and recognize the servicemembers and families whose lives were changed by the wars that followed.

For many Legionnaires, September 11 is personal. It influenced when and where we served, the missions we performed, and the friends and fellow servicemembers we lost in the years that followed. At the same time, an entire generation has now reached adulthood with no personal memory of September 11, 2001. Keeping that memory alive increasingly falls to those of us who remember it.

I am asking our Legionnaires to make every effort to attend this year’s ceremony. This is one of the largest and most important events our Post puts on every year. A tremendous amount of work goes into making it happen. Still, more importantly, when our community comes to Veterans Memorial Park to remember September 11, they should see the Legion standing there with them.

Wear your Legion cap. Bring your family. Invite your neighbors and fellow veterans. Help us fill Veterans Memorial Park.

Twenty-five years ago, many of us promised that we would never forget. On September 11, we have an opportunity to show the next generation what that promise means.

Post 911 remembers.

October–November — Post 911 Membership Drive

I would like Post 911 to make October and November a focused membership drive.

Growing our membership is about much more than increasing a number on a report. A larger, more engaged membership gives us more people to participate in events, more volunteers to support our programs, more ideas for activities, and ultimately a greater ability to serve veterans and our community.

But we cannot grow if veterans in our community don’t know we are here.

So I am asking every member receiving this newsletter to do something simple: share information about Post 911 with five veterans you know. Tell them there is an American Legion Post right here in Cedar Park. Invite them to an event, bring them to a meeting, forward this newsletter, or tell them about what we are doing.

Think about what could happen if every person on this mailing list reached just five veterans.

We want Post 911 to grow so we can offer more activities, provide more fellowship opportunities, reach more veterans who need assistance, and have an even greater presence in our community. We cannot accomplish that growth without your help getting the word out.

You don’t have to serve on a committee or hold an office to help build this Post. Sometimes the most valuable thing you can do is invite another veteran to join us.

October 10 — Wanderers & Warriors CommUnity Festival

Mark October 10 on your calendar for Post 911’s inaugural Wanderers & Warriors CommUnity Festival at Veterans Memorial Park.

Post 911 has partnered with the City of Cedar Park and area businesses to create something different for our community. Opening ceremonies begin at 9:30 AM, with the festival running from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The day will include a motorcycle show with awards for the top three motorcycles, live entertainment, carnival rides, a food truck court, and a large open-air market.

Wanderers & Warriors is our way of thanking the community that continues to support Post 911, while introducing more people to who we are and what we do.

This year will also mark the introduction of Post 911’s new motorcycle riders club, and we are looking forward to giving the club its premiere at Wanderers & Warriors.

This is a major undertaking for the Post, and we will need the support of our Legion Family to make the inaugural festival a success. Please spread the word, invite your family and friends, and plan to join us on October 10.

December 31 — 2027 Membership Dues

It is that time of year again. 2027 membership renewals are underway, and I encourage everyone to renew before December 31.

Annual dues for Post 911 remain $50, and your current membership card expires December 31. Renewing early helps us maintain strong membership numbers and allows the Post to plan for the coming year without spending the first several months chasing renewals.

More importantly, renewing your membership is about more than paying annual dues. Your membership supports the work we do here at Post 911 as well as the programs of the American Legion at the Department and National levels. It keeps you connected to your fellow veterans and allows us to continue serving veterans, their families, and our community.

If you plan to remain part of Post 911 in 2027, please don’t wait until after the new year. Make it a goal to have your 2027 dues paid before December 31.

As we head into September, I want to leave everyone with one request: please be there on September 11.

Twenty-five years ago, I looked at three young children and wondered what September 11 would mean for the world they would grow up in. Today, they are adults, and a generation behind them knows September 11 only through the stories we tell.

Now it is our responsibility to make sure those stories keep being told.

I look forward to standing with you at Veterans Memorial Park.

For God and Country,

Ray Via II Commander American Legion Post 911 Cedar Park, Texas