Mary Lange, commander of American Legion Hale-Combest Post 315, received the Texas Legionnaire of the Year award earlier this month. File Art

A Wylie woman whose leadership helped bring “The Wall That Heals” to the community last year has received one of the Texas American Legion’s highest individual honors.

Mary Lange, a U.S. Air Force veteran and commander of Hale-Combest American Legion Post 315, received the honor during the 107th Annual Convention of the American Legion Department of Texas, held July 10 at the Renaissance Austin Hotel. Department Commander Richard Huntley presented the award.

The Legionnaire of the Year Award recognizes members whose service extends beyond their local post through involvement at the district, department and national levels, as well as meaningful contributions to their communities.

For Lange, the recognition came as a surprise.

“When they started talking about the Legionnaire of the Year, it never dawned on me it was going to be me until they started talking about the Wall and community service,” she said, adding “It is an honor.”

Lange, commander of Hale-Combest Post 315, is perhaps best known locally for spearheading the effort to bring The Wall That Heals to Wylie in 2025. The three-quarter-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., drew hundreds of visitors during its four-day stay, giving veterans, families and residents an opportunity to honor those who served and sacrificed during the Vietnam War.

Lange’s commitment to veterans and community service has earned numerous honors in recent years. In 2024, she received the Congressional Veteran Commendation from U.S. Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, and was named the Wylie Area Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year. The City of Wylie also proclaimed Nov. 18, 2025, as “Mary Lange Day” in recognition of her service to the community.

Beyond that project, Lange devotes countless volunteer hours to mentoring young people through American Legion programs.

She chairs the American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program, known as “A Constitutional Speech Contest,” and Texas Boys State for Post 315. She also serves as chair of the oratorical program for the American Legion Department of Texas Fourth District and First Division.

In addition, Lange is a member of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 315 and serves as chair of Texas Bluebonnet Girls State.

“We have over 200 programs in the American Legion,” Lange said. “My hot button is Girls State, Boys State and Oratorical. That’s what I focus on. The kids learn so much from those programs.”

Founded in 1919 and chartered by Congress, the American Legion is the nation’s largest veterans service organization, with nearly 2 million members in more than 12,000 posts in the United States and abroad.

Guided by its motto, “Veterans Strengthening America,” the organization focuses on mentoring youth, promoting patriotism and honor, advocating for a strong national defense and supporting veterans, military members and their families.

Lange said she is honored by the recognition but remains focused on continuing the work that has defined her years of service.

“It’s really about the programs,” she said. “Helping young people through Boys State, Girls State and Oratorical is what I enjoy most.”

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