A long-missing World War II sailor from Farmersville is among five Collin County service members newly honored in the Hall of Heroes at the Collin County Courthouse.

The portraits, unveiled during a ceremony in June, bring the courthouse collection to 115 memorials honoring local men and women who died while serving the nation.

Among them is Pharmacist Mate 1st Class William “Billy” Bain Honaker, 24, of Farmersville, who was serving aboard the USS Jarvis when the destroyer disappeared in the Pacific during World War II. Honaker and the ship’s entire crew were declared missing in action July 12, 1942.

Artist and project co-founder Colin E. Kimball said the Jarvis had been struck by a torpedo while protecting Marines landing on Guadalcanal. Although the ship did not sink, it was severely damaged. Seven wounded sailors were transferred to other ships, and the remaining crew completed emergency repairs before departing without an escort for Australia.

Kimball said the Jarvis was later spotted by a Japanese aircraft and “was ultimately struck, split in half and sank.”

“Honaker remains missing in action to this day,” Kimball said.

The four other portraits span nearly a century of military service.

John Meyers McKinney, 65, served with Capt. James Fitzhugh’s Company of Bell’s Mounted Volunteers of the Texas Rangers and was killed in the line of duty Nov. 26, 1847, during the Mexican War.

Private First Class James Marlow Morgan, 18, of Anna, served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and was killed in action Feb. 1, 1944. 

Sgt. J.L. Montgomery, 21, of Copeville, served with the U.S. Army’s 740th Tank Battalion and was killed in action Feb. 2, 1945.

Second Lt. Lindsey L. Bowen, 22, of McKinney, served with the 15th U.S. Army Air Force and went missing Nov. 15, 1944, during a mission over Yugoslavia. His remains were discovered in 1948 and returned to McKinney.

For Kimball, each portrait is more than a historical illustration.

“I always hand paint the eyes when I create the portraits, as they are the most important piece,” he said. “It gives a sense of the warrior’s spirit and soul.”

Kimball creates the portraits digitally, beginning with an original black-and-white photograph. He researches uniforms, military regulations, medals, badges, rank insignia and unit patches before assembling and painting the image in a realistic style.

Depending on the available material and research required, a portrait may take 12 hours or several months to complete.

Kimball co-founded the North Texas Fallen Warrior Project in 2013 with the late Ronnie “R.D.” Foster, a Farmersville native, Vietnam veteran and U.S. Marine who spent years researching Collin County’s fallen service members.

“He was the audio and I was the visual,” Kimball said of their partnership.

Together, they identified fallen warriors whose names were added to the memorial wall at McKinney Veterans Memorial Park, now named in Foster’s honor. Kimball continues the work, particularly the stories of World War II service members Foster was unable to complete.

Kimball is also a military history writer and has contributed to more than a dozen editions of the “True Stories of Heroism That Defy Comprehension” series. His latest contribution focuses on Audie Murphy as an “unlikely hero.”

“I discovered a few interesting details about Audie that have either been overlooked or gone largely unreported,” he said. “That was a lot of fun to research.”

Beyond the courthouse collection, Kimball has created more than 200 portraits of posthumous Medal of Honor recipients, along with portraits honoring fallen police officers, firefighters and other local heroes.

The courthouse exhibit preserves the stories of more than 400 known fallen service members from Collin County. More than a dozen additional portraits are awaiting installation.

“I plan on continuing this work until the Lord has other plans for me,” Kimball said.

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For three weeks each summer, police cars, emergency equipment and hands-on demonstrations become the backdrop for building friendships between officers and local children.

The third session of the Sachse Police Department’s annual Cops and Campers program wrapped up last week, giving students entering third through sixth grades an inside look at public safety while fostering trust, teamwork and positive relationships with law enforcement.

Throughout the week, campers explored police equipment, learned about specialized law enforcement operations and met members of the Sachse Police Department’s Special Response and Crisis Negotiator teams. They also heard presentations from Sachse Fire-Rescue, the Wylie Police Department and Lone Star Search and Rescue, offering a broader look at the many agencies that work together to protect the community.

Each of the program’s three summer sessions welcomes an average of 35 to 40 students and is overseen by Sgt. Brent Merryman, with Sachse’s elementary and middle school School Resource Officers leading daily activities. Volunteers in Police Service also assist throughout the program.

Students also participate in warm-ups, team-building games, fingerprinting, impaired-vision exercises using special goggles and a traffic-stop demonstration. The department said the impaired-goggles activity and traffic-stop demonstration continue to rank among the campers’ favorite experiences each year.

“Cops & Campers provides a valuable opportunity for our officers to connect with our youth outside their traditional law-enforcement duties,” Merryman said. “The program helps build trust and strengthen relationships between students and public safety.”

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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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Train enthusiasts and families are invited to climb aboard for the return of Sachse Train Day, a free community event hosted by the Sachse Historical Society from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 25.

“This is our third year to host Train Day, and it is absolutely getting bigger each year,” said Tricia Lindsey, president of the Sachse Historical Society. “The LEGO layout is new… and everyone is excited to see what the North Texas Brick Society is going to create.”

This year’s event follows the same popular format as previous years, encouraging visitors to travel between four “depot” stops, collect stamps on a map and redeem a completed passport for a prize.

The new exhibit, located in the Sachse Library meeting room, joins returning attractions including model train displays, caboose tours and interactive activities at each location.

Aside from the meeting room, activities will take place at the Sachse Historical Society Museum, 3033 6th Street; the Sachse Community Center, 3815 Sachse Road and the historic caboose. 

Guests can enjoy N-scale model train displays presented by North Texas T-TRAK Modular Railroad Club, caboose tours and opportunities to build their own train mini modules while learning about the important role railroads played in Sachse’s history.

Choo Choo Express trackless train rides will once again be available for purchase on-site.

The Sachse Historical Society’s museum features railroad artifacts and exhibits highlighting the city’s heritage, while the historic caboose offers visitors a glimpse into early Sachse through a detailed diorama depicting the community during its railroad era.

“It’s easy to forget how transformative the railroad was to America,” Lindsey said. “It didn’t just move crops and products to market faster. The railroad gave people the freedom to travel, experience new places, and helped shape the growth of cities. I hope visitors can catch a glimpse of that as they explore the different depot stops.”

For more information, visit the Sachse Historical Society website or call 972-496-6577.

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Sometimes the passenger is a woman carrying little more than a purse and a few belongings. Other times, it’s a father traveling with children. Some rides last only a few miles; others stretch across state lines.

The circumstances are always different, but the mission never changes.

Discreetly and often urgently, Families to Freedom staff and volunteers help survivors put distance between themselves and the people hurting them — one ride, one flight, one bus ticket and one tank of gas at a time.

For founder and CEO Sarah Nejdl, the organization grew from understanding a difficult truth: leaving abuse is rarely as simple as walking out the door — and no single charity offered flights for domestic violence victims.

“We started as an all- volunteer organization focused on helping sheltered survivors get to family by road trip or by private flight,” said Nejdl, a private pilot.

Within a year, Families to Freedom expanded beyond private flights, adding transportation to rural shelters, bus and commercial travel, and fuel assistance. During the pandemic, the organization broadened its mission again, helping survivors reach any available shelter regardless of distance.

Today, the nonprofit operates offices in Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston and is expanding into East Texas, helping connect rural victims with resources in larger cities while also guiding metro-area survivors to available shelters in smaller communities.

Funding support has also transformed the nonprofit’s reach.

“Those funds help us afford frontline personnel so donations go directly toward victim travel,” Nejdl said.

Since 2015, Families to Freedom has coordinated more than 1.7 million transportation miles through local and regional rides, cross-state travel, bus transportation, fuel assistance and commercial flights.

For Nejdl, a few stories still stand out.

“There are many survival stories that remind us that sometimes our services are literally saving lives,” she said.

One involved a mother and her children fleeing an ex-partner who pursued them from state to state.

“She got a ride from us to a secure facility in another state where she could completely change her identity to disappear from him,” Nejdl said.

Another call came through a sheriff’s office requesting transportation to an emergency shelter in another county. One of Families to Freedom’s volunteer drivers transported the woman to safety only minutes before her abuser returned.

“The sheriff later shared that the abuser came home within 10 minutes of our driver leaving with her, and he had shotguns in the truck,” Nejdl said.

Roberta “Robbie” Chandler has seen the mission from behind the wheel.

After volunteering for 12 years with a McKinney nonprofit, Chandler attended a meeting where Nejdl spoke about Families to Freedom’s need for volunteers.

“I just automatically put my hand up,” Chandler said. “It just seemed like there was a desperate need.”

Four years later, Chandler dedicates 20 to 25 hours each week to the organization, handling North Dallas outreach and public speaking while reminding audiences that abuse can affect anyone.

When people ask why victims don’t simply leave, Chandler said those questions usually come from people who have never experienced abuse firsthand.

“Before they come to us, they have probably exhausted what friends and family they have,” she said.

Families to Freedom staff handle intake calls, develop individualized safety plans and assign one staff member to remain with each client throughout the process, coordinating transportation and working directly with volunteers.

Volunteers never pick people up at front doors and are never placed in unnecessary danger. Drivers are tracked from pickup through drop-off, receive descriptions of suspected abusers and remain in constant contact with staff.

“We know at all times, if we’re driving, that we’re being watched,” Chandler said.

Volunteers also provide small comforts. Survivors receive purses stocked with essentials, gift cards and toiletries, while children receive backpacks, books, toys and snacks.

“Anything that would make them feel like they have something to call their own,” Chandler said.

Staff continue checking on survivors for up to a month after they reach safety and will arrange additional transportation if another shelter becomes necessary.

The work, Chandler admitted, can be emotionally draining.

“You never cry in front of the client when you hear their story,” she said. “You wait until you get them safely delivered.”

Afterward, volunteers check in with office staff to talk through the trip.

“They’ve got nothing but our best interest at heart,” Chandler said.

The past decade has brought tremendous growth for Families to Freedom, though Nejdl said she wishes there were no need for the organization at all.

“Sadly, we won’t run out of work to do,” she said.

Still, she remains hopeful.

“I dream of a future when all Texas victims have access to arrive to safety … no matter how far away,” she said. “With more volunteers, grant funding and donations, we’ll see that become a reality soon enough.”

To volunteer, donate or learn more about Families to Freedom, visit familiestofreedom.org or call 833-903-SAFE (7233).

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While many North Texans are planning Fourth of July cookouts and looking forward to fireworks, Danielle Girdano is already thinking about Christmas.

Applications opened July 1 for the 2 Fishes Project’s annual holiday assistance program, kicking off months of planning, shopping, wrapping and organizing to ensure local families in need can experience the joy of Christmas.

Registration remains open through Aug. 1.

“The logistics just takes time,” Girdano said. “We provide Christmas for families who otherwise would not have it.”

Founded by Girdano after nearly years of quietly helping families during the holidays, the 2 Fishes Project became an official nonprofit as its mission continued to grow. Last year, the organization helped families throughout the area, including in Farmersville, and this year hopes to serve as many as 2,000 families.

Girdano said applications open in the middle of summer because creating personalized Christmases for hundreds of families is a months-long effort.

“We have families that are nominated to us. It’s overwhelming. We have to turn people away,” she said. “I think the need in this area is much greater than what people may realize.”

The nonprofit works with an extensive network of community partners, including local food pantries, outreach organizations, veterans groups, Meals on Wheels and other nonprofits that help identify families facing financial hardship.

Rather than focusing solely on children, the organization provides gifts and essentials for entire households.

“We take care of the whole family,” Girdano said. “It’s not just about the kids. It’s about mom or dad, maybe grandma lives with them. We do everything from decorations to Christmas trees to bicycles, toys, clothes and school supplies.” 

The organization also provides household items, outdoor games, tools and even gifts for family pets. Each family completes a questionnaire that helps volunteers personalize the gifts based on favorite colors, hobbies, interests, needs and holiday wishes.

While many families receive their gifts through the project’s “Reindeer Families” delivery program in November, others are invited to a Christmas Eve celebration at Girdano’s home.

The event includes a live nativity, Santa Claus, food, activities and the presentation of larger gifts such as bicycles. Adults receive gifts as well, something Girdano said often becomes one of the evening’s most meaningful moments.

“Santa knows their names,” she said. “When he walks up to an adult and hands them a gift, it is the most magical thing ever.”

The project has grown so much that Girdano’s home in Lavon once became overwhelmed with donated items before volunteers helped construct a storage building on her property in 2024. Today, the nonprofit continues seeking additional retail partners, donated merchandise and volunteers to meet increasing demand.

As of July 1, just hours after registration opened, Girdano said she had already received more than 100 requests for assistance.

She said the organization’s mission is to restore hope, renew faith and relieve some of the financial stress families face during the holidays.

“We want Christmas to be joyful and be a celebration, not be a time of stress or worry,” she said.

Families needing assistance through the 2 Fishes Project can request an application by emailing [email protected]. Registration is open through Aug. 1. Applicants are vetted through the organization’s network of community partners, and Girdano encourages those experiencing financial hardship to apply as early as possible.

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More than 300 community members gathered Thursday, June 25, to celebrate the official grand opening of Jericho Village, a milestone years in the making that city leaders and organizers say will provide not only affordable housing for the resident but also hope and long-term support.

Located at 511 W. Brown St., Jericho Village is Wylie’s first income-based urban housing village. The 38-unit development is a project of Plano-based Agape Resource & Assistance Center, founded by CEO Janet Collinsworth to help women and families transition from homelessness, domestic violence and human trafficking. The community offers studio to three-bedroom apartments, including ADA-accessible units, along with on-site education, counseling and other wraparound services that promote long-term stability.

The celebration featured food trucks, face painting, a Wylie Area Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony and remarks from civic and community leaders marking the project’s significance.

Serving as master of ceremonies, Hope for the Cities Executive Director Jon Bailey praised the perseverance of Agape founder and CEO Janet Collinsworth, noting that many people in attendance had watched the vision evolve from an idea into reality.

“It has been such a privilege to have walked alongside her, to have prayed with her, to encourage, to be challenged and to be inspired,” Bailey said. “So many of you today are inspired by who she is and what she has been able to accomplish.”

Wylie Mayor Matthew Porter recalled one of his first meetings after taking office, when he was introduced to the Jericho Village concept.

Porter said the name of Agape immediately resonated with him because of a family heirloom bearing the same Greek word, which represents unconditional love.

“That is exactly what we are called to do as a community,” Porter said. “To take care of everyone, not just one specific type of person, not just one group of people that vote for you. You’re supposed to care for everyone within that community.”

He said Jericho Village represents more than affordable apartments because residents will receive services designed to help them build lasting stability.

“It means it’s not a Band-Aid solution of just a roof over the head for today with no thoughts for tomorrow,” Porter said. “Instead, those services provide a new opportunity for generational uplifting.”

A congressional recognition from Keith Self was presented during the ceremony, commending Collinsworth, along with those of Agape Resources, and the many community partners who helped bring the vision to life.

“Jericho Village stands as a powerful example of what can be accomplished when compassion is spirited action,” the inscription read. “The opportunities created through this community will strengthen families, foster independence and provide hope to those who need it.”

Taking the podium, Collinsworth thanked the hundreds of volunteers, donors, churches, board members and community partners who supported the project, but first directed the crowd’s attention elsewhere.

“Without God, we would not be here,” she said. “It was a calling for each and every one of us to serve our neighbors and to love our neighbors as ourselves.”

Collinsworth reminded attendees that they are part of the change, referring to Ghandi’s “Be the change you want to see in the world.”

“We collectively — all of us, each one of us here — we’re in the hope business,” she said. “We do that by standing in the gap for our friends and our neighbors that struggle each and every day just to have a roof.”

Agape Chief of Staff Christin Mixon reflected on watching the property transform from “a flat piece of ground” into a community made possible by volunteers, churches, businesses and civic organizations.

“What you see around you today is the result of prayer, generosity and partnerships,” Mixon said. “But today is not the finish line. In a lot of ways, today is the starting line. The opening of Jericho Village represents the beginning of a new chapter and a larger vision.”

Collinsworth emphasized that the housing itself is only one part of the organization’s mission.

“The secret to transforming lives is not a roof,” she said …“The secret sauce is really the wraparound services. It’s the love, it’s the prayer and hope. We are in the hope business.”

The same educational, counseling and empowerment services already offered through Agape will now be available on-site to Jericho Village residents, she said.

“It’s not just a roof, and it’s not just a key that we hand you to get into your door,” Collinsworth said. “We are your family. We are your village.”

Perhaps the day’s most emotional moment came when Collinsworth invited Jericho Village’s first resident, Keoni Hudson, to speak.

Hudson’s story reflects the vision behind Jericho Village. After escaping a domestic violence situation, she moved from Agape’s transitional housing into the village with her two children. Organizers said other women will follow the same path, creating space for new families entering Agape’s program while former residents continue building independent lives.

“I love Jericho,” Hudson said. “It’s more than just the roof. It’s the community. It’s the help that you get. It’s the services that you receive. It’s everything.”

She said paying an income-based rent has allowed her to support her children, pay for childcare and return to school without relying on government assistance.

“I’m able to enroll myself back in school,” Hudson said. “This has helped my family in so many ways.”

Asked why communities need places like Jericho Village, Hudson fought back tears.

“Nobody understands how hard it is for people to just be able to afford the basic things of life,” she said. “Just to be able to have someone that looks out for you and leaves you something left over so you can provide clothes and shoes for your kids — every community needs this. This is such a blessing.”

After the program, guests toured the apartments, playground, community center and garden, getting a firsthand look at what organizers hope will serve as a model for supportive housing across North Texas.

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What began as an effort to tell a story about one cadet’s struggle to find his place has evolved into a student-produced short film that is drawing praise from educators, military instructors and viewers across the region.

Recent Wylie High School graduate Tuan Nguyen and fellow student filmmaker Phaolo Le teamed up to create “New Beginnings,” a short film highlighting opportunities for students to experience growth, leadership and success through the school’s Air Force Junior ROTC program.

The project was entirely student-led and produced with limited resources, relying on school equipment, faculty guidance and the dedication of students balancing filming schedules with academic and extracurricular commitments.

Nguyen, who served on the AFJROTC Public Affairs team throughout high school, said the idea grew from a desire to help others better understand the program.

“Recognizing this and remembering that I did not fully understand what JROTC was when I first signed up, I dedicated myself to this project in hopes of helping others succeed as I did and understand that JROTC is more than a class,” Nguyen said.

The film follows cadets as they navigate uncertainty, pressure and personal obstacles, emphasizing the mentorship and support available within the program. While many people associate JROTC primarily with military preparation, Nguyen said the film was designed to showcase its broader impact.

“There are many misconceptions about JROTC, so one of our goals was to show what the program truly represents and its positive impact,” he said. “JROTC is meant to help students develop leadership skills, confidence, character and a sense of purpose within a supportive environment that encourages growth.”

The film’s lead role is played by Wylie High graduate Miles Whitmire, whose own experience in AFJROTC inspired much of the story.

According to Nguyen, Whitmire considered leaving the program during his freshman year because he did not see its value. Instead of accepting his decision, an instructor encouraged him to stay and become more involved.

The conversation changed the course of Whitmire’s high school experience. He remained in the program for four years, eventually serving in two of its highest leadership positions. He also enlisted in the Army National Guard, attending basic training in his junior year and is currently completing Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia, as part of his training as an indirect fire infantryman.

“If it wasn’t for the instructor to recognize his potential, he wouldn’t likely be where he is today,” Nguyen said. Le, an Audio Visual student at Wylie High, helped bring the story to life through film. Nguyen said he was impressed after seeing one of Le’s earlier projects and invited him to join the production.

Together, they worked to create a film that would resonate with both cadets and those unfamiliar with the program.

Producing the film presented several challenges.

Most filming took place within a single week as cadets prepared for the year’s final drill competition. Weather also created obstacles, with strong winds affecting audio quality and changing lighting conditions forcing the crew to work quickly.

“We used our bodies to shield the microphones from the wind and attempted to get all of the shots before sunset,” Nguyen said.

To create authentic scenes, the filmmakers coordinated with drill team leaders and filmed portions of practices while minimizing disruptions.

The finished product debuted May 1 during the AFJROTC annual awards banquet, where it was viewed by more than 200 cadets, family members and guests.

Nguyen said the reaction exceeded expectations.

“The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” he said. “Many teachers approached our actors, director and instructor to tell them how much they loved the short film. Some even shared that they became emotional while watching it.”

Senior Aerospace Science Instructor Lt. Col. Darren James praised both the film and the students who created it.

“The cadets that created this video have taken our PA program to new heights, and the thought-provoking concepts of those in the short film emulate what we hope any cadet can realize about the confidence they need to go out into this world,” James said. “Reflection is a powerful tool for success, and the family atmosphere that our corps continues to maintain each year is emulated within this story.”

The film’s reach has since extended beyond Wylie.

After being shared with an AFJROTC regional director, “New Beginnings” was distributed to instructors across the region. Nguyen said several instructors have expressed interest in showing the film to incoming cadets as an example of how the program can influence students’ lives.

For Nguyen, that impact is exactly what he hoped the project would achieve.

“Some characters are portrayed as pursuing the military path, while others pursue a more normal [traditional] career path,” he said. “No matter their desired destination, they can all benefit from the mentorship, friendships and leadership opportunities the program provides.”

Editor’s note: Nguyen will be attending Texas A&M this fall as a communications major and joining the Corps of Cadets in August.

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Community members will be invited to take part in the Path of Remembrance: A White Carnation Tribute, a new feature created in recognition of America 250 and those who have served the nation. A limited number of 250 white carnations will be available for participants to place at Freedom Plaza on Saturday, creating a collective memorial honoring veterans and fallen service members.

Audie Murphy Day commemorates the legacy of Farmersville native and World War II hero Audie Murphy while recognizing veterans from all branches of the military. The annual event traces its roots to Murphy’s hometown homecoming celebration in June 1945.

The weekend begins Friday, June 19, with special exhibits at the Farmersville Heritage Museum, where visitors can view a newly unveiled display featuring a custom-made suit Audie Murphy wore in the 1958 film “The Quiet American.” The suit was recently donated by the Murphy family, according to Audie Murphy Day co-chair Misty Wiebold. Additional Audie Murphy artifacts and memorabilia will be on display. A World War II living history encampment also will be open to visitors across from the museum.

Saturday’s activities begin with a veteran’s breakfast from 7:30 to 9 a.m., followed by a 9:30 a.m. ceremony in downtown Farmersville. Boy Scout Troop 310 will raise the flag, continuing a connection to Murphy’s original homecoming celebration when local Scouts participated in the festivities. Members of First Baptist Church’s choir will provide patriotic music.

Following the carnation tribute, members of the Fort Hood Sergeant Audie Murphy Club will present a ceremonial wreath at Freedom Plaza in honor of Murphy and local men and women who gave their lives in military service. Retired Army First Sergeant Hud Roberts will also present the Riderless Horse, a military tradition honoring fallen service members, before the parade begins.

After the parade, veterans and guests are invited to the Veterans Ceremony at the Historic Onion Shed. Tommy Moore, mayor of Gainesville and president of the Medal of Honor Host City Program, will present a program titled “The Meaning of the Medal of Honor.”

The ceremony will also include a Quilts of Valor presentation, during which three veterans will receive handmade quilts as a symbol of comfort, healing and appreciation for their service.

Additional exhibits will be available Saturday at the museum and the Bain-Honaker House.

“Audie Murphy Day is a time for our community to come together in remembrance, gratitude and pride as we honor the enduring legacy of hometown hero Audie Murphy and all who have served,” Audie Murphy Day co-chairs Bryon and Misty Wiebold said in a statement. “We hope families, friends and veterans will join us for this meaningful tradition that began in 1945 and experience the new Path of Remembrance: A White Carnation Tribute, a special moment of reflection that reminds us how important it is to honor sacrifice and keep these stories alive for future generations.”

Registered veterans will receive complimentary breakfast and lunch during the event. More information, including veteran registration, is available at audiemurphyday.org.

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After helping guide Collin College from a fledgling institution offering classes in area high schools to a system serving more than 60,000 students annually, founding trustee Robert “Bob” Collins is stepping away after 41 years on the board.

Collins, a Farmersville resident, officially retired following the college’s May commencement ceremonies, ending one of the longest tenures by a community college trustee in Texas.

His final commencement carried special significance. Among the graduates crossing the stage was his grandson.

“We always believed Collin County deserved a college that could grow with the community and provide opportunities for generations of students,” Collins said in a statement released by the college. “Watching my grandson graduate from Collin College during my final commencement ceremony made this moment especially meaningful for my family and for me.”

Looking back, Collins said one accomplishment stands above the rest.

“I guess the thing I’m most proud of is that we’re able to pretty well cover the whole county with campuses,” he said. “That’s been a goal of mine since the very beginning. We did not want to become a Plano College or a McKinney College. We wanted to be Collin County College.”

That vision helped shape the college’s growth over four decades. Today, Collin College operates 10 campuses and centers across seven cities, along with its iCollin Virtual Campus and more than 200 degree and certificate programs.

While Collins said he could not have predicted exactly how large the college would become, he always expected Collin County’s population boom would drive demand for higher education.

“As a matter of fact, I had anticipated that,” Collins said of the county’s rapid growth. He added that East Collin County is poised for significant expansion in coming years as transportation projects improve access to the area.

Affordability remained a central focus throughout his tenure. Collins said the college has worked to maintain a low tax rate while continuing to expand educational opportunities.

“We’ve been able to hold the tax rate pretty well constant for the entire time,” he said. “You’ve got to be able to pay for what you’re going to provide. What I’ve tried to emphasize is, don’t spend money on stuff you don’t need.”

At the same time, Collins said quality has never been sacrificed.

“Let’s emphasize quality — quality in our education, quality in our facilities as we develop them,” he said.

Before joining the Collin College Board of Trustees, Collins spent more than 30 years with a Fortune 500 defense electronics company, eventually serving as a corporate vice president. He later taught and served as an administrator at Texas A&M University-Commerce for nearly two decades.

His public service also included time on the Plano City Council, where he served as mayor pro tem. Collins said those experiences proved valuable during his years as a trustee.

“I have a pretty fair understanding of the relationship in the community, and what’s needed and what’s not needed,” he said.

Collins has also been a strong supporter of workforce training and dual-credit programs, noting that students who earn college credits while in high school can provide significant savings for their families.

“A kid who does a dual credit program can save his family anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000,” he said.

Collin College President Neil Matkin credited Collins with helping build the institution’s foundation and expand opportunities for generations of students.

“Since its inception, Dr. Collins has helped shape the college into the institution it is today, creating a foundation for student success,” Matkin said in a statement.

Though retiring from the board, Collins said he has no plans to slow down completely. He remains active in his church and community and plans to continue supporting causes important to him.

Reflecting on more than four decades of service, Collins said he leaves with gratitude.

“It’s really been a pleasure,” he said. “I enjoyed being on the board. I’ve enjoyed the people we serve with, enjoyed having a great presence for the college. So, I suppose it’s been a good deal.”