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Frisco honors veterans’ service, sacrifice
ANN MARIE SHAMBAUGH/STAFF PHOTO
Frisco artist Phil Taylor presented a portrait of Michael “Luke” Boatright to Boatright’s mother, Candace Hogg, Friday at Fisher Elementary School. Students raised about $1,700, enough to fund two portraits.
By Ann Marie Shambaugh, Staff Writer
Residents of all ages took time Tuesday to honor those who served in the military through Veteran’s Day assemblies and ceremonies.
At Smith Elementary School, the choir performed a Veteran’s Day program twice in the morning and will perform again this evening. Principal Matt Kimball opened the 9:15 a.m. assembly by reading the names of veterans in attendance and asking them to stand.
“It is so important for our country to show our veterans … how much we appreciate everything they do for us,” Kimball said to the students.
“It’s great the school is instilling these kinds of values in the children,” Hensley said.
At Frisco Commons Park, the VFW Post 8273 met Tuesday for a flag raising ceremony at 8 a.m. The Frisco post is comprised of more than 50 veterans from all branches of the military.
On Saturday about 30 VFW members participated in the Frisco Community Parade with a float. The theme of the parade this year was “Salute the Troops,” and U.S. Rep. Ralph Hall, a Navy veteran, served as the grand marshal.
Others celebrated Veterans Day last week. On Friday, Fisher Elementary School held a ceremony with songs, a proclamation reading, and a special portrait donation.
Frisco artist Phil Taylor began creating portraits of soldiers killed overseas last year through an effort known as the Texas Fallen Soldiers Project. At Fisher he presented a portrait of Michael “Luke” Boatright to his mother, Candace Hogg. Boatright died while serving in Iraq in December 2004.
Taylor has produced more than 25 portraits of fallen Texas soldiers, and the process is not an easy one.
“There are some hard moments, and usually it comes when I’m painting their eyes, and they start looking back at me,” Taylor said.
The artist made the presentation at Fisher because the students raised about $1,700 through a portrait collection campaign. Their goal was to raise enough money for one portrait, but the funds will cover the costs of creating two portraits.
Taylor gave the school a copy of the original Boatright portrait, which they plan to hang in the library with the other portrait when it is finished.
Several other Frisco ISD schools celebrated Veterans Day with ceremonies of their own throughout the week.
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