Victoria VFW Hall Hosts Special Event in Honor of Presidents Day and Local Vets

Seated at tables covered in red, white, and blue with American Flag pins, key chains, and center pieces of ribbon and pinwheels, were decades worth of service in our military, some in full ceremonial dress, all with patches and regalia honoring their service and sacrifice.

Victoria’s VFW Hall hosted a special Presidents Day event on Saturday to honor local veterans and the founding fathers of the United States.

The event was organized by the Victoria Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Victoria County Veterans Council. It featured a meal of BBQ chicken and sides, attended by over 50 people.

During the event, veterans were recognized for their service by Karen Adamson, Regent of the Victoria Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution. Among those honored was Ed Gregurik, the sole WW2 veteran in attendance.

“Mr. Ed voluntarily enlisted near the end of WW2,” said Adamson at the podium. “He served Manilla as a part of the Army Medical Corps.” Among Gregurik’s duties were the search, recovery, and identification of soldiers’ deaths and those Missing in Action.

An educational video was also shown, presenting the inspiration of the Star-Spangled Banner and the patriotism and sacrifice witnessed by Francis Scott Key at the Battle at Fort Henry.

First Commander-in-Chief George Washington, portrayed by Pastor Mark Collins, thanked the veterans and gave a speech on the history of those brave patriots who signed the Declaration of Independence, and what they risked and lost in the name of the nation.

Finally, the DAR presented each vet with a commemorative, custom-ordered coin saluting all generations of veterans.

Victoria County Judge Ben Zeller was also present at the event.

According to Zeller, events for our veterans like the one hosted at the VFW and organizations like DAR “play a critical role in the community.” He emphasized the importance of having organizations like this showcase our vets today” and our founders of yesterday.

Adamson stated that the DAR is an organization of women aged 18 and older who can prove they are direct descendants of those who fought or contributed to the war efforts of the Revolutionary War.

The DAR wishes to “show public pride in our patriot ancestors and encourage the research into family history,” said Adamson. Combining a Presidents’ Day celebration with honoring the vets brings “awareness” to the community, “educating and reminding them of the source of our freedoms and the country” as we know it.

“We don’t really know about our wars because we haven’t fought in those wars,” Adamson said. The DAR wants to educate and honor all our vets, past and present, and keep that sacrifice and respect at the back of the community’s mind.

This event is a just a step for the preparation of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. The semi-sesquicentennial will be July 4, 2026, and the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution has arranged a traveling revolutionary war exhibit, The Revolutionary Experience, to be hosted by the Coastal Bend museum in January 2026. There is even more planned to remind our community of the beginnings of America and the fact we can celebrate 250 years of freedom thanks to those who first laid their lives for the American Flag.