1995

COMMANDER, STANLEY STOUT;  SENIOR VICE COMMANDER, DON BOSSERMAN;JUNIOR VICE COMMANDER, ART RICE;   ADJUTANT, MILT CARR

—January 18th, Stanley R. Stout organizes Chapter 1919 and takes the oath as our charter Commander

—Telephone Callers Network set up in July

—Breakfast Meetings started, 1st Mondays, in Jim’s Restaurant

—Commander Stout passes away Aug 24th,  Patriot Don Bosserman assumes Command

1996

COMMANDER, DON BOSSERMAN;  SENIOR VICE COMMANDER, ART RICE; JUNIOR VICE COMMANDER, BILL KERR;   ADJUTANT, MILT CARR

—Chapter Newsletter, PATRIOT BULLETIN, introduced with January issue

—The official Chapter 1919 Flag is ordered, received, then uncased with great ceremony in chapter meeting

—The first George Washington’s Birthday Dinner celebrated at Balcones Country Club

—MOPH ROTC Leadership Awards presented for first time in 15 area schools

—The first Purple Heart Day Ceremony and Picnic held at Camp Mabry

—Free Parking authorized for Purple Heart recipients in the City of Austin.

—The first Purple Heart entry in the annual Veterans Day Parade up Congress Avenue to the State Capitol

—Ladies Auxiliary Unit 1919 chartered on Nov 7th with Olga Cortez, President

—The first annual Chapter Christmas Party held in the Hilton Hotel

1997

COMMANDER, DON BOSSERMAN;  SENIOR VICE COMMANDER, RUFUS DYE; JUNIOR VICE COMMANDER, FRANK CORTEZ;   ADJUTANT, MILT CARR

—Chapter Incorporated in the State of Texas, Charter Number 1444950

—Bulk-Mailing Permit #504 obtained for mail the Chapter Newsletter at non-profit rates.

—Chapter 1919 hosts MOPH Region V Conference

—Combat Wounded Texans display dedicated in the Texas Military Forces Museum

—MOPH Best Newsletter Award for PATRIOT BULLETIN (first of four awards)

—VA Outpatient Clinic—Purple Heart Coffee & Refreshment Stand, begins operations, Nov 17th

—All previous annual events & patriotic observances honored, GW Birthday Dinner held at Elk’s Club

1998

COMMANDER, FRANK CORTEZ;   SENIOR VICE COMMANDER, BUD NETTLES; JUNIOR VICE COMMANDER, LEW LEDBETTER;   ADJUTANT, MILT CARR

—Started  tradition of  “G.I. Breakfasts,” expanded to Bastrop, Wimberley, Georgetown, Fredericksburg

—Began Sponsorship of Little League Baseball Team

—Annual events continued, GW Birthday, PH Day, ROTC Awards, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, etc.

1999

COMMANDER, FRANK CORTEZ;   SENIOR VICE COMMANDER, GABRIEL TAMAYO; JUNIOR VICE COMMANDER, BOB LICHTENBERGER;   ADJUTANT, MILT CARR

—“Boosters Club” formed in April as the permanent fund raising mechanism for the Chapter

—MOPH Pilot Recruiting Program funded for Dept of Texas, work done by Don Bosserman & Milt Carr

—GW Birthday Dinner moves to Holiday Inn-South, all other annual events continue unchanged

2000

COMMANDER, BOB LICHTENBERGER;   SENIOR VICE COMMANDER, ERNIE BANASAU; JUNIOR VICE COMMANDER, LARRY WETTER;   ADJUTANT, MILT CARR

—Chapter 1919 hosts Department of Texas “Round-Up 2000”

—MOPH Pilot Recruiting Program continues, administered by Don Bosserman & Milt Carr

—First annual Golf Tournament & First of two “Armed Forces Day” observances hosted by Chapter 1919

—GW Birthday Dinner moves to the Austin Club, conduct of all other annual events continues unchanged

2001

COMMANDER, BOB LICHTENBERGER;   SENIOR VICE COMMANDER, ERNIE BANASAU; JUNIOR VICE COMMANDER, LARRY WETTER;   ADJUTANT, MILT CARR

—MOPH Pilot Recruiting Program ends in Feb.  1,422 new members recruited for Dept of Texas in 2 years

—$120,000 Purple Heart Scholarship Fund established at Austin Community College for Veterans & spouses

—Chapter 1919 becomes “Largest Chapter in the Order” in August

— “Purple Santa” Program, by Rufus Dye & Virgil Ellis, veterans family assistance and children’s program

—GW’s Birthday, ROTC Awards, Memorial Day, PH Day, Veterans Day, Christmas Party all continued

2002

COMMANDER, ERNIE BANASAU;   SENIOR VICE COMMANDER, LARRY WETTER; JUNIOR VICE COMMANDER, JOHN STAVAST;   ADJUTANT, MILT CARR

—Care Packages sent to 10th Mountain Division troops in Afghanistan

—Governor Rick Perry guest speaker for Purple Heart Day observance in Austin

—Chapter 1919 hosted POW / MIA Day ceremony at the State Capitol

—Outback Restaurant donates first annual  “Purple Santa Benefit Luncheon,” major new fund-raiser

—All other annual events and observance of patriotic holidays continued unchanged

2003

COMMANDER, JOHN STAVAST;   SENIOR VICE COMMANDER, FEDERICO REY; JUNIOR VICE COMMANDER, FRED HUDGEONS;   ADJUTANT, MILT CARR

—Chapter Website established on the Internet,  www.purpleheartaustin.org

—Purple Heart Stamp, first day of issue ceremony in State Cemetery, Patriot Martin Allday, host

—Purple Heart Monument dedicated in State Cemetery, Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst guest speaker

—“Flag Day” Picnic at Camp Mabry, all other annual events and patriotic observances honored

2004

COMMANDER, FEDERICO REY;   SENIOR VICE COMMANDER, ARMANDO YBARRA; JUNIOR VICE COMMANDER, DON BOSSERMAN;   ADJUTANT, MILT CARR

—Chapter 1919’s own, Bob Lichtenberger, becomes National Commander of MOPH

—National Convention—Frank Cortez, recruiting award, PATRIOT BULLETIN 4th Award, Best Newsletter

—All annual events and patriotic holiday observances continue unchanged, we move ahead to a bright future