Military heroes to headline For God & County event – Times Record News

VIEW FROM THE PEW, by Sarah Johnson 2:31 p.m. CT April 26, 2017

Participants in last year's For God & Country event wave American flags at Broken Chains Freedom Church. This year's event will be May 19-20.(Photo: Contributed by BCFC)

One led Army troops into combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan. The other was burned and disfigured while fighting with Army forces in Iraq.

The two military heroes Shilo Harris and Col. Allen West - will headline the For God & Country event May 19 and 20 at Memorial Auditorium, presented by Broken Chains Freedom Church. Proceeds support organizations that treat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.

This is the second year of For God & Country, an event that coincides with Armed Forces Day, Roy Boswell, pastor of Broken Chains, said. As a nation, we have strayed away from God and we have failed to realize how important our active military and our veterans are to us. If we dont teach our young people about this, who will?

A participant in last years Jericho Ride, presented by Broken Chains Freedom Church, proudly leads the way with flags flying on his motorcycle. This years ride will be part of the For God & Country weekend May 19-20. The event features the motorcycle ride and speaking events with military heroes Shilo Harris and Col. Allen West. Proceeds from For God & Country will support organizations that treat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.(Photo: Contributed by BCFC)

The weekend of activities kicks off with guest speaker Shilo Harris at 7 p.m. May 19. On May 20, the Bryan Tynker Gates Memorial Jericho Ride starts at Broken Chains, 5200 Henry Grace Freeway. First bike out is 9 a.m. Entry fee is $20. Motorcycle riders travel around the county, stopping to pray over the leadership and citizens of various towns. After the ride, bikers will escort Harris and West from Red River Harley Davidson to Memorial Auditorium with their flags flying. West will speak at 7 p.m.

Harris(Photo: Contributed photo)

Harris was patrolling a southern Iraqi roadway on Feb. 19, 2007, when his Humvee was struck by an IED. Moments later, three members of his crew were dead and Harris had sustained severe injuries that would alter the course of his life. For 48 days, he lay trapped in a medically-induced coma. He endured 60 surgeries with the unwavering devotion of his family. His is an inspiring story of living in the face of fear and trusting God.

Allen West grew up in Atlanta, where his father instilled in him a code of conduct that would guide the rest of his life. He led troops as an Army colonel, raised a loving family and served as a congressman in Floridas 22nd District. With his core values of family, faith, tradition, service, honor, fiscal responsibility, courage and freedom, he has emerged as a strong, politically conservative voice.

West(Photo: Contributed by Allen West)

We, Wichita Falls, are a military town and we have several retired military living here and we should be proud of that fact, Boswell said. Where would Wichita Falls be without Sheppard Air Force Base? Why cant Wichita Falls, a military town, do more than we are doing? We can and we hope that this event, For God & Country, along with other events here will help us to never forget how much they mean to us. Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you - Jesus Christ and the American soldier. One died for your soul, the other died for your freedom.

For God & Country is a free event. Funds raised help support organizations that treat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, such as the National Veterans Health and Wellness Center in Angel Fire, NewMexico. For more information, visit the Facebook page For God & Country.

Join the Disciple Women group at Park Place Christian Church for Coffee with Jesus from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 6 at the church, 4400 Call Field Road.

There will be three break-out groups with speakers, including Energy and Colors, Vital Needs and a candle-making craft time. Lunch will be provided by the Disciple Women. Come and hear how to change the world around you by loving the you God created, Sarah Gordon, a member of Park Place, said.

Registration is $5. Deadline to register is May 1. For more information, call 692-0165.

When participants for the annual Walk for Life event gather on May 13, they will be helping the Pregnancy Help Center, with locations in Wichita Falls and Vernon, not only raise money but also celebrate a name change. The PHC is now The Center. The event will take place from 9-11:30 a.m. at Lucy Park, Pavilion, in Wichita Falls, and Calvary Baptist Family Life Center in Vernon.

We do so much more than free pregnancy testing, so we want to reflect that with our name, Vonetta Ferguson, director of The Center, said. This event is a chance to celebrate life and see old and new friends.

Free family events in Wichita Falls include face painting, balloon sculptures and music from the band Anchored, a music ministry of Anchor Baptist Church. In addition, there will be drawings for great gifts that morning for all participating children and adults. Chick-Fil-A will be on hand with chicken biscuits and the cow.

Proceeds from this walk will benefit The Center of Wichita Falls and Vernon. The nonprofit agency assists women, their children, and expectant fathers by offering the following free services: pregnancy testing, nurse verifications, sonograms, option consultations by a volunteer, Just One Mom to Another" and Moms Hang Time parenting classes, prenatal classes and Dads Boot Camp for expectant fathers. A new free service is testing for sexually transmitted infections. For more information, call The Center at 322-4883 or 761-3432.

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Military heroes to headline For God & County event - Times Record News