On Thursday evening, three GPISD students stood before a packed room of veterans, their families, and community leaders to share something deeply personal—their stories of veterans who’ve impacted their lives.

Jake Ross, Baylee Broom, and Delaney Ross were honored by the Vietnam Veterans of America Grand Prairie Chapter 1013 for their heartfelt essays, selected from eleven submissions. Each student received a $1,000 scholarship toward college which were made possible by support from the Lone Star Park Charitable Foundation and the Grand Prairie Metro Rotary Club. Representatives from both organizations were present, along with the families of each scholarship winner. Jake Ross shared that he will attend the University of St. Mary in Kansas to play baseball. Bailey Broom plans to attend Belmont University to study music, and Delaney Ross will head to Texas Tech University to study sports photography.

This is a great example of how our local civic organizations help fund nonprofit groups around the city, strengthening the connections between students, veterans, and the broader community.

The meeting was called to order by Chapter President and Faces of Grand Prairie Contributor Ray Bush, with Will Sanchez presenting the colors for the Pledge of Allegiance—a fitting start to an evening focused on patriotism, remembrance, and youth-led storytelling.

The students read their essays aloud at the chapter meeting, leaving a lasting impression with their words of gratitude, reflection, and respect. An especially poignant moment came when Baylee Broom shared:

"This is my essay about my great-grandfather. Respect for our nation and the military has been on the decline for some time. In school, I'm one of the only people in my homeroom class that stands for the Pledge of Allegiance and takes a moment of silence for the fallen every day."

You could hear the hearts fall in every person in the room—mine included. As a GPISD alumni, this moment broke my heart, but it also created an opportunity: a chance for us—the alumni, the veterans, the community—to shift the culture for the next generation.

That’s why the Faces of Grand Prairie Media Group is inviting all GPISD alumni and veterans to submit a short 30–60 second video sharing why you believe it should be an honor and privilege to stand for the flag and say the pledge.

We’ll be compiling the videos into a unified message of support and sharing the final version with the GPISD Superintendent and School Board—to show our respect for this country, and for the veterans who have served it.

🎥 Submit your clip or interest to: facesofgrandprairie@gmail.com

Let’s speak up, stand tall, and lead by example—for the students coming up behind us.

Sponsor the Faces of Grand Prairie Veterans Channel

The Faces of Grand Prairie Veterans Channel is committed to honoring service, preserving stories, and connecting generations through meaningful local media. If your business or organization would like to support this important work, we’re currently seeking channel sponsors for upcoming podcast episodes, video projects, and community storytelling initiatives focused on our veteran community.

One upcoming project is a historical storytelling initiative submitted by Ray Bush, Faces of Grand Prairie contributor. The project aims to uncover and share the personal histories of the Grand Prairie veterans whose names are engraved on the memorial pillars outside the city’s Veterans Building. It’s a tribute not just in stone, but in story.

Partner with us to ensure these stories are told—and remembered.

📬 To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, contact Jenna at facesofgrandprairie@gmail.com