Patch blogger and Command Sergeant Major Melvin Farr was born and raised in nearby Winder, Georgia and met his wife Franki in a singles group at Hebron Baptist Church where they are still active members. The Farrs moved to Dacula in March of 2001 and have three sons Josh, Wilson and Noah. Command Sergeant Major Farr is a scout leader for Troop 1548 and owner of the “Canteen Cup,” a company that sells coffee and tea products for field soldiers and outdoor enthusiasts. Farr attended basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. after joining the service back in August of 1990. He then attended …

A little over a year ago, Iraq war veteran Troy Yocum embarked upon a journey in honor of our fallen military heroes as part of an attempt to assist military families in need. The journey is a 7,000-mile hike across America that Yocum plans to complete while playing a drum. He is hoping to raise $5 million during his trek. Troy’s wife Mareike and dog Emmie have been accompanying him on his epic expedition which averages 20 miles per day.Having already completed the western portion of the 16 month-long journey, Yocum is now heading up the east coast. One of his most recent stops was in Dacula …

While Sandie Crawford’s husband is deployed in Iraq helping the United States military complete its mission in the Middle East, Crawford is focused on her own mission back home to help American soldiers and their families. Crawford’s mission is called Operation Soldier Support, and without it the lives of many soldiers overseas would be even more difficult. The group is based out of Hamilton Mill United Methodist Church in Dacula and is in its fifth year of existence. The group’s objective is to send care packages to military members overseas, provide support and assistance to service members…

Last week, Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) and Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) commemorated “Month of the Military Child,” a month-long celebration to recognize the sacrifices made by children of military families. Chambliss, who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, thanked all military families for their service to our country. “When a parent serves our country in the military, their children serve as well. As we celebrate the Month of the Military Child, I am reminded of the selflessness and patriotism of all our military families. But more importantly, I am reminded of exactly what we ask…

Lt. Col. Gregory Kolb has done a good bit of traveling in his 26 years in the Army. “I’ve been all over theater,” Kolb said. “I’ve been to Iraq, Djibouti, Bharain, Qatar – you name it, I’ve pretty much been there.” Kolb has also been deployed twice to Kuwait, once in 2002 and again in 2003. Most recently, Kolb spent nearly 11 months stationed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Salerno in Afghanistan where he served as the commander of a combat support hospital.  FOB Salerno is located in eastern Afghanistan approximately 10 kilometers from the border with Pakistan. Kolb said he is glad to be …

In 2006, Staff Sgt. Jeremy Wilczek’s life changed drastically. Wilczek was serving in Ramadi, Iraq with the 506th Infantry Regiment out of Fort Campbell, Ky. In March of that year, Wilczek and his squad were ambushed on the way back from a mission. “We were pinned down in the street and needed to get to cover,” Wilczek wrote in an emailed response to questions. “My squad responded by returning fire and getting the wounded into some houses that were on the street.” Wilczek and his men performed first aid, set up fighting positions and continued returning fire. Upon realizing several members of…

To whom it may concern: My name is Erica Leon, and I am a Senior Airman (SrA) in the United States Air Force, based at Whiteman AFB, currently deployed to Joint Base Balad, Iraq. Since being deployed to Iraq, I have had the honor of participating in a monthly event called Iraqi Kid’s Day.  At this event, local children are brought onto the base, and they participate in crafts, games, and sports with the troops.  Well, it has become VERY evident that Iraqi children LOVE Soccer!   However, the families of these children are very, very poor and cannot afford to purchase soccer balls. This is …

Dacula High School head soccer coach Michael Burrell has fond memories of the time he spent with his cousin, Sgt. William Ellis Glasscock III, growing up near Lake Wateree in South Carolina. Burrell remembers Glasscock teaching him to knee board and water ski. Now Glasscock, who his family calls “Bo,” is stationed half a world away in Iraq. His wife of 11 years, Diane Zelano Glasscock, is awaiting his return in August. The homecoming will be a special one for more than one reason. Glasscock was deployed to Iraq after spending only seven days with his youngest son Tyler, now almost seven …

Erica Leon is a 2006 graduate of Dacula High School.  During her senior year at Dacula, she was an assistant in the severe and profoundly disabled student class, creator and director of a Relay for Life fundraiser and a youth worship team leader for her church.   She has served as a team leader for two domestic youth mission trips in which they aided low-income elderly residents with home repairs.  Erica has been honored to be crowned in many pageant systems, including being crowned Dacula’s first ever Miss Dacula Sweetheart, and in such has given her time to support such organizations as the…