Temple Chamber of Commerce to Host 41st Military & First Responder Salute to Service

Presented by H-E-B Operation Appreciation & American Legion Post 133

The Temple Chamber of Commerce will host the 41st annual Military & First Responder Salute to Service, presented by H-E-B Operation Appreciation and the American Legion Post 133, on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. The event will take place from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Mayborn Convention Center in Temple.

This longstanding tradition honors the men and women who dedicate their lives to protecting our nation and community, including active-duty soldiers from Fort Hood, the Texas Army National Guard, veterans, and local first responders across Bell County.
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“The 41st Military & First Responder Salute is special to us for many reasons,” said Whitney Theriot, President and CEO of the Temple Chamber of Commerce. “Our Chamber’s support for the Military in Central Texas dates back to the 1930s, when our Defense Projects Committee, led by Frank W. Mayborn, helped establish Camp Hood, now Fort Hood, and the Olin E. Teague Veterans Center, now the Central Texas Veterans Healthcare System, in Temple.”

Today, the tradition continues as the Chamber unites the business community with gratitude and recognition.

This year’s program will feature an address from Dale Dye, a decorated Marine, actor, author, and one of Hollywood’s most respected military consultants.

A three-time Purple Heart recipient and Bronze Star with “V” for Valor honoree, Dye served more than 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, including multiple combat tours in Vietnam and Beirut. After retiring, he transformed Hollywood’s approach to military storytelling by founding Warriors, Inc., providing training and authenticity for films such as Platoon, Saving Private Ryan, Born on the Fourth of July, Band of Brothers, The Pacific, and many others.

Today, Dye is also a successful novelist, publisher, and motivational speaker who draws on his extraordinary career to inspire audiences with lessons of resilience, leadership, and service.

The Chamber extends appreciation to the presenting sponsors H-E-B Operation Appreciation and American Legion Post 133, as well as 3-Star General sponsors: McLane Group, City of Temple, and Meta; Colonel sponsors: Emerson Construction, Central Texas Veterans Healthcare System, Johnson Brothers Ford, Amos Home Services, McLane Company, and Polar Texas Bottling; Lieutenant sponsors: Bell Contractors, Extraco Banks, Temple Generating Station, Walmart Distribution Center #6083; Sgt. Major sponsors: Oncor Electric Delivery, KPA Engineers, Atmos, SeAH Superalloy Technologies, Reynolds Consumer Products; and PFC sponsors: Primrose School of Temple.

Reserve your seat or sponsorship today at templechamber.com or call (254) 773-2105.