Ch10 Raising Westlake Ep5 - Americanism in Austin Schools

Our Westlake

Emmett Shelton Sr. records one of our family's proudest moments, Emmett Jr. was recognized in 1983 by the Ntl. Freedom Foundation for his Americanism Program in Austin Schools.
Recent National Surveys show Patriotism is in decline in 2023. How will Americans face our next National challenge? What is missing?
Dating back to Terry's Ranger in the Civil War, Shelton men have been eager to volunteer to fight our Wars. At age 38, with a wife and three boys at home, Emmett Sr. worked to get into the Marine Corp after Pearl Harber. Following in his Dad's footprints, Emmett Jr. joined the Marine Reserves at 16 and was called to fight in Korea 1 month after high school graduation.
In 1980, Emmett Jr. was Commander of American Legion Post 76 in Austin. He saw a need. He created a high school speaker program to bring our heroes to talk about Americanism. He brought in Texans like: Roy Benevides, medal of honor winner in Vietnam, Hardy Hollers Atty in the Neurenberg Trials, John Henry Faulk local humorist who was Red Listed in McCarthy Era, and many more. As Post Commander, Emmett Jr. also participated in Boys State to offer boys hands on experience legislating in the Texas Capitol.
As the State Commander of the American Legion reported, " Under Emmett Jr.'s leadership, the Americanism Program in Austin Schools has reached over 35,000 students and left each one just a bit more patriotic."
NOTE: In this Episode, Emmett Sr. plays Taps. In 1983, the Beirut Tragedy killed 220 Marines. Emmett Sr. put up a flagpole at his Westlake Drive office and began regularly blowing Taps as the school bus passed in memory of this tragedy, "I'm a bit hepped up on patriotism".
In his final years, Emmett Sr. practiced his bugle and recorded himself playing TAPS for his own Memorial Service. A Patriot to the end.

For maps and other info check out our Facebook page: Our Westlake
Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.