42nd Military & First Responder Salute

Description

42nd Annual Military & First Responder Salute to Service
The Temple Chamber of Commerce will host the 42nd Annual Military & First Responder Salute to Service presented by H-E-B Operation Appreciation and the Amercian Legion Post 133 on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Mayborn Convention Center in Temple, Texas.

For more than four decades, this longstanding community tradition has brought together business and community leaders to recognize the service and sacrifice of Central Texas military personnel, veterans, and first responders and to strengthen the connection between those who serve and the community they protect.

The 2026 program will feature patriotic tributes, recognition of local military and first responder organizations, and a keynote address by Samantha Mikeska, Captain with the Bell County Sheriff's Office and a veteran law enforcement officer with more than 27 years of experience. A former FBI Special Agent and trailblazer for women serving in tactical law enforcement roles, Mikeska's career has included SWAT leadership, firearms and tactical instruction, and complex federal investigations.

In September 2002, while participating in an FBI operation targeting organized theft from trains along the U.S.–Mexico border near Sunland Park, New Mexico, Mikeska and another FBI agent were violently attacked by a group of suspected train robbers. Both sustained serious injuries.

Mikeska has credited the physical conditioning and tactical preparation required throughout her career as critical to surviving the near-fatal encounter. Her keynote, "Survival of the Fittest," will draw upon that experience to explore preparedness, resilience, leadership, and the commitment required of those who choose a life of service.

Today, Mikeska continues that commitment through her leadership with the Bell County Sheriff's Office and her investment in developing and mentoring the next generation of law enforcement professionals.

The event will also provide special recognition to service members from Fort Hood and the Texas Army National Guard; veterans and veterans organizations, including American Legion Post 133 and VFW Post 1820; and first responders representing agencies throughout the region.