In honor of Veterans Day, the Boerne Star published a story on our 7th Annual Purple Heart Gala, held Saturday, November 7, 2026, at The Kendall in Boerne. Here are the highlights, followed by a link to the full article.
Originally reported by Veronica Rector for the Boerne Star: Purple Heart Project gala honors service members killed, wounded in action.
Photo: Navy veteran Chuck Brower presents Teri Cantu with a handmade memorial flag for her daughter, Army Pfc. Isabella Gonzales. Star photo by Veronica Rector, used with permission of the Boerne Star.
Remembering Pfc. Isabella Gonzales
This year’s Gala honored Army Pfc. Isabella Gonzales of Carrollton, Texas, who was killed on July 17 in an enemy attack at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan while supporting Operation Inherent Resolve. She was 19 and had graduated from Hebron High School in 2025. Members of her family joined us as guests, and Navy veteran Chuck Brower presented her mother, Teri Cantu, with a handmade vigil in her daughter’s memory.
Navy veteran and Gold Star father Tony Ruiz shared Isabella’s story and spoke about his own son, Army Sgt. Clinton Keith Ruiz, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2012. As the Star reported, he reminded the room that “Nobody goes off to war to earn a Purple Heart,” and told the Gonzales family they are not walking this road alone.
Honoring Our Purple Heart Recipients
Founder Chef Mark Sierra shared each honoree’s story and recognized Marine Cpl. William Fluitt, Army Lt. Col. Frank Trevino, Army Lt. Col. Steve Spence, and Army Sgt. 1st Class Scott Adams. Each received a custom belt buckle, a Purple Heart commemorative coin, and an outdoor Bluetooth speaker from Turtlebox.
Thank You to Our Community
The evening’s auction raised $80,000. From that, $5,000 went to the Boerne High School culinary class and $4,000 to a local charity. We are grateful to our sponsors, including H-E-B, which contributed $10,000, and longtime supporter Keg 1 O’Neal LLC.
Thank you to the Boerne-Champion High School AFJROTC for posting the colors, to the Boerne High School culinary class for serving the entrées, and to everyone who joined us to honor these heroes and their families.