Volunteering and giving back to the community is nothing new for most rodeo queens. However, a group of Texas cowgirls have come together to give back to America's service men and women in a most unusual manner. Queens for Troops was founded in February 2011 by reigning Miss Rodeo Texas Celesta Harvey, Miss Houston Harris County Rodeo Teen Erica Lloyd and Army COL Karen Lloyd (retired). Now Queens for Troops involves many Rodeo Queens, Fair Queens, and Beauty Queens who have joined together to say “Thank you to our Wounded Heroes” in a tangible way.
Queens for Troops will salute our military and help our wounded heroes by providing fun trail ride outings across the state of Texas and funding adapted homes for our severely wounded. Queens for Troops has partnered with Helping a Hero which is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Houston and is the largest homebuilding organization in Texas for our severely wounded heroes. They have no paid staff and the funds raised will go to help build homes for our wounded heroes injured in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Helping a Hero has built homes in Houston, Fort Worth, Frisco, Waco, Beaumont, La Marque, Palacios, Jones Creek, Humble, Conroe, The Woodlands, San Antonio, Austin, Friendswood, Pearland, Katy, Sugar Land, and they continue to accept applications in the event you know of a wounded hero in need. These homes have been built for paraplegics, quadriplegics, double amputees, triple amputees, double arm amputees, blind, burn victims, TBI, and severe PTSD. And they have even done one home for a double amputee female soldier who lost her best friend and both legs when an anti-tank mine exploded under her HUMVEE while on a humanitarian mission in Afghanistan.

On July 20 Queens for Troops invites any current and former royalty to be on hand for a key presentation SSGTJeffery Vaughn, USA (Ret.) beginning at 11:00 a.m. in LaMarque, Texas. Lauren Graham, reigning Miss Rodeo Texas, will beging the presentation by leading a parade to the home. In addition to the ceremony a Bar B Que and family games will be held.
For more informaiton on how you can become involved in Queens for Troops, or perhaps you would like to begin a similar program in your state, contact Karen or Erica Lloyd through the Queens for Troops website. Congratulations to these young women for taking the initiative to begin such an endeavor that will leave a mark on our nation long after their reigns are completed.
All photos courtesy of Queens for Troops