The Heritage Of Heroes

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About Us

The Heritage of Heroes is a faith based, veteran non profit in Ellis County, Texas, dedicated to honoring U.S. Military veterans, civilian war survivors, and those who are no longer with us, including Gold Star families. The information in this archive has been collected from men and women across Texas and the United States who served our country. It is important that their stories include the time before, during, and after their military service. We preserve their stories to ensure their experiences are not lost to time.

Through the collection and sharing of veteran stories, we serve as a trusted resource for families, educators, students, and the broader community. Our work also includes helping connect veterans and their families with support through local connections and community-based resources.

The Heritage of Heroes is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was classified by the IRS as a 509(a)(2) Public Charity.

FAQs

Our History©

Every Story Matters

 
The history of The Heritage of Heroes is the story of three individuals who came together to support and honor veterans. In 2018, Tracie Abbate and realtor Ratana Berg—who brings more than twenty years of real‑estate experience—began envisioning a community of single‑family homes for veterans in Ellis County. Tracie’s deep commitment to veteran causes is rooted in a long family legacy of military service, including a grandmother who was a Rosie Riveter, riveting and welding in the shipyard during World War II. Ratana and her mother are civilian war survivors of the Cambodian conflict during the Cold War, and Tom Holder brings a personal military connection through his father’s World War II service in the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S Reno. Together, their diverse experiences and shared purpose laid the foundation for The Heritage of Heroes. 
 
For several years Tracie had been a member of Roll Call, a Fort Worth organization providing a monthly fellowship luncheon meeting for over 500 veterans. At the end of 2023, in addition to attending Roll Call, Tracie began volunteering with the Texas Veterans Hall of Fame, helping expand public awareness of its mission to recognize and preserve the stories of Texas veterans.
 
Throughout 2024, Tracie continued her work with the Texas Veterans Hall of Fame. Her efforts were critical to increasing community awareness of the Museum’s military history collection and its unique database of veterans stories. In the Fall of that year, Tracie asked Tom Holder, a Roll Call member, to join alongside her as a volunteer with the Texas Veterans Hall of Fame Museum. Tom was a facilitator for a church based veterans Bible study and serves as Chairman of the North Texas Veterans Hospice Coalition and as a Level‑5 Veteran Hospice Coordinator.

In 2025, Tracie and Tom broadened their mission. Over the year they collected biographies from Texas veterans, civilian war survivors, and Gold Star families.

In that same year, they introduced four distinctive challenge coins, each crafted with intentional symbolism and scriptural grounding. Caleb and Noah Abbate contributed to the design of three: the Armor of God coin, inspired by the call to “put on the whole armor of God” from Ephesians 6:10–18; the Baptism coin, paired with the promise of Acts 2:38; and the Restoration coin, anchored in the healing assurance of Psalm 34:18 and the faithful completion declared in 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24. The fourth, the Woman of Valor coin—designed by Tracie Abbate—carries the strength and encouragement of Psalm 31:24.  

They have organized community‑based Pinning and Induction Ceremonies honoring more than thirty service members from every era — including a World War II Navy corpsman who served at Iwo Jima, veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, and those who served in the Korean, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan wars. To foster fellowship, they launched a weekly veterans’ coffee meetup in Midlothian in February 2025.

During veteran gatherings, Tracie’s granddaughter, Makynlie, became a beloved presence. Always eager to help, she welcomed veterans on the front porch, assisted with special events, and shared cookies, conversation, and her warm smile. She especially loved creating beautiful handmade greeting cards for her new veteran friends—small gifts that carried enormous meaning.

In November of 2025, Co-Founders Tracie Abbate and Tom Holder formally incorporated The Heritage of Heroes as a faith‑based, veteran‑focused 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving Ellis County. What began as seeds planted years earlier has now taken deep root—growing into a maturing mission brought to fruition through prayer and steadfast commitment. Guided by the belief Every Story Matters , the organization honors, supports, and empowers U.S. military veterans by preserving their legacies , fostering faith‑based community connections, and providing resources that promote stability and well‑being. Preservation efforts also honor civilian war survivors and the memories of those who served and are no longer with us, including Gold Star families.

Leadership & Board of Directors

The Heritage of Heroes is guided by the Co-Founders and a board of directors committed to honoring veterans, strengthening community relationships, and ensuring the organization’s work is carried out with integrity, care, and accountability.

Tracie
Tracie Abbate
Co-Founder/ President/CEO
Tom
Tom Holder
Co-Founder/ President/CEO
IMG_20260602_212916
Ratana Berg
Housing Resources For Veterans
Caleb Abbate
Ministry & Graphics
Gina Tenereillo
Gina Tenereillo
Coordinator Liaison
Roy Davis
Historian Liaison
Robyn McCarrell
Treasurer
Bethany Harrell
Secretary

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Heritage of Heroes personally support veterans?

The Heritage of Heroes supports veterans through regular, in-person connections. This includes weekly Coffee Meet-Ups, which provide time for conversation, fellowship, and relationship-building with veterans and members of the community.

Who can submit a story idea?

Story ideas may be submitted by veterans, family members, or members of the community. We want to capture the whole story, including stories from civilian war survivors. If you’d like to share a story, please complete the Story Form with some basic information, and we’ll follow up.

Do stories have to be about combat or wartime service?

No. Stories do not need to focus on combat, specific wars, or periods of conflict. The Heritage of Heroes welcomes stories from all eras of service and all types of military roles.

Is there a cost to submit or view stories?

No. There is no cost to submit a story or to view stories on the site. The Heritage of Heroes is a nonprofit organization, and the stories shared here are available to the public.

Support Our American Heritage

Donations support the day-to-day work of The Heritage of Heroes, including preserving veteran stories, hosting community events and ceremonies, and maintaining programs that serve veterans and their families.

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