Distinguished Service to Veterans awardees honored at annual parade

Distinguished Service to Veterans awardees honored at annual parade

Published on November 11, 2026

As Fort Worth kicked off its annual Veterans Day parade on Wednesday, Nov. 11, two individuals and two organizations were honored as part of the City's 2026 Distinguished Service to Veterans Awards.

The Distinguished Service to Veterans Award recognizes individuals, businesses or groups who have demonstrated remarkable dedication to supporting veterans and the local veteran community in Fort Worth. Previous winners of the award include NextOp Veterans and Rick Irving in 2025, and Airpower Foundation and Christine Willesen in 2024.

About the award winners

During the event, Mayor Mattie Parker presented medals to the following individuals for their contributions to Fort Worth's veteran community:

• Daniel Zmroczek is a Vietnam veteran and president of the Tarrant County Veterans Council, where he guides veterans and their families through a variety of complex support services. He also spearheads Fort Worth's Veterans Day Parade - a cherished tradition in the city for over 100 years - and maintains leadership roles with the American Legion, the Forty & Eight and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), among other organizations.
• Benito Gonzalez Jr. is a former Marine who has supported student veterans and military members navigating major life transitions in Fort Worth. Through more than 250 hours of community service, his efforts have directly transformed the lives of veterans by connecting former service members with essential school resources, securing critical job placements and coordinating vital transportation and home repairs. He has also advocated for updated student veteran benefits at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Additionally, Distinguished Service to Veterans awards were presented to representatives of the following organizations:

• Cowtown Warriors is a local nonprofit that provides emergency support to wounded and disabled veterans that dramatically improves their quality of life and mental health. The organization has raised over $2.6 million to directly uplift the local veteran community, changing the lives of more than 150 veterans and their families across Fort Worth and North Texas.
• HopFusion Ale Works hosts annual Marine Corps birthday celebrations, where all generations of veterans can come together to reconnect, build relationships and feel welcome. Additionally, HopFusion opens its doors to veteran-focused organizations for networking and professional support - including the Fort Worth chapter of Veterans in Business - so former service members have a place where they can find success beyond their military service.

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