Margie Taylor, a Conroe mom, will participate in Monday's Presidential Parade in Washington, D.C., in memory of her son, Joey Lenz, who died while in active military service. Her mission is to honor his legacy and advocate for improved military health care.
Margie Taylor, 66, of Conroe, Texas, will walk in the Presidential Parade in Washington, D.C., on Monday to remember her son, Specialist Joey Lenz, who died in the service that terrible day. Taylor, who works for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), will be in the nation's capital on Inauguration Day with other people who are grieving the deaths of service members.
On February 1, 2022, Joey Lenz, 32, passed away peacefully in his housing at Fort Hood (now Fort Cavazos). Taylor thinks that her son's death was caused by medical problems that weren't correctly identified. This is what made her fight for better health care for service members.
As part of her work, she backed the Specialist Joey Lenz Act, which Congressman Morgan Luttrell proposed in November 2024. The bill aims to increase the number of medical exams given to service members so that health problems can be detected earlier.
TAPS, a national charity that helps families grieving military deaths, was included in the parade after President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance's inauguration. Taylor is happy to be part of the group and says her son will be with her in spirit as she marches.
"Joey gave his all for his country. Now I'll do everything I can to protect those who serve," Taylor said.
Her trip to Washington, D.C., is both a respect to her son's memory and a call for real change to protect the health and safety of those in uniform.
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