Flag Committee co-chairs Russ Kerbow and Michelle Martz were joined by two leaders from Boy Scout Troop 437 last week to speak on Lewisville Noon’s Patriot Flag Program, which is in full swing. Last year, 19 Boy Scouts helped place and pick up flags along 11 routes throughout Lewisville and Flower Mound. The effort took nearly 30 man hours of work; however, the combined efforts of Rotarians and Scouts paid off.

 

Kerbow presented the representatives of Troop 437 with a check for $5,000 from the club, all of which came from monies raised through the Flag Program. The funds will go to provide scholarships for young Scouts who otherwise cannot afford to attend activities, like campouts and retreats. All club members are encouraged to reach out to local businesses and encourage their participation in the Flag Program, so they can have the Stars and Stripes placed outside their establishment on five national holidays. To learn more, please contact Russ Kerbow or Michelle Martz, or visit the Patriot Flag Program page on the club's website.

 

Forensic artist and retired Texas peace officer Leslie Willingham made a return visit to the Lewisville Noon club last week to continue her fascinating look into her line of work.

 

Forensic art involves making an image that is the likeness of someone, generally based on witness testimonies, extracting as much information about the person's features as possible through a lengthy and careful interview process. Police often share forensic art drawings with the local news media in hopes that viewers can help identify criminals and those found guilty will be put behind bars.

 

Willingham (pictured above with LNR club president Dennis Song) shared how one such sketch she created after interviewing the elderly victim of a sexual assault eventually led to the perpetrator’s capture and arrest, which helped the victim find closure from the devastating trauma. Another case she described centered around the sketch of a young rap artist who violently assaulted an older man in broad daylight and also was convicted of homicide. The case was solved using the forensic sketch and lyrics to a rap song the artist had recorded, which detailed how he had committed the assault and other violent crimes. 

 

Willingham showed sketches and shared details for several other cases, including a man arrested in a murder-for-hire scenario, and a man who sexually assaulted several members of a black sorority. The detailed and hauntingly accurate drawings she showed during her presentation clearly demonstrated the power of forensic art in identifying criminals and exacting justice.

 

To learn more about the fascinating field of forensic art, contact Leslie Willingham, email Leslie@Willingham.com.