In this image released by the Army Reserve's 75th Training Command, Brig. Gen. Kate Kasun and other leaders with the unit visit with community supporters during the rodeo in Houston, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2013. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has hosted an armed forces appreciation program of some kind since 2009. Donations allow the rodeo to bring thousands of service members each year to the event at no cost. Throughout the year, the 75th, headquartered in Houston, partners with various groups to support community events. (Photo/75th Training Command, Army Reserve Maj. Adam Collett)
In this image released by the Army Reserve's 75th Training Command, a certificate representing an honorary military officer's commission is shown in Houston, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Robin Young-Ellis, a volunteer with the city's rodeo organization, received the certificate in a cermony during the group's Armed Forces Appreciation Day, which was founded by Young-Ellis in 2009. The event, which has been held every year since, brings thousands of service members to the rodeo at no cost. The honorary commission as an Army colonel traces its symbolism to the revolutionary and pre-revolutionary periods, when the first American officer appointments were made to respected community leaders. In the modern Army, colonel is a senior officer rank -- just below general -- and is symbolized by a silver eagle clutching an olive branch and arrows. Brig. Gen. Kate Kasun of the Houston-based 75th made the presentation. (Photo/75th Training Command, Army Reserve Maj. Adam Collett)
In this image released by the Army Reserve's 75th Training Command, an Army colonel rank is shown on the lapel of community volunteer Robin Young-Ellis in Houston, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2013. The rank was presented as part of an honorary military officer's commission awarded by the unit. Young-Ellis, with the city's rodeo organization, founded the group's Armed Forces Appreciation Day in 2009. The event, which has been held every year since, brings thousands of service members to the rodeo at no cost. The honorary commission as an Army colonel traces its symbolism to the revolutionary and pre-revolutionary periods, when the first American officer appointments were made to respected community leaders. In the Army, colonel is a senior officer rank -- just below general -- and is symbolized by a silver eagle clutching an olive branch and arrows. Brig. Gen. Kate Kasun of the Houston-based 75th made the presentation. (Photo/75th Training Command, Army Reserve Maj. Adam Collett)
In this image released by the Army Reserve's 75th Training Command, Robin Young-Ellis is presented with an honorary military officer's commission in Houston, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Young-Ellis, a volunteer with the city's rodeo organization, founded the group's Armed Forces Appreciation Day in 2009. The event, which has been held every year since, brings thousands of service members to the rodeo at no cost. The honorary commission as an Army colonel traces its symbolism to the revolutionary and pre-revolutionary periods, when the first American officer appointments were made to respected community leaders. In the modern Army, colonel is a senior officer rank -- just below general -- and is symbolized by a silver eagle clutching an olive branch and arrows. Brig. Gen. Kate Kasun of the Houston-based 75th made the presentation. (Photo/75th Training Command, Army Reserve Maj. Adam Collett)
In this image released by the Army Reserve's 75th Training Command, Robin Young-Ellis is presented with an honorary military officer's commission in Houston, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Young-Ellis, a volunteer with the city's rodeo organization, founded the group's Armed Forces Appreciation Day in 2009. The event, which has been held every year since, brings thousands of service members to the rodeo at no cost. The honorary commission as an Army colonel traces its symbolism to the revolutionary and pre-revolutionary periods, when the first American officer appointments were made to respected community leaders. In the modern Army, colonel is a senior officer rank -- just below general -- and is symbolized by a silver eagle clutching an olive branch and arrows. Brig. Gen. Kate Kasun of the Houston-based 75th made the presentation. (Photo/75th Training Command, Army Reserve Maj. Adam Collett)
In this image released by the Army Reserve's 75th Training Command, Robin Young-Ellis is presented with an honorary military officer's commission in Houston, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Young-Ellis, a volunteer with the city's rodeo organization, founded the group's Armed Forces Appreciation Day in 2009. The event, which has been held every year since, brings thousands of service members to the rodeo at no cost. The honorary commission as an Army colonel traces its symbolism to the revolutionary and pre-revolutionary periods, when the first American officer appointments were made to respected community leaders. In the modern Army, colonel is a senior officer rank -- just below general -- and is symbolized by a silver eagle clutching an olive branch and arrows. Brig. Gen. Kate Kasun of the Houston-based 75th made the presentation. (Photo/75th Training Command, Army Reserve Maj. Adam Collett)
In this image released by the Army Reserve's 75th Training Command, a certificate representing an honorary military officer's commission is shown in Houston, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Robin Young-Ellis, a volunteer with the city's rodeo organization, received the certificate in a cermony during the group's Armed Forces Appreciation Day, which was founded by Young-Ellis in 2009. The event, which has been held every year since, brings thousands of service members to the rodeo at no cost. The honorary commission as an Army colonel traces its symbolism to the revolutionary and pre-revolutionary periods, when the first American officer appointments were made to respected community leaders. In the modern Army, colonel is a senior officer rank -- just below general -- and is symbolized by a silver eagle clutching an olive branch and arrows. Brig. Gen. Kate Kasun of the Houston-based 75th made the presentation. (Photo/75th Training Command, Army Reserve Maj. Adam Collett)
In this image released by the Army Reserve's 75th Training Command, Robin Young-Ellis is presented with an honorary military officer's commission in Houston, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Young-Ellis, a volunteer with the city's rodeo organization, founded the group's Armed Forces Appreciation Day in 2009. The event, which has been held every year since, brings thousands of service members to the rodeo at no cost. The honorary commission as an Army colonel traces its symbolism to the revolutionary and pre-revolutionary periods, when the first American officer appointments were made to respected community leaders. In the modern Army, colonel is a senior officer rank -- just below general -- and is symbolized by a silver eagle clutching an olive branch and arrows. Brig. Gen. Kate Kasun of the Houston-based 75th made the presentation. (Photo/75th Training Command, Army Reserve Maj. Adam Collett)
In this image released by the Army Reserve's 75th Training Command, troops and family members look on during rodeo events in Houston, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2013. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has held an Armed Forces Appreciation Day since 2009. Donations allow the rodeo to bring thousands of service members each year to the event at no cost.  Though there is no large active duty military installation in the vicinity of the city, the Greater Houston area has a large, decentralized military and veteran population, anchored by the growing Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base. This population helps ensure large turnouts for patriotic-themed events.  (Photo/75th Training Command, Army Reserve Maj. Adam Collett)
In this image released by the Army Reserve's 75th Training Command, Brig. Gen. Kate Kasun and other leaders with the unit visit with community supporters during the rodeo in Houston, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2013. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has hosted an armed forces appreciation program of some kind since 2009. Donations allow the rodeo to bring thousands of service members each year to the event at no cost. Throughout the year, the 75th, headquartered in Houston, partners with various groups to support community events. (Photo/75th Training Command, Army Reserve Maj. Adam Collett)
In this image released by the Army Reserve's 75th Training Command, Brig. Gen. Kate Kasun and other leaders with the unit visit with community supporters during the rodeo in Houston, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2013. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has hosted an armed forces appreciation program of some kind since 2009. Donations allow the rodeo to bring thousands of service members each year to the event at no cost. Throughout the year, the 75th, headquartered in Houston, partners with various groups to support community events. (Photo/75th Training Command, Army Reserve Maj. Adam Collett)
In this image released by the Army Reserve's 75th Training Command, Brig. Gen. Kate Kasun and other leaders with the unit visit with community supporters during the rodeo in Houston, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2013. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has hosted an armed forces appreciation program of some kind since 2009. Donations allow the rodeo to bring thousands of service members each year to the event at no cost. Throughout the year, the 75th, headquartered in Houston, partners with various groups to support community events. (Photo/75th Training Command, Army Reserve Maj. Adam Collett)
See photo in original gallery.