By MyKala Guerrero
Cove Leader-Press
On Saturday morning, veterans, their families, community leaders, and other members of Star Group- Veterans Helping Veterans (SGVHV), as well as civilian members of surrounding communities gathered at the Star Group building in Copperas Cove.
All were there to honor the stories of survivors who have won their battle against cancer and to remember those lost to the disease.
After the introductions, opening prayer, and somber presentation of the wreaths, Copperas Cove Mayor, Dan Yancey, addressed those gathered by expressing support from multiple elected officials throughout Copperas Cove, Killeen, and Harker Heights.
He also acknowledged the Star Group for all the ways they serve the community and described them as “one of the best organizations in our whole city”.
This year’s Cancer Survivor event featured four speakers who described their own battle with cancer or imparted the journey faced by a family member on their behalf.
The first speaker, Dr. Caren Chen, spoke for her son Antonio Patterson, recounting what it was like initially for her son to discover the illness, but also what it was like as a mother and as a scientist to witness the results from the laboratory and to have the ability to immediately identify them as cancer.
“We went upstairs, and they started doing the scope. They went up his nose and I saw it. I saw the tumor. I didn’t know what we were fighting, but because of my background of studying rare diseases, there are only two cancers to form in the nose. One was a 3% survival rate. The other was 86% survival rate. But we didn’t have prognosis, we didn’t have a stage; I just knew my son had cancer,” she said.
Antonio Patterson received the diagnosis at only 15 years old, that he had developed nasopharyngeal carcinoma that mutated and at the time of testing was stage 2 cancer.
After leaving the hospital before they even knew what type of cancer it was, his mother recounted that the first thing Patterson said was, “Mama, it’s okay. I’m fighting this and I’m going to win.”
Dr. Chen remembered holding back tears as her son said, “I got this.” The doctors told the family that the cancer was very aggressive, but very treatable, and that Patterson would be fighting for about 18 months. They would do chemo and radiation.
They went to McLlane Children’s Medical Center where Patterson underwent surgeries, received a PICC line, and a gastrostomy tube (G- tube) within a matter of weeks so they could immediately administer chemotherapy.
After five months of treatments, his tests came back as cancer-free and he rang the bell in the oncology ward. He has remained cancer-free as of the last 2 years.
This message of hope was echoed by fellow survivors and speakers, Dawn Hale, and Ray and Joann Cote.
Dawn Hale’s cancer journey began in 2017 when she was diagnosed with IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer), after receiving a routine mammogram. During that same time, she had two episodes of skin cancer, both on her face.
She urged the audience to both wear sunscreen and to have their mammograms.
“Each diagnosis, of course they test your strength, but it also taught me to be resilient, gratitude, and the importance of leaning on family and friends,” she said.
The final address was made by Ray Cote with his wife Joann at his side.
“We have been married for 18 years… but like the vows said, through sickness and health. I just finished all my maintenance and everything about three months ago. I am cancer-free. Joann is still in maintenance so she has three more times and is cancer-free…But she has to go and take that little pill they want you to take and lose all your taste buds, and all the side-effects we get, but we’re survivors; we’re going to survive.” he stated about the couple who have both fought the disease together and have now entered remission.
The Cotes have continued to serve and complete the grueling task of cleaning the American Legion Post in Copperas Cove five days a week the entire time they have respectively battled the illness.
“We didn’t give up on what we had going on with our cancer. It did affect us bodily-wise, but mind-wise you’ve got to keep that positive attitude and drive on.” he added.
Cotes also announced that he had one special request as the familiar melody of ‘We Are Family’ by Sister Sledge began playing over the speakers. Everyone in the room clapped and sang in a candid moment of unity reflecting the words Cote had spoken.
One of the final tributes was spoken by Donna McFarland.
“We call your attention to the small table that occupies a place of dignity and honor.” she said. “It is set for one, symbolizing the fact that some of our loved ones are missing from this gathering. The chair is empty. Many of those who fought the battle of cancer are no longer with us, but rather than mourning their loss, we choose to celebrate their life.”
Each item on the table was identified and their symbolic meaning was read.
“The single rose in a vase signifies the enduring love of the families and friends and the strength of a patient’s will to fight a disease that ultimately claims many of them,” McFarland continued. She listed that statistically, cancer kills more than half a million people in our country each year. Based on the American Cancer Society’s annual statistics report, over 2 million new cancer cases are projected to be diagnosed in 2026 with roughly about 5,800 new cases added daily. As of May of 2025, it is estimated that there are 18.6 million cancer survivors in the United States. Of those millions of Americans 70 percent of survivors have lived 5-plus years since diagnosis and 49% have lived 10-plus years since learning of their diagnosis, revealing that a diagnosis does not necessarily get the final say.
When asked why the Star Group organization, chose to celebrate cancer survivors, Executive Director Sheila Timmons’ answer was direct.
“Everybody has somebody that has cancer in their family. So cancer has touched every one of us in some kind of way.” she said.
“When cancer comes back a second time, it’s no joke. She ended up getting a transplant and she’s a year five survivor,” Timmons said of her sister who has joined the ranks of the millions of fighters who battled and won.
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