I enjoyed attending the American Legion Post 25 Memorial Service on May the 29th of 2017.

The service was very heart warming and honored all of our Veterans. The Master of Ceremonies was Commander Philip Terry and the National Anthem was led by Steve Agee. Also attending the service was County Commission Chairman Norman Poole, Mayor Roger Weatherwax, District Attorney Erick Jett, several Deputies from the Lawrence County Sheriff Dept. and also American Legion Post 25 Auxiliary was represented by Annette Logan. The Patriotic Speaker for the service was Pastor Timothy Perryman.

During the program, the names were announced of the Veterans from Lawrence County who were killed during action during the wars and they are listed as follows: World War One- John Alexander Jr., James Atkins, Freddie A. Butler, Jessie Campbell, Kurn Chisterbun, Louis D. Crane, Levert Draper, John W. Freeman, Bennie L. Harris, William H. Harris, Conry J. Jones, Walter James, Anderson Johnson Jr., William L. Key, Simon Kirk, Roy L. Lynch, Robert Masterson, Emmett L. McCullouch, William McDonald, Samuel Mecalf, Jos Owens Jr., William N. Pope, Green Savage, Samuel G. Shackelford, Beve B. Shirrell, Elbert Slaughter, Clyde W. Smith, Elmer N. Smith, Jos H. Smith, Walker Smith, Levi Steel, Thomas C. Vinson, Tom Warren and Nicholas Williams. World War Two- Ray H. Berryman, Howard Blevens, Willie B. Boyles, Roy L. Burden, Billy Burgess, R. P. Clark, Martin D. Coffey Jr., Jonnie S. Craig, Odus L. Crosswhite, Reece Farley, Fred P. Gray, Otis Hagood, Bays C. Hampton, Robert F. Hill, Roy Horton, Eugene Hooper, Willey L. Horton, James F. Ivy, Carl C. Jones, Grady G. Landers, Gathel Little, Damon C. Lowrey, Earl McBride Jr., Leonard E. Mayfield, Elton E. McCullouch, Ed McDonald, John F. McKelvy, Walter F. McCleskey, Denson Mizell, Sheridan Montgomery, Erin T. Moore, Jonnie Murray, Ernest H. Nichols, Charles L. Perkins, Joe W. Plant, Vernon U. Randolph, Reuben R. Ready, Noah C. Reeves, Kenneth Rooks, B. B. Sherrill, Delmer F. Sparks, Joe Shelton, Denver B. Terry, Manor H. Terry, Early Terry, Frank Turner, Frank G. Vinson, Robert V. Voss, William W. Wade, Pellum Waldrop, John E. Watkins, George O. White, Troy C. Wilkinson and Cecil C. Wood. Korean War- O. C. Bain, Claude Green Jr., Kenneth Henry, Alton G. Ray and William Winchester. Vietnam- Hermon Cooper, Willie Frank Garner, Benjamin Harris, Billy Michael Holliman, Harold Laverel Pool, Ray Anthony Rhodes, Jeffrey Smith, Arie Terry and Charles Woodall. Desert Storm-Banard Satchel and Barry Henderson. The laying of the Wreath was conducted by Bordrie Shields and Paul Nightingale. Carter Dover, from East Lawrence High School played the Taps for the ceremony. Following the laying of the wreath and taps, the Trail Life of U.S.A. conducted a “Flag Retirement” ceremony. I want to express my “Thanks” to American Legion Post 25 Officer Roger Loosier for his help with the coverage of the Memorial Service.  This was the first time that I attended a Flag Retirement ceremony and it filled my heart with “Thankfulness” for our “Veterans” and how Blessed I am to live in the United States of America.

The Members of Shady Grove Baptist Church express Christian love and heartfelt prayers this week for our Police Officers and Firefighters, school teachers and also for the following Soldiers and their families and they are Brandon Jones, Kabul; Josh Hutchinson, Marines; Alan Dugger, South Korea; Justen Terry, Navy; Andy LaFavor, Navy; Jeremy White, Navy; Anthony Thomas and Shane Parker, New Zealand; Josh Fagan, South Korea; Bryant Spears, Marines; Lee Thompson and Brad Wallace. God Bless All of our Soldiers and their Families and “GOD BLESS AMERICA”.