God bless our veterans



By COL. JIM STONE

I want to express my sincere appreciation and that of the Legionnaires, Sons, and Auxiliary members of the American Legion Post 279 in Woodbury to all of the good citizens of Cannon County and beyond, who supported the Annual Veterans Day Program at Cannon County High School on Friday 7 November and the Annual Veterans Day Parade to Honor our Veterans on Saturday 8 November.

Your support, with your donations and with your active participation, continue to make these events bigger and better each year. This was the command guidance from our Founding Father, Thomas E. Nichols. The year that they are not bigger and better is the year I will retire. 2014 completes 22 years that the Veterans and Concerned Citizens for the Veterans of Cannon County, and now the Hilton Stone American Legion Post 279 in Woodbury have worked with Cannon County High School, Woodbury, and Cannon County in producing and directing these events.

Of the original 8 citizens who organized and started these events, Wilburn Arnold, Marvin Jennings, A. W. Potter, Aubrey Nichols, Albert Thomas, Luther Mooneyham, Tom Nichols, and Colonel Stone: only 2 are still with us, Tom Nichols and myself.

Freedom is not free. We do not ever want to forget the cost of freedom. Cannon County has given up 61 of her sons for the cost of freedom. We must never forget their sacrifices. They paid the supreme sacrifice for their country, so that we can live in a free nation and enjoy the precious freedom that we have today. And we don't want to forget their families who sacrificed so very much.

Again, thank you. These events would not be possible without your generous support. So, please keep us in mind for the 2015 Veterans Day Program and Veterans Day Parade. We will be sending out the new 2015, "Support The Veterans of Cannon County", Posters around the 4th of July 2015. God bless you, God bless our Veterans, and God bless the United States of America.