Preparations Begin For Veterans Day Program, Parade

The Veterans and Concerned Citizens for the Cannon County Veterans (VCCCCV) met in a rather lengthy meeting on September 17th at the Senior Center. The meeting was in preparation for the annual Veterans Day Program at the High School and the ensuing Parade.

The date for the activities at the high school is set for November 13 at 7:50 a.m. with the Special Flag ceremony by Principal Tim Knox and all students and faculty. Again this year there is a multitude of activities being presented to the audience. Representatives from the Tennessee National Guard along with aircraft from an Air Lift Wing Unit and relevant displays such as climbing walls and vehicles for student's inspection. Once again veterans will be available to talk with classes if selected by the students.

The Observance of Veterans Day in Cannon County has always been an anticipated one for the students and veterans.

"The High School has always been accommodating to our program" said Colonel Jim Stone of the Cannon County Veterans organization.

"We are proud to bring this ceremony to the students so they never forget the men and women who fought and died for this country, for freedom," said Thomas Earl Nichols head of the VCCCCV.

The veterans are selecting those of who will be honored this year as Grand Marshals and representatives of each branch of the services.

Also the veterans met to consider starting up an American Legion Post here in Woodbury. There hasn't been an American Legions in Cannon County since 1943. More information will be forthcoming to the public and the veterans and current military. The charter will be drawn up soon and a call will go out to veterans to become charter members. The dates of wars involving the United States will be listed; that and an honorable discharge are two of the specifications.

A guest came forth to meet with the group that night. Michael T. Reed of Bradyville, formally of Missouri, addressed the group with his intentions to build a Ranch for Veterans and current military. He stated that while in Iraq he lost a man to an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and he had said he would do something in his memory. This inspired the idea of the Give Back Ranch (GBR).

In his talk and his brochure he says, "Our future plans are to build a ranch in Middle Tennessee area where veterans and their families can come and enjoy the beauty and recreation that Tennessee has to offer." His plans are to have a 600 to 1000 acre ranch built where there will be horses and water and lodges. His goal is to build this ranch and be up and running by November of 2011. He told the veterans that his has major commercial backers. Anyone wanting to know more about this organization can go to www.thegivebackranch.org.

The Veterans have started their sponsorship fundraiser for the Veterans Day activities. The Veterans have designed the poster which was shown in an earlier edition of the Cannon Courier. There will be veterans that will be coming around to different businesses and asking them to sponsor these activities and in return they will receive a poster to proudly display in their windows. They will also be recognized on the back page of the program given out at the High School and everyone will see their names and sponsorship. If you can donate to these veterans please do when they come around.

The next meeting of the Veterans will be October 8 at the Senior Center at 6:30 p.m.