This weekend, Cannon County men and women who have fought for the United States will be honored for their bravery, dedication and selflessness during ceremonies at Cannon County High School and in downtown Woodbury.
The determined men and women who defended the country to protect its freedom are Veterans who will be recognized for their contributions as part of Veterans Day 2011 activities.
Veterans Day is held each year on Nov. 11.
"Veterans Day is about as important as anything I've got under the good Lord, with Him being No. 1," Col. Jim Stone said. "If you think about it, we live in a wonderful country and this freedom we enjoy is because of those Veterans. If not for them protecting this country it would be under some dictator like they are in many countries in Europe. We have freedom because of the men and women who stand up for it."
Sixty-one Cannon Countians have died while protecting and defending the United States, including 22 in World War I, 36 in World War II, one in the Korean War, one in Vietnam and one in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Cannon County's Veteran's Day activities begin with a ceremony at Cannon County High School at 8:30 a.m. Students have built a mock-monument with all the names of fallen veterans similar to the actual monument at the Courthouse Square. The names of fallen veterans will be read to the student body. State officials also will be in attendance.
At 11 a.m. Friday (11/11/11), the names of fallen Cannon County war heroes will be read during a ceremony on the Courthouse lawn. The annual Veterans Day Parade takes place Saturday at 1 p.m. in downtown Woodbury.
While these ceremonies remember Veterans who died defending America, Veterans Day also is to salute those who served and survived. Their contributions are as important.
"Veterans Day is a great day," Woodbury Mayor Harold Patrick. "It is good to have a day to celebrate and honor all of our Veterans, which is really something we should do every day. Ours has been a great nation and one that has inspired greatness and much of that is due to the men and women who have served to protect our freedom."
1st Lt. Frank Walkup IV, a Cannon County graduate, lost his life while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2007. His mother, Mitzi, said the outpouring of patriotism for Lt. Walkup was overwhelming, while also pointing out Cannon Countians are highly supportive of Veterans on a regular basis.
"There is a lot of patriotism in Cannon County," Mitzi Walkup said. "Veterans groups have done, and continue to do, a lot to support all of the Veterans in Cannon County and that makes you very proud."
Because of changes in technology, both parents working, and other day-to-day responsibilities, people get caught up in what they are doing and have a tendency to forgot. Veterans Day is provides an opportunity for all Americans to remember those who have served, as well as those who continue to serve.
"We have a wonderful Veterans Day celebration," County Executive Mike Gannon said. "Our Veterans are so important. Cannon Countians have played a role in helping protect our nation's freedom and their patriotism is what we celebrate."
Jennifer Duggin witnessed Cannon County's patriotism first-hand while serving in Iraq in 2009.
"This town was amazing while I was deployed," Duggin said. "I never knew there was so much patriotism in this tiny little town. The care packages just kept coming, not just for me, but to give to those who didn't have anything. There were 100 packages waiting when I came back from Thanksgiving."
Duggin was one of many Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice by leaving children behind when re-enlisting in the military. She originally joined in 1991 and served until 1999. Duggin, the mother of a young son, Will, re-enlisted in 2006 and was deployed to Iraq in 2009. She presently serves full-time at the Tennessee National Guard in Tullahoma.
Duggin is reminded of Veterans daily.
"We have a flag pole in our front yard and every day when I'm leaving or coming home it is the first thing I look at," Duggin said. "It is very patriotic at our house. My children are very proud."
It is with that pride America celebrates Veterans Day, 11/11/11.
Cannon Countians who have served and died while protecting and defending our country are:
World War I:
Samuel Bailey, Cherry M. Barrett, Clay Bucey, Eath Bush, Malcolm Cooper, Colonel DeBerry, Huston Dobbs, Burley Elrod, John W. Fugitte, Hugh Wiley Gunter, John Earl Hancock, Albert Higgins, Calvin Higgins, Matthew D. Keaton, Oral King, Drennon Meritt, Jesse Miller, Floyd E. Mooneyham, Robert A. Nichols, Willie Lee Owens, John M. Starr, Grover C. Todd.
World War II:
Alf Barrett, Georgia D. Bell, James W. Borren, John Bowen, Warren Crim, William E. Davenport, Earon D. Duke, Florst E. Ferrell, James C. Farrell, Donald Francis, Parmer R. Gunter, Wilber Hayes, Medford Howse, Willis W. Jernigan, Ray Mabe, Avent Muncy, Charles Muncy, Troy Murphy, Lessie L. Nokes, Hoyte Parker, Adam G. Pelham, Robert D. Pendleton, Lloyd Perry, Cecil R. Reed, Howard M. Rogers, Horace F. St. John, Leonard Simmons, Estyl Smithson, Truman I. Thomas, Milburn Travis, Walker Lee Vandygriff, John H. Vinson, Tillman Willard, Fred Wooten Jr., John D. Wright., James H. Young.
Korean War:
Clyde Erza Sissom
Vietnam War:
Harold Lawton Basham
Operation Iraqi Freedom:
Frank B. Walkup IV
CANNON COUNTY EVENTS
Friday, November 11, 2011
• 8:30AM In the Gym, Medley of songs by CCHS Band – Armed Forces Salute - under the direction of Music & Band director Robert Guffey
• Principal Tim Knox Welcome
• Special Music – CCHS Band & Chorus
• Director of Schools, Barbara Parker Welcome & Awards presentation
• America the Beautiful – CCHS Chorus
• Col. Jim Stone presents the U. S. flag (MTSU, RHS, TN Army National Guard)
• National Anthem – CCHS Chorus0
• Lt. Col. Doyle Boyd & Riverdale HS Precision Drill Team
• CCHS Band & Chorus “The Marine Corps Birthday”
• Recognize our Veterans
• The 2011 Grand Marshal, Service Vice Marshals, Concerned Citizen Vice Marshal & POW Vice Marshal
• Veterans assemble by Service Branch in the center of the Gym when your service song is played by the CCHS Band.
• CCHS Band-service songs Navy, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard & Marines
• After all service branches are assembled Veterans line up and pass the microphone, give your name, rank, time and place of service (students be looking for that special Veteran you plan to pick at the conclusion of the program).
• Special tribute to all Cannon County Veterans serving today-”The Wall of Honor’’ – Brent Bush
• Scottish Bag Pipes – Gregory Cutcliff
• Introduce Commander of American Legion, Hilton Stone Post 279, Woodbury, Tennessee
• American Legion Tennessee Department Commander
• A Hawaiian Dance & Story – Sila Kailiponi
• County Executive Mike Gannon
• Special Presentation SPECTACULAR by the Student Council under the direction of Mr. Ronny Burks
• Taps by John Lenzy House
• Special Presentation by Britt Knox – The Singing Helicopter Pilot
• Woodbury City Mayor Harold Patrick
• Senator Mae Beavers
• Rep. Mark Pody
• The CCHS Band & Chorus Conclusion of Program
• All widows, honored guest, and Veterans go through lunch line
• Veterans go to assigned classroom to talk to students after lunch
• Students will pick a Veteran. Veterans get to your classroom assignments, and then go through the lunch line. Be at your assigned classroom on time
• 12:30-2:30 PM – Special ceremony in front of Gym showing the proper way of retiring worn out United State’s Flags by Cub Scout Den #376
• Outside displays hummer, military vehicles, and Black Hawk Helicopter
• 10:30-2:30PM – Special Display by The Shiloh Baptist Church. A Must See Display Room 406
• A must see – Walk through the school to see the decorations, Art work, Photography, & the Wall of Honor (for our men and women serving in the military today).
• Special Screening Team from the Alvin C. York Veterans Medical Center in Room 408
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 11:00a.m.
• Reading of the names on our monument at our courthouse –
Dr. Bill Jennings, Charles A. Smithson, and Tommy Woodson
Saturday, November 12, 2011
• 1:00 PM – Parade at Edgefield (special $100.00 each for the Best Float, Best Antique Vehicle, (Military or Civilian) & Best overall entry. Cannon County Sheriff, Woodbury Police Chief, Flag horse. -Al Bugg, Sr. TN Air and Army National Guard, Honor Guard, Cheerleaders, Miss Cannon County & Court, Civil Air Patrol, church floats, MTSU Honor Guard, Girl Scouts Troop & Explorer Post #83,#88, Cub Scouts Troops #392,#214 & #376, 1931 Model A Ford with Dude Northcutt, State Senator Mae Beavers, Classic/antique cars, David Pitts, Smith Funeral Home, Model A ford & Bill Smith, floats, clowns, Howard Witty, WW II Jeep with 2011 Grand Marshals, Tim Gentry& the Tram with the Service Grand Marshals, Iraq Veterans, & Veterans of Cannon County., Military Order of Purple Heart Chapter 613, Military equipment, Tennessee Army National Guard, Rolling Thunder, Chapter 1 Tennessee President Major Robert E. Ousley, Clark Rains and his Special 1948 John Deere Tractor, fire trucks with Fire Chief Bill Johnston, Emergency Medical Vehicles with Ricky Cope and Faye Morse, horses, buggies, & wagons, COME ONE AND ALL – HONOR OUR VETERANS
• 2011 Honorary Grand Marshals – Our Cannon County Veterans” serving today in Iraq & Afghanistan
• 2011 Grand Marshal, James Milton Preston
• Our Service Grand Marshals- Army Air Corps, Austin Jennings-Army, Lonnie M. Mooneyham-Army, Grady s. George, Sr.-Navy, Martin Tochholke-Marine, Joe Hawkins- Air Force, Keith Daniels- Coast Guard, Robert Virgil Young-Concerned Citizen, Mary Nelle Ruhl Hillis-POW-MIA Grand Marshal, Louie Hillis.
Sunday, November 13, 2011 – Local churches recognize their veterans