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November 10, 2008

Schools, Rusk VFW present Veterans Day events

By Kelly Young

kyoung@jacksonvilleprogress.com

With the passing of more and more World War II veterans each day, it becomes increasingly important we take the time to honor the ones we know who have fought to protect this nation in its times of need while we still can.

“To me, we are currently at the end of an era. World War II veterans are dying off at a rate of 900 a day. They aren’t going to be around much longer, so we need to honor them while we can,” said Dave Thomason, Cherokee County’s veterans service officer. “They are in their early-to-mid 80s, and these guys need to know that they are appreciated.”

In order to ensure everyone interested in recognizing those soldiers who have fought and died for our liberty have the chance to, numerous venues across Cherokee County will be hosting Veterans Day events Tuesday.

Nichols Intermediate School and West Side Elementary will be holding Veterans Day programs Tuesday in honor of all veterans, past and present. Nichols will hold two special assemblies at 8:15 a.m. and 9 a.m., and West Side will have a service at 6 p.m.

The Alto and Bullard school districts are also acknowledging the sacrifice of our servicemen and women with events of their own, Tuesday. Alto High School will be conducting a ceremony at 9 a.m. and Bullard High School will put on a similar event at 10 a.m.

The Rusk post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars will be holding its annual Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. on the courthouse square. Judge Daniel Boone Childs, a veteran marine, will be the program’s speaker. Connie Hamilton will be singing the national anthem.

Thomason said he was recently visited at his office by two World War II vets — one fought at the Battle of the Bulge and one drove a tank at the end of the war as the Allies were moving into Germany. One of the men, Thomas said, was captured by the Nazis and spent more than a month as a prisoner of war.

“I had a couple of old boys come into my office this week, and we had a good talk. These men are bona fide heroes of war. Many of our vets have amazing stories to tell, and once they are no longer with us, a lot of their stories are gone too. To me, Veterans Day is about those guys,” Thomason said.

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