This Saturday’s Veterans Appreciation Day will span the generations to pay homage to all Jones Countians, whether natives or transplants, who have served the United States of America as a member of its armed forces.

The Nov. 7 event is focusing on local heroes and has the theme of “Celebrating our Men and Women Veterans.” The program will honor a member of Jones County’s Veteran’s Committee who died this year but whose family will accept the Daughters of the American Revolution National Medal of Honor on his behalf. The keynote speakers for the day will be six of Jones County’s World War II veterans.

The program will start at 1 p.m. in the W.E. Knox Civic Center, and American Legion Post 142 will be selling barbecue plates before the program. Tickets may be purchased from any post member or the day of the event.

Exhibits and booths will open at 11 a.m. on the grounds of the W.E. Knox Civic Center (former Jones County High School building) and the surrounding parking area. Veterans will line up at 12:30 p.m. for the Veterans Walk of Honor, which will start at 12:45.

Booths at the event will include the Oliver Morton Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Jones County History and Heritage, Keep Jones Beautiful, the Pilot Club of Jones County, Tommy Hinson with his display of military memorabilia, the Scouting Committee, and the Veterans Memorial Committee.

Music for the program will be presented by the Jones County High School Band under the direction of Eldon Lundin and Jones County High School Chorus under the direction of Debbie Coleman. The music will begin at noon in front of the civic center.

All veterans are asked to register in the foyer outside the auditorium prior to the program, and door prizes will be distributed as veterans register.

Among the attractions at the event is a moonwalk sponsored by State Bank and is available for children of all ages.

Jones County’s first Veterans Appreciation Day was the idea of Sandra McKinney, who was the Chamber of Commerce executive director in 2001. The event was already scheduled before the events of 9/11 but took on a greater significance in its wake.

McKinney will be at this year’s event to present the DAR Medal of Honor to the family of a Korean War veteran, the late Jim Moughon.

Veterans Memorial

Moughon was the chairman and the driving force behind the construction of the Jones County Veterans Memorial that is located next to the Courthouse. This past Friday, 17 more pavers were engraved at the memorial, as were the rear of the large markers facing the highway.

Three of the 17 pavers were purchased by Evelyn Collins, and the veterans for whom they were bought were at the memorial for the occasion. Two of the veterans, Anthony Alegre and Jeremy Frasier, are Marines who were wounded in Iraq. The third, Donald Rutledge, is a Vietnam vet who served in the Army.

Collins, a charter member of the veterans committee, met the veterans through contacts at local churches and has purchased 23 pavers in all so far. The veterans said they felt honored to have their names included at the memorial.

Veterans interviewed

This year’s Veterans Appreciation Day keynote speakers were interviewed by Dr. Bob Cramer earlier this year. The taping took place at First Baptist Church by Bobby Bentley, who records the church’s worship services. Bentley was assisted at the taping by Barry Collins, music and community ministries pastor, and the video was edited by pastor Brent Chaney of Real Life Church.

Paul and Marguerite Simpson met when they were both corpsmen in Navy, and they have been married for 64 years.

The couple both got out of the military when the war ended, but Paul returned 10 years later and stayed in the reserves for 25 years. The Simpsons had six children, 13 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

When asked the effect of the military on their lives, Marguerite said she believes the military is good for everyone.

“You learn there are no excuses. I think you learn a lot you can take with you for the rest of your life,” she said.

Paul said he thinks one year in the military would be good for everyone.

Calvin McDaniel said he turned 18 in 1942 and joined the Navy as soon as he could. He was in the aircorps and had basic training in Bainbridge, Md. He was stationed aboard an aircraft carrier in the South Pacific but never went into battle.

His job was being the rear gunner on the plane.

McDaniel said his most notable memory is landing on the aircraft carrier. He was in the military service for six years and when he returned home, he attended Middle Georgia College.

J.D. Garrett was a member of the Army Signal Corps. He volunteered for the draft after finishing high school just before the attack on Pearl Harbor.

His basic training was in Missouri, and from there he went to England in preparation of the invasion of Normandy. He said the entire experience was notable to him as a teenager.

“I learned a lot that had a great influence on the rest of my life,” Garrett said.

He said, when he returned in 1946, he promised himself he would put the last three years behind him.

“There was a lot I didn’t care to remember. I’m 85 now, and it’s easier to forget,” he added.

Garrett received the European Theater Ribbon and five battle stars.

Claude Comer said he and his twin brother Clay joined the Navy together. He said they entered the service in 1943 and were allowed to stay together for two years before they were separated.

They had basic training at Bainbridge and were part of the aircraft and development squad.

His brother was sent overseas and he remained in the States. Comer’s job while in the service was as an aircraft mechanic and flight engineer.

“Being a veteran made me proud. Even though I didn’t go into combat, I was proud to be in the service,” he said.

Grady Tyler served both in the U.S. Maritime Service and the Army. He said he was about 16 years old when he joined the Maritime Service and was trained in Sheepshead Bay, N.Y. He worked in the engine room of a Liberty ship and his first trip was to Nova Scotia.

After joining the Army, Tyler spent time on Okinawa with an occupational force. He served in the Army for three years. He said if he had the chance, he would do it all again.

Program

Saturday’s program will began with a musical tribute to all the branches of the armed forces and the presentation of colors by the Jones County Sheriff’s Department. Brooklyn Fowler will sing the national anthem with the invocation by Bishop Bruce Lee Sr.

Glenda Thompson will read an inspirational poem followed by the reading of the Veterans Appreciation Day proclamation by Jones County Board of Commission Chairman Preston Hawkins. The program will close with the playing of Taps by the Jones County High School Band.

For more information, call the Chamber of Commerce at 986-1123.