The Jones County Veterans Committee had its first meeting of 2025 last week to begin preparations for the 25th Veterans Appreciation Day celebration.
The June 26 meeting was called to order by committee chairman Ret. Col. Richard Combs, who has led the committee since 2008. Combs announced the date of this year’s event, which is Nov. 8.
Veterans Appreciation Day was first held in Jones County Nov. 3, 2001, and was scheduled months before the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, took place. Planning for the celebration began in July as a way to bring the community together for a flag-waving demonstration of patriotism, and it certainly became significant in a way that could never have been imagined.
Community leaders at the time — Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sandra McKinney and Development Authority Chairman Frank Duke — were the driving force behind the day to appreciate local veterans.
McKinney is retired, but Duke continues to be a leader for the event as a member of the veterans committee. His wife Bonnie serves as secretary of the committee, and daughter Joy Carr organizes the Col. Alan Carr 5K Race that helps finance the day’s activities.
The committee is made up of veterans and people who support veterans in different ways.
Combs opened the June 26 meeting with a prayer. The meeting seemed to have a renewed energy among those in attendance.
“It feels good to have served in the military,” the chairman commented.
Bonnie Duke was asked to give a review of the 2024 Appreciation Day. She said the 5K race did well despite the fact that it is never known how many racers will show up, and it was sprinkling rain.
“We don’t know what to expect, but we had a record number of runners,” she said.
More than 90 participated in the 5K, which was a record.
Memorial
The committee oversees the Jones County Veterans Memorial that is at the courthouse. Bonnie Duke said new pavers have been purchased and are waiting to be engraved. She said Ricky Jones performed repairs on the memorial last year. In addition to repairing some of the pavers, she said the gravel around the site had been raked and the stones pressure washed.
Gray Memorial Chapel owner and director Scott Walston has been instrumental in getting the pavers engraved. He was at the meeting and said he has quite a few waiting to be engraved.
“Its being taken care of,” he said.
Walston also assists the Jones County Library with its pavers.
Duke commended Walston for his help with the pavers and the wreaths that are placed at the memorial. He also assists the American Legion with its fundraiser each year by providing the rifle that is raffled.
The committee discussed the need for public access to pick up paver request forms. It was suggested to place the forms in an office inside the courthouse. It was later discovered, however, the Superior Court Clerk’s office already has an available supply of the paver request forms. The office staff also has the capability of emailing the forms when requested.
Campaign hats
Duke talked about the patriotic baseball-style hats that are distributed to veterans each year. The hats are available for veterans of the Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and Seabees, most with several styles to select from.
The hats are very popular with the veterans who enjoy getting a new one each year. Duke said she is working with a new salesperson with the vendor who has been very helpful in finding the new styles at a reasonable price.
JROTC
Capt. Michael McMillan is the chief Instructor of the Jones County High School JROTC and a member of the veterans committee. Combs asked him for an update, and he said the JROTC hosted a successful area drill earlier this year that included battalions from 10 other schools.
He said they were not able to attend the state meet due it being cancelled because of funding issues.
McMillian said this was the year for accreditation of the JCHS program that is currently ranked as a Distinguished Honor Unit. The captain said the JROTC was honored to participate in the annual Veterans Appreciation Day activities and were willing to assist wherever needed.
Interviews
The last veterans interviews were done in 2017. The veterans interviewed were Boisey Hunt, Kris Towers and Danny Dubose. A program commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Armistice Day in 2018 took the place of the interviews, and then came the pandemic.
Combs talked about starting the veterans interviews again, and committee members were receptive. The names of possible candidates for the interviews were brought forth quickly, and Combs said he felt sure the video class at Jones County High School would be willing to assist.
Committee member Breianne Allen asked for feedback for the Field of Flags booth at last year’s veterans event. The booth is a fundraiser for the Jones County 4H Archery Team. Allen and Jennifer Corbin-Carson were in charge of the booth last year. She said the flags are sold in honor or memory of veterans.
A consensus of committee members agreed the booth was enjoyed and agreed to its return.
Committee member Roger Hawke said he is almost done with this year’s carving project for veterans. He said the project this year is handcarved combat knives, commemorating each branch of the military.
Hawke has made patriotic carvings for veterans each year beginning in 2020, with his first project a hand-crafted wooden flag. The veteran is also a member of the Jones County Cruisers car club and said he anticipated the club to have their cars at the veterans event.
Committee member Lehman Wood asked for the program to include a tribute to former State Rep. Susan Holmes, who always supported and attended the event. All members readily agreed.
The next meeting of the Veterans Committee is scheduled at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 21 at the W.E. Knox Center.
