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Honoring Our Hometown Heroes
Virgil Ward Three-war veteran celebrates centennial
BY ALLISON F. GOLEY STAFF WRITER
100 or 102?
Though official documentation states that Ward officially celebrated his 100th Hawkins County truly produced a birthday this past February, legend in February of 1919. there is a chance that he Virgil Ward was born in Hawkins actually celebrated this two County’s Tarpine Valley area in what years ago. Ward called “one of them hollers.” He “My dad always told me was the oldest boy in the family and one that I was born in 1917,” of seven children. Ward said. “When I went At the young age of 16, Ward joined into the military, they asked the Army with his mother’s permission for my birth certificate. I and began a military career that would didn’t have one because see him on the docks of Pearl Harbor, they didn’t issue them in Korea and in the jungles of Vietnam when I was born—you before he retired from the Army in 1965. had to ask for one. I kept telling my dad to send me The son of a moonshiner my birth certificate, but Growing up wasn’t easy for Ward, as I was in the military 10 he was the oldest son of a moonshiner years before I got it. When who expected his young son to take on I got it, it said I was born the responsibilities of an adult. in 1919! So, I’ve had to go “His dad and mom would keep him by that 1919, but I may out of school,” Ward’s wife, Merry Ward actually be 102.” said. “They had a farm, and he would have to go out, instead of getting his “I was just a Private” education, and do the farming and take He explained that care of the animals that they had.” military life actually “I was actually so young then that, seemed comfortable for a when I would plow with a team of boy who had been raised horses, if the plow hit a rock, the plow in a poor family with an would jerk and knock me down,” Ward abusive father. added. “They gave me all these Ward also explained that his mother, uniforms, they gave me three who he was very fond of, was often meals a day and they gave me abused by his intoxicated father. His a place to sleep,” Ward said. father nearly killed his mother many “At the end of the month, they times. gave me $21 dollars.” “She spent a lot of time by herself For 1935, Ward explained because my dad was out in that that this was a decent salary. His moonshine still,” he said. “My dad even first job was actually shining the woke me up one morning at 3:00 a.m. officers’ boots. and wanted to show me his still. Well, it “I was just a private back then,” was way out there on the mountain. We he said with a laugh. got to the foot of the mountain, and he His second job required him to just goes zig zagging up the mountain. lead a carted mule around and dump I wondered why he did that, but I later coal at the officers’ quarters for them to found out that he didn’t want me to be burn as a heat source. He explained that able to find the still again.” many of the officers were pleased when He also remembered that his they discovered Ward had grown up on father grew watermelons and often a farm and was used to working with sold several of them to Rogersville’s mules. blacksmith. After shining shoes and carting coal “He would take the watermelons on around for a while, Ward eventually the wagon,” Ward said. “Most people didn’t know that he had a compartment asked to be sent to overseas duty where he felt he could be more useful. underneath the wagon, and he had “I found out later that the stable moonshine in there. He sold more Sargent had deferred me so that I could moonshine than watermelons.” do work for him,” Ward said. He also recounted his first time However, Ward’s request was shooting a gun as a young boy. honored, and he was sent to Fort Ruger “I had a little dog named Trixie, and in Honolulu, Hawaii later in 1935. she would tree squirrels,” he said. “My first time going squirrel hunting, my dad handed me the gun. I had never fired a gun before, but I took aim at the Virgil Ward’s military career would squirrel. Down came the squirrel, but there was a big log behind where I had see him on the docks of Pearl Harbor, been standing. That gun knocked me in Korea and in the jungles of back over the log. He didn’t tell me it would kick me like that!”
Joining the Army at 16 “I had a neighbor, Chester Duncan, who kept talking me into going into the Army,” Ward said. Given his young age, Ward couldn’t join without his parents’ permission, which they gave in 1935. However, joining the military required the young boys to take what Ward called a “battery” test in Richmond, Virginia. Ward explained that, because neither family had a car, the two boys had to ride to Richmond in the back of a mail truck among the letters and packages. “When we got there and took the battery test, Chester flunked it, and they sent him back home,” Ward said. “But, I was on a train heading for Fort Slocum New York by myself. I had never been out anywhere before.”
Vietnam before he retired from the Army in 1965.
Life at Fort Ruger Ward served as a telephone operator at Fort Ruger, which was built inside of Diamond Head Crater and was sometimes just called “Diamond Head”. “They sent him to the local telephone company and had him trained on automatic dial as they switched from manual facilities,” Merry Ward explained. “They kept him in Hawaii all of World War II to help put in all of the exchanges for the islands for the military.” During his time in Hawaii, Ward
A Special Publication of The Rogersville Review
Virgil Ward celebrated his 100th birthday in February of 2019.
See VIRGLE WARD, page 2
November 9/10, 2019
Page 2 • A Salute to Veterans • November 9/10, 2019
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Virgil Ward From page 1
explained that he also took on a newspaper route with the Honolulu Advertiser for some extra money, saying with a laugh, “I made more on my paper route than I did from my military pay!” It was actually during his time stationed in Hawaii that he met his first wife, Anna Quintelle. “Every time I got off duty, I would walk down to the Giant Malt Shop and have lunch and go swimming,” Ward said. “There were three girls working there, and one was single and my age. The other two kept asking me why I didn’t ask her for a date. So, finally I decided that I would ask her.” This Hawaiin-born Malt Shop waitress soon became Ward’s first wife and the mother to his two daughters, Carol Anderson and Paulette Meadows. Between his two daughters, Ward now has seven grandchildren and 13 greatgrandchildren.
Virgil Ward joined the Army at the young Virgil retired from the Army in 1965 age of 16 in 1935. Photo courtesy of Carol after 30 years of honorable service. Anderson After taking only one year off, he began working in the civil service for the Navy from 1967 to 1979. Photo courtesy of Carol Anderson
Early on a Sunday morning On Dec. 7, 1941, Ward arrived at the Post Exchange at his usual time of 5:30 a.m. to pick up the newspapers that needed to be delivered. However, there were no newspapers to be had. Ward waited until around 6:30 a.m. before calling the press office only to be told that “the presses broke down.” An article written by Ward’s daughter explains that Ward always believed the presses were not broken; instead, someone at the newspaper had been tipped off about the attacks and was holding the press. This theory actually has a degree of proof to back it up, as Ward explained that papers arrived around 10 a.m. with the headline “Japanese Planes Attack Pearl Harbor.” “Just after I called, here comes this flock of planes,” Ward said. “They’re bombing Pearl Harbor, and I’m right there! I decided that the best thing for me to do was go to my duty station, so I took off and went inside of Diamond Head. Otherwise, I’d have got it. I was right there where they were bombing because I was going to deliver the newspapers.” “It was about a mile from the Post Exchange into where he had to go into Diamond Head, so he had to run and zig zag,” Merry Ward explained. “But he was able to miss the strafing.” He went on to explain that, at the time of the attacks, his first wife, Anna, was at their nearby home along with
home. This was the first time he had seen his parents in 13 years. Through the years, Ward and his family lived in numerous places and worked in various capacities within the military. Though he was lucky enough to survive the bombing on Pearl Harbor, his luck did not stop there. “He was on a troop ship headed to Japan when the Korean War broke out,” Merry Ward explained. “So, it was diverted Korea.” When he arrived in Korea, he was battlefield commissioned to be the Communication’s Officer of a battalion. “He would never send somebody out if he wouldn’t go out with them,” Merry Ward said. “So, he was out on the front lines laying cable back to headquarters, when a round of mortar came in. The soldier next to him was killed instantly and left Virgil with shrapnel in his face, his arm and his leg.” In 1961 and 1962, Ward was sent from the United States to Vietnam. There, too, he worked in communications and often laid cable in the jungles of Vietnam. While in Vietnam, he had stayed each night in a building that was right next to a bridge in Saigon. The very next day after Ward left Vietnam to return to the United States, an enemy truck pulled under the bridge and exploded, destroying the building where Ward had stayed. Merry Ward went on to explain that, had Ward’s stay in Vietnam been extended, his day off was originally scheduled for the very same day that the building was destroyed. Thus, Ward likely would have been inside the building when this attack took place. “By God’s grace, three times, he was spared,” Merry Ward said.
One of the lucky ones
Virgil Ward and his wife, Merry Ward, who Virgil married when he was 90 years old. his his oldest daughter, Carol who had been born in February of 1941. When it became clear what was happening, Ward’s family was brought to the base to stay for the next few days. “When I got to my duty station, two different generals called in and wanted me to tell them what was happening,” Ward said. “He had overlooked the harbor down below, so he was able to actually see them dropping those bombs,” Merry
Photos submitted by Virgil and Merry Ward
Ward added. “I would have gotten caught in that if I hadn’t just taken off,” Ward explained.
The nine lives of Virgil Ward Ward actually stayed in Hawaii until 1948, as he was put to use installing automatic dial telephone equipment. During this time, he had another daughter, Paulette. When he left Hawaii, he actually went back to Tarpine Valley to visit
Ward made an entire career out of his military service, earning every enlisted rank that existed at the time. As aforementioned, he earned a battlefield commission in Korea in 1951, and he also received the Purple Heart. He retired from the Army in 1965 as a Major, but he simply couldn’t seem to stay away from Military service. After taking only one year of true retirement, he began working in the Civil Service for the Navy from 1967 to 1979 again in communications. In 1999, Ward’s first wife, Anna, passed away from complications of Alzheimer’s. In 2009, Virgil and Merry Ward were married when Virgil was 90 years old. Many of Ward’s family members explained that he will often say, “I was just one of the lucky ones.”
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A Salute to Veterans • November 9/10, 2019 • Page 3
Above, the basic structure of what would become the ‘Hut’ can be seen. Pictured below is the completed ‘Hut’. — Photo courtesy of American Legion Post 21
The ‘Hut’ was built in 1925 with contributions and labor from its members. Here, several American Legion members can be seen working on the ‘Hut’. — Photo courtesy of American Legion Post 21
A century of service:
The American Legion celebrates 100 years 2019 has been a truly commemorative year for both the American Legion and Hawkins County’s American Legion Post 21, as both celebrated their 100-year anniversary in September of this year. The American Legion was chartered by Congress in September of 1919 as a patriotic veterans’ organization, though the formation of the Legion had been in the works since February of that year. Hawkins County Veterans of the time followed suit and chartered their own American Legion Post, Post 21, on Sept. 9, 1919 at Pressmen’s Home.
The American Legion formed as a way to improve morale The American Legion began just after the “War to End All Wars” had ended. Many lives had been lost, entire nations had been forever changed, and the survivors were left picking up the pieces. A group of 20 officers who had served in the AEF (American Expeditionary Forces) in France during the war were tasked with improving troop morale. One officer who, ironically, would go on to become an American icon, suggested creating a veterans’ organization. This veterans’ organization, the brainchild of Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, would eventually become the American Legion as we know it. Focusing on service to veterans, servicemembers and communities, the Legion evolved from a group of warweary veterans of World War I into one of the most influential nonprofit groups in the United States. Membership swiftly grew to more than one million, and local posts sprang up across the country. Today, membership stands at more
than two million in more than 13,000 posts worldwide. The posts are organized into 55 departments: one for each of the 50 states, along with the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico and the Philippines.
Post 21 chartered in September, 1919
R. Price’s “Hawkins County, Tennessee: A Pictorial History”. He also searched for gold in Nevada after it was discovered there in 1903. Berry eventually wound up in San Francisco and rose from “printer’s devil” to printing company superintendent. Along the way, he also became involved in the U.S. labor movement., eventually becoming president of a major printingindustry union. In 1909, Berry persuaded the International Printing Pressmen’s and Assistants Union to purchase the bankrupt Hale’s Red and White Sulphur Springs health spat in Hawkins County and to move the union’s headquarters there from Cincinnati, Ohio. The Pressmen’s Home name for the new union facility became official in 1910 when a U.S. Post Office opened there under the Pressmen’s Home name, according to Price’s book. In November, 1921, while representing the American Federation of Labor at the American Legion national convention in Kansas City, Berry impressed the Legionnaires sufficiently to be elected national First Vice Commander of the American Legion. Berry, who had been commissioned a major in the U.S. Army in WWII and had served in France as an officer in an engineer battalion that built roads and bridges, continued to be referred to as Major Berry for the remainder of his life.
Hawkins County’s Post 21 had only 15 members in its founding year of 1919 and apparently met in a building at Pressmen’s Home. Post 21’s current Commander, Dennis Elkins, has been researching the post’s history in light of the centennial. Among the post’s charter members, Elkins discovered, was none other than George L. Berry, who was president of the International Printing Pressmen’s and Assistants Union from 1907 until his death in 1948. Berry, who was born in Hawkins County in the 19th century, had been left without a father as a young boy when his Deputy U.S. Marshal father, Thomas Berry, was murdered near his Hawkins County home. His parents had divorced before his father’s death and young George L. Berry soon was on his own traveling across the country. His travels took him south to Jackson, Mississippi, and west to St. Louis, Missouri, as well as to Nebraska. He was 16 when the Spanish-American War broke out in 1898 and he enlisted in a Mississippi military unit. The war ended before he saw any overseas service, The ‘Hut’ was built in 1925 however. By 1925, American Legion Post 21’s Along the way, Berry became a membership had grown to 116 and lightweight prize fighter who fought as members built a new meeting place, the “Tennessee Kid,” according to Henry commonly referred to as the “Hut,” on
Many social events took place at the ‘Hut’ (undated photo) — Photo courtesy of American Legion Post 21
East Main Street in Rogersville. The log structure was built with contributions and labor from its members, Elkins explained. The new clubhouse served its members faithfully until it was outgrown by vast numbers of soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen who were returning from World War II.
New Post Home dedicated: War Memorial Building In 1949, a new building to house American Legion Post 21 was built on East Main Street largely with funds appropriated by the Hawkins Co. Court (predecessor of the present Hawkins Co. Commission). The new, two-story brick building was dedicated as the War Memorial Building in honor of those who had served in WWI and WWII. Ever since its founding, the Post saw steady and continual growth nearly every year until 1972. When the new building was built, Post 21’s membership stood at 723. By 1953, the year the Korean War ended, membership had risen to 1,000. At one point in the late 1940s and early 1950s, American Legion Post 21 was “the largest rural American Legion Post in Tennessee, according to the history of the American Legion Department of Tennessee (1919 to 1953). 1972 saw the largest membership in Post 21 history, with 1,538 members. The post also furnished a number of state and national American Legion officers over the years, including: Executive Committeeman E.A. Cope; District Commander B.L. Day; District Commander W. Max Ellis; See AMERICAN LEGION, page 4
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Hawkins Co. Veterans Day program Nov. 11 in front of courthouse
CHS and VHS NJROTC Cadets raised the American Flag over the Hawkins Co. Veterans Memorial at the 2018 Veterans Day Program (Review file photo)
CHS and VHS NJROTC Cadets Salute during the 2018 Veterans Day ceremony (Review file photos)
This year’s Veterans Day program will take place on Monday, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m., which is the exact time and date on which the armistice that ended fighting in World War I took effect. The event will be held in front of the Hawkins Co. Courthouse and will begin with Rogersville’s Cub Scout Pack 100 ringing the courthouse bell 11 times. Tecky Hicks, who is the pastor of First Baptist Church of Surgoinsville, will then offer a prayer to begin the ceremony, and Master of Ceremonies Capt. (Retired) Larry Wheeler of Rogersville’s Joseph Rogers VFW Post 9543 will offer the opening remarks. Next, cadets from both Cherokee and Volunteer High Schools’ NJROTC (Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps) units will combine to raise the American flag over the Veterans Memorial and post the VFW and American Legion colors as Mary Ellen Broome sings the National Anthem. After the flag is raised, Post 9543 Commander Dave Evans will lead the Pledge of Allegiance, and Wheeler will introduce the 2019 keynote speaker, veteran Ben McGrew who is also the coowner of the new Rogersville restaurant Red Dog on Main. Next, NJROTC cadets will escort members of the Ladies Auxiliaries, Gold Star family members and representatives from the Sons of the American Revolution to place commemorative wreaths on the Veterans Memorial. American Legion Post 21 Commander Dennis Elkins will then honor those Hawkins Co. service members who were killed in action and those who remain missing in action by releasing balloons in their honor. Members of the Firing Squads from Rogersville’s VFW Post 9543, Bulls Gap Post 9683 and Church Hill Post 9754 will then combine to perform the 21gun salute, and Broome will close the ceremony by singing taps.
American Legion Post 21 Commander Dennis Elkins led the 2018 balloon release ceremony to honor POWs, MIAs and veterans who passed away last year. (Review file photo)
Veterans Day 2019 Monday, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. Hawkins Co. Courthouse Rogersville, TN
Above, the present American Legion Post 21 located at 1924 E Main Street in Rogersville, TN. Far left, Post 21’s new home, the ‘War Memorial Building’, shortly after it was dedicated in 1949. Left, American Legion Centennial logo, www.centennial.legion.org/resources
American Legion From page 3
District Commander Ray Hice; and National Vice-Commander George L. Berry. Down through the years, Post 21’s commanders included some of Rogersville’s and Hawkins County’s leading citizens, including attorneys, educators, bankers and business leaders and political leaders. Among them were the late Reid Altom, a veteran of both world wars who also was Hawkins County Clerk and Master. The late banker (and coach) Lyons Hamblen, the late attorney J. Edgar Hyder, the later educator Ralph Anderson and the later real-estate leader C. Worley Richardson also led the post over the years. During the years after its completion in 1949, the Post 21 membership rented the building’s second floor to a variety of businesses and civic groups. Among other things, the second floor of the Post 21 building housed a skating rink, a bowling alley and venue in which the Rogersville Arts Council presented plays for a number of years.
Post 21 derived revenue to support its monthly operations from renting out the building’s second floor down through the years. In 2017, however, the Arts Council ceased renting the second floor of the Post 21 building. That left Post 21 in something of a financial dilemma, but through aggressive fundraising and pursuit of grants, the post was able to obtain the funds needed to make needed repairs to the second floor of the building and to install a new, metal roof in 2018.
Post 21 is still relevant 100 years later Members of Post 21 remain active within Hawkins County and participate in numerous events to honor Veterans and uplift future generations. For example, the Post holds a Four Chaplain Service, Memorial Day Service, Flag Ceremony, POW/MIA Service, Veterans Day Service and, new for 2019, a School Pledge of Allegiance class. They also sponsor several local high school students each year, helping them to attend both the annual American Legion Boys and Girls State programs. This year, the Post sponsored six students and honored each one at their
July meeting. “I just want to say thank you to everyone who helped with the money it took to go to Boys State,” said Cherokee High School Senior Colin Trent said to the gathered crowd at the meeting. He was one of six students who attend the 2019 Boys State. “It was worth it — every penny. I had a great time.”
Post 21 recruiting new members Though the worldwide American Legion membership is over two million, Elkins explained that many members are aging and are, unfortunately, not being replaced by younger members. Though membership at Post 21 continually rose from its founding year until 1972, it has slowly dropped each year since its height of 1,538 members in 1972. Membership got as low as 215 in 1987 and now sits at 268. “American Legion Post 21 needs your membership and you to survive,” Elkins recently wrote in an article contributed to the Review. “A lot of our members are from the WWII, Korean, and Vietnam eras. Due to age and medical issues, many can’t do the things that we need to do to keep our Post going.” He encouraged veterans to unite in
their pride as American veterans and become an active member of the Post. “We want to invite you to come to our meetings (on the last Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m.),” he wrote. “If you are already a member of our post, we need you! If you are not a member of our post, we will be honored to sign you up today. We need your membership and you.”
Celebrating the Centennial on Nov. 8 To celebrate the centennial and encourage community involvement in the historic Post 21, the Post also hosted a dinner and silent auction on Nov. 8. Congressman Phil Roe served as the evening’s keynote speaker, and both State Senator Frank Nicely and State Representative Gary Hicks also spoke at the event. Elkins noted before the event that he hoped young veterans would use it as an opportunity to becoming involved with the Post and meet other members. For more information or to get involved with the American Legion Post that has been serving Hawkins County for 100 years, call Commander Elkins at (423) 235- 1165.
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A Salute to Veterans • November 9/10, 2019 • Page 5
Honoring the Best and the
Bravest For their courage, hard work and dedication to their country, we salute the men and women of our Armed Forces past and present. It is because of their sacrice that America remains the land of the free, and we thank them for protecting our citizens and our country. Wishing all of our veterans and soldiers a very happy Veterans Day.
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Lafollette’s Greenehouses & Farms
Veteran Owned Four Generation Family Operated
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ollis LaFollette served in the U.S. Air Force from 1956 to 1960. After his four years of service to our country, he returned to the family farm in Hawkins County near Surgoinsville. Hollis’ brother, William “Bill” Lafollette saw service in Viet Nam in the Marines. Hollis and his wife, Mildred, helped his dad on the farm eventually taking over the operation. Today, he, his son, Harvey LaFollette, and grandsons Dustin and Jake LaFollette operate the business. Lafollette’s Greenhouses and Farms has seen much growth and changes over the years and continues to evolve to meet today’s needs. In addition to producing top quality plants and produce, Lafollette’s has instituted a corn maze with a playground for smaller children; a covered pavillion available for picnics and gatherings; and special events throughout the year. Lafollette’s Greenhouses and Farms is a four-generation family farm.
Pictured, left to right are Dustin LaFollette, Hollis LaFollette, Harvey LaFollette and Jake LaFollette.
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America’s Veterans: Standing Tall for Freedom
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proudly salute America’s veterans and active-duty military for their drive and dedication, contributions and courage. Their commitment to our country and our freedom has protected us for generations, and we owe them a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. This Veterans Day, please join us in honoring the brave men and women of our Armed Forces who have fought, sacriced and served their country with pride.
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A Salute to Veterans • November 9/10, 2019 • Page 7
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A Salute to Veterans • November 9/10, 2019 • Page 9
ETSU launching free entrepreneurship program for veterans Following World War II, the U.S. witnessed a surge in businesses started by veterans, and today, veteran entrepreneurship continues to impact the American economy. Veterans are uniquely positioned to excel in business ownership and encouraged to apply for a free entrepreneurship training program aimed at developing business ideas and refining early stage businesses. STRIVE - Startup Training Resources Inspiring Veteran Entrepreneurship, is an eight-week cohort led by faculty members in the College of Business and Technology at East Tennessee State University. STRIVE is open to all veterans, Reserve and National Guard members and their spouses. Participants will engage in online learning, meet one evening per week and be connected with
mentors. STRIVE students will receive personalized instruction and assistance relevant to the growth of each business concept. “ETSU is well-positioned to connect veterans with existing programming, experienced faculty and a community of successful entrepreneurs. We will utilize available resources within the College of Business and Technology, including the Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC), to provide practical hands-on instruction. The STRIVE curriculum aims to help veterans build confidence in their business concepts,” said Dr. William Heise, professor of management and marketing and director of the MBA program at ETSU. ETSU is the second institution in the country selected to host a STRIVE program through a partnership with
Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families, which has trained over 70,000 entrepreneurs. The IVMF’s entrepreneurship programs leverage the skills, resources and infrastructure of higher education to offer cutting-edge, experiential training in entrepreneurship and small business management for veterans and transitioning service members. “Veterans demonstrate so many of the qualities of successful entrepreneurs - ambition, dedication, innovation and team-first perspective,” says Misty Stutsman, director of entrepreneurship and small business programs at the IVMF. “STRIVE is a great first step for veterans as they prepare to live the American dream they fought to protect. We are honored to partner with ETSU in launching this program.”
ETSU’S STRIVE cohort will begin in February 2020. Applications are available now and spots are limited. There is no cost to attend and graduates of the program may qualify to apply for business funding from various agencies. Classes will meet one evening per week on the Mountain Home Veterans Affairs Medical Center Campus, in the Interprofessional Education and Research Center (building 60), located at 178 Maple st., Mountain Home, Tennessee. To learn more about STRIVE, including an outline of the course schedule, or to submit an application, visit https://www.etsu.edu/cbat/ strive.php. For more information, contact strive@etsu.edu or 423-4395395.
To learn more about STRIVE, including an outline of the course schedule, or to submit an application, visit https://www.etsu.edu/cbat/strive.php. For more information, contact strive@etsu.edu or 423-439-5395.
Vietnam Veteran Memorial needs 435 missing photos to complete ‘Wall of Faces’ Project BY BRIAN ALLFREY
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UTAH PRESS ASSOCIATION
www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces
As we approach Veteran’s Day, I would like to share two very important numbers with you: 58,276 and 405. As of Memorial Day, 2019, there are 58,276 names on the national Vietnam Veteran’s memorial, the Wall of Faces, honoring service members of the U.S. Armed Forces who fought in Vietnam, those who died in service in Vietnam/ South East Asia, and those service members who went unaccounted for during the war. A 1973 fire in St. Louis, Missouri, destroyed their military records, leaving no photos behind. In 2013, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund set out to find the pictures to preserve their legacies and sacrifices. As of October 2019, only 405 names are still missing pictures. Across the country, volunteers and organizations like the National Newspaper Association and the Newspaper Association Managers (NAM) are helping the program leave no one behind. Andrew Johnson is the publisher of the Dodge County Pioneer in Mayville, Wisconsin, and the immediate past president of the National
Newspaper Association. As NNA President, Johnson championed this cause and led the charge to find over 15,000 missing pictures. “One of the greatest ways we can honor veterans is to recognize their work and sacrifice,” Johnson said. Johnson speaks from experience, as his own son, First Lieutenant David A. Johnson was KIA in Afghanistan in 2012. This cause became extremely personal for him, and he is absolutely thrilled at how close the project is to being completed. “Let’s finish this project for Veteran’s Day for our nation’s Vietnam heroes,” he said. The VVMF needs your help to find the last 405 missing photos. Share the VVMF’s story and the veterans’ names. We need to find family or friends of these fallen soldiers to get their picture and give them the honor they deserve. You can search for the names yourself by going to http://www.vvmf. org/missing-photos. The public can upload photos directly to the VVMF website. Contact the VVMF directly by emailing Latosha Adams at ladams@vvmf.org or by calling 202-765-3774. You can also send me an email and I will share the list with you ― ballfrey@ utahpress.com.
www.vvmf.org • www.vvmf.org/missing-photos
Please join us in thanking our local veterans for their sacrifice and service to our country.
Page 10 • A Salute to Veterans • November 9/10, 2019
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8729 Kingston Pike • Knoxville, TN 37923 • 888-660-0184
www.graysonsubaru.com
Subaru is a registered trademark. Limited time offer subject to change without notice. Valid in the U.S. only, except Hawaii. Terms and conditions apply. Prior sales excluded. Certain models may be excluded. May not be combined with all Subaru incentives. Contact your local participating Subaru retailer or VIP Program Headquarters at vipprogram@subaru.com or 1-800-VIP-0933 for further assistance.