VETERANS DAY PROGRAM AT THE PARK

It was a great day at the Carroll County Veterans Memorial Park – Celebrating Our Military Veterans!  Sounds of patriotic music echoed throughout the Park compliments of the Carroll Wind Ensemble with Director Terry Lowry.  Master of Ceremonies LTC Barry Gardner (USA Ret.) presided and the Colors were presented and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by the Carrollton High School JROTC.  Students Anna Carnes and Courtney Vance sang the National Anthem and later with the entire audience sang God Bless America.  Gardner read the names of those Killed-In-Action in Vietnam and the bell tolled for each one.  All veterans were honored and thanked for their service and welcomed home!  A special group picture was taken of the Vietnam Veterans in attendance.  The American Legion Honor Guard from Post 143 saluted the veterans with their rifle squad and Taps were played.

The keynote speaker was Col. Wayne Waddell (Ret. USAF).   In 1966, after completing F-105 Thunderchief Combat Crew Training, Maj. Waddell was assigned to the 354th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing at Takhli Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, In April 1967.  Maj Waddell was forced to eject over North Vietnam and became a Prisoner of War while flying his 47th combat mission on July 5, 1967.  After spending 2,070 days in captivity at the Hanoi Hilton, he was released during Operation Homecoming on March 4, 1973.  He was welcomed home by his hometown, City of Bremen and West GA.  Then he attended Air War College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama.  Col Waddell then remained on the faculty of the Air War College until 1975, when he transferred to the Pentagon and worked on the Department of Defense Joint Service Committee on Air Munitions standardization from 1975 to 1979. His final assignment was as director of U.S. Air Force Emergency Plans for the Eastern United States at Dobbins AFB, Georgia, from 1979 until his retirement from the Air Force on October 27, 1987. Col Waddell served as President of NAM-POWs Corp, the Organization of former Vietnam Prisoners of War, from 1981 to 1984.

 

The keynote speaker was Col. Wayne Waddell (Ret. USAF) and he is pictured on the left with  Master of Ceremonies LTC Barry Gardner (USA Ret.)  on the right.

Students Anna Carnes (right) and Courtney Vance sang the National Anthem and later with the entire audience sang God Bless America.  

Central High School JROTC

Sounds of patriotic music echoed throughout the Park compliments of the Carroll County Wind Ensemble with Director Terry Lowry.  Thank you Terry for a job well done.

Central JROTC placed the memorial wreath during the ceremony.

The local Abraham Baldwin Chapter Daughter of the American Revolution and the Casimir Pulaski Chapter Sons of the American Revolution are excited about honoring our American Revolutionary Veterans who settled in Georgia in 1826 through 1840. 

Standing left to right: Tina Clune, Violette Denney, Wendy Quinn and Gwyn Chesnut (Front from the left) Paula Steed, Idys Overton and Regent Alice Robinson.