‘Legion’ busy with Veterans Day events
Published 4:06 am Wednesday, November 8, 2017
By Monday morning, members of American Legion Post 24 had already participated in two Veterans Day events — the Patriotic Church Service at Highland Baptist Church on Sunday and the Northshore Charter School breakfast and Veterans Program — and they still had seven events to go.
They are scheduled to attend Veterans Day programs at 8 a.m. Wednesday at Byrd Avenue Elementary School and the following day at the same time at Mt. Hermon School. Then the members will go to Fisher’s Church Cemetery at 11 a.m. to attend a Memorial Service for William P. Foil, who was killed in World War II.
On Thursday, Nov. 10, the members will jump to action again with a breakfast at Ben’s Ford School at 8 a.m., followed by a veterans’ ceremony at 9 a.m. Then they’ll head over to Annunciation Catholic School at 11 a.m. for a veterans’ ceremony featuring John and Whit Gallaspy, a father and son who both served this country. After that, everybody will go to Our Lady of the Angels Hospital for a veterans’ ceremony there at noon.
The Legion will cap off the Veterans Day week by taking part in a Patriotic Veterans Community Concert in the Picayune (Miss.) High School auditorium at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 12.
To get a copy of the “Warriors’ Own Words: ‘You Had to be There,’” a series of stories compiled by Patricia Newman from Washington Parish veterans from World War I to Operation Iraqi Freedom, call Mike Henley at 985-515-0184, Bobby Latino at 985-516-0055, or Donald Kuhn at 985-516-9927. Because the American Legion is a non-profit, the $20 book price goes right back into Legion projects.
Also, in conjunction with “Wreaths Across America,” Legion volunteers will lay a wreath at each of the approximately 325 veterans’ gravesites at Ponemah Cemetery at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16. Everyone is invited to attend.
Every wreath costs $20, and they are purchased with “contributions and donations.”
To donate, call Henley, Latino, or Kuhn.
The American Legion is also offering an opportunity for a deceased veteran’s family member to purchase a wreath for the same price, for laying in another cemetery. These wreaths can be picked up at the Legion Home, located at 63349 Highway 10.