On Friday, a large crowd gathered at the Grant-Reeves VFW Post 7720 in Cornelia for a night of memories and camaraderie. In what has become the post’s traditional pre-Veterans Day celebration, they served bowls of cornbread and beans.
The evening also raised money for the Habersham County Wall of Honor and Wreaths Across America.
Those who served
Donald Tench, who served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict, sat and talked with other veterans, enjoying the evening’s meal and music.
Tench, a 38-year veteran, reminisced about his Army days with fellow veteran Dwight Lomax, who spent three years in Europe during his decades of service. The two sat joking and telling stories, enjoying the moment amidst a crowd of others who had their own service stories to tell.
Service. That was the night’s focus—service to our nation, our community, and each other.
Jack Broome was among those who poured their hearts and time into making the Nov. 8 pre-Veterans Day celebration dinner successful.
“I cooked beans all night and all day!” he said heartily.
That spirit of service crossed generational lines as local Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts assisted with the evening’s raffle, served desserts, and helped clean up.
The Wall of Honor
Broome is a Vietnam veteran and one of the founders of the Habersham County Wall of Honor. It’s an idea that came about after 9/11.
“We went to the Commissioners for approval to create a Wall of Honor, to honor all Habersham County Veterans,” he explained.
The five walls currently display over 7,000 names. Generous community members’ donations pay for the monument’s expansion and upkeep.
Located next to the Habersham Chamber of Commerce on Highway 441 Business in Cornelia, the wall sits across from Ethicon, where Broome dedicated 45 years of his life working.
Ethicon donated the land where the Wall sits.
“If you have served in the military and are from Habersham County with an honorable discharge, you qualify for your name to be on the Wall of Honor,” he explained.
Wreaths Across America
The Grants-Reeves VFW Post also supports Wreaths Across America. This program, run by a national non-profit, works with volunteers nationwide to place wreaths on veterans’ graves at Christmas. This year, veterans will be remembered on December 14 in over 4,600 locations.
The non-profit also teaches children about U.S. history and reminds them of those who sacrificed for their freedom.
Recently, Habersham got involved with the program through the VFW and Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). The VFW oversees wreath layings at Grant-Reeves Memorial Park in Demorest, the Wall of Honor, and the Clarkesville War Memorial. This year, VFW has added the Demorest City Cemetery to its list.
The DAR pays for and organizes wreath layings at the Historic Clarkesville Cemetery.
Donations are needed to pay for the wreaths, which cost $17 each. Churches, civic groups, schools, businesses, and individuals may donate online to sponsor wreaths at their local cemeteries or any participating nationwide location.
To learn more about these programs or to join the VFW, contact Post 7720 at 706-778-4981174. The VFW’s Veterans Center is located at 174 Cornelia Crossing Shopping Center.
