A military honors ceremony in Stanford drew a big crowd Saturday – and even a celebrity – as many gathered to recognize veterans for their service.
More than 50 living veterans were honored during the ceremony at Grace Fellowship Church on June 22, as well as 17 deceased veterans. There were 13 Purple Heart recipients.
Among the deceased veterans honored was Nicholas T. Fierro. Fierro’s daughters attended the event to accept the posthumous award. Phyllis Macchio (formerly Phyllis Fierro) attended alongside her celebrity husband, Ralph Macchio, known for his role as Daniel in the movie “The Karate Kid” and Johnny in the movie “The Outsiders.”
Nicholas Fierro was best friends with Lincoln County veteran Albert Taylor, 95, who served in the first desegregated U.S. military unit in history during the Korean War.
The opening prayer was given by Grace Fellowship Church Pastor Tom Graef and the National Anthem was sung by Olivia Pettus.
A Prison Of War/Missing In Action ceremony was held followed by a video presentation titled “Some Gave All.”
Dignitaries in attendance included representatives from Senator Brandon Storm’s office and Secretary of State Michael Adams’ office, Stephen Marks Director of Veterans Outreach for Congressman Andy Barr, Ray Lawson, Senator Donald Douglas, State Representative Matt Lockett, Commissioner of Kentucky Veteran Affairs, Stanford Mayor Dalton Miller and Carla Loveless-Tackett of the Veterans Administration/Vet Center program.
Loveless-Tackett gave a presentation on the American Flag before Brigadier General Howard Hunt announced the following veterans who were honored with Purple Hearts:
- Anthony ‘Tony’ Cooley – Vietnam
- Bobby Ryan – Vietnam
- Charlie Sparks – Vietnam
- David Madison Elder – WWII posthumously awarded
- Delmar Owens – Vietnam
- Henry C. James, Jr ‘Buster’ – Desert Storm/Iraq
- John Everett – Vietnam
- Larry Dale Cain – Vietnam
- Larry Gene Trowbridge – Vietnam
- Max Miracle – Vietnam
- Ronald Ellis Murphy – Vietnam
- Steve Grimm – Vietnam
- Wayne Allen Roth – Panama/Bosnia/Iraq
Hunt then read the names of the following veterans to receive awards:
Albert Lee Taylor; Bill Chester; Carla D. Baker; Charles A. Short; Charles R. Barnes; Curtiss L. Wells; Danielle Doth; David L. Tackett; David Todd Smith; Davis Reynolds; Delbert Singleton; Dennis Allen Shewmaker; Dennis R. Clausen; Dewey V. Tillet; Don Miller; Donald Lee Jackson-Roth; Douglas M. Rayburn; Earl V. Alexander; Edd Lindsey; Ellis Eldridge; Elsworth Ray Sayre, Sr.; Eric Rodgers Guffey; Gary Long; Gary Stevens; Gerald Adams; Glenn Elliott; Holly Jo Howard; Hope Lynn Steele Hasty; James L. Wilson; Jay W. Smith; John Oros; Joseph Crain; Justin R. Yazza; Kenneth Dale McQueary; Larry James Dunn; Lloyd V. Gastineau; Lloyd D. Jackson; Mark Anthony Carrier; Michael Hill; Michael Ray Lyons; Mike Houp; Phil Caudill; Randall W. Ledford; Richard Caldwell, Sr.; Robert Simon Tibbetts, Jr.; Robin Crain; Ron Sumner; Ronald Hunkins; Ronald K. Abney; Virgil P. Elliott, Jr.; William Clint Edwards, Jr.; and William Hubbard.
Hunt then recognized 17 deceased veterans including: Bob E. Hunkins; Cleo Baker, Sr.; Dewey Elliot; Dymphna Petronella Alphona Marie VanGorp; Gerald W. Walls; Gilbert Lester “Les” Centers; Henry Clark James; James Ray Loveless; Joseph Clausen; Nicholas T. Fierro; Reubin Bailey, Jr.; Robert M. “Bo” Barnes; Samuel Ray Emps; Thomas Johnson Roberts; William Culp; Willie L. Day; David Madison Elder; and Willie Sandlin.
Following the recognition, there was a video presentation titled “Angel Flight” followed by the playing of T.A.P.s and a closing prayer.
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