PHOTO GALLERY: Vietnam Veteran’s Recognition Day held in downtown Rogersville

The Veterans of Foreign Wars hosted Vietnam Veteran’s Recognition Day this past Thursday on the Hawkins County Courthouse lawn near the War Memoiral.

The event opened with prayer by Tecky Hicks, pledge of allegiance led by Dennis Elkins and the national anthem led by Ethan Metz and the Cherokee High School NJROTC.

Vietnam veterans in attendance were honored as well as those whose names are on the memorial at the courthouse lawn.

Dennis Elkins presented some “Vietnam War Information Facts vs Fiction”. In his presentation he stated that 2.7 million Americans served in Vietnam. The youngest Americans who died in Vietnam were 16 years old; the oldest was 62. Two-thirds of Americas who served in Vietnam were volunteers.

The family members of the 20 Vietnam Veterans who paid the supreme sacrifice were encouraged to attend.

Those family members were presented with a Certificate, KIA pin, and a Purple Heart pin. The names of Hawkins County’s fallen Vietnam Vets were read aloud, a family member or Vietnam Veteran will place a Flag at the Memorial in their honor.

Hawkins County’s fallen Vietnam Veterans include:

PFC DON E. ALLEY, PFC THOMAS D. BERNARD, SP-4 ELGIE G. HANNA, CPL JIMMY L. HENRY, SP-4 HERBERT D. HORNER, SGT FREDDIE D. FORD, SP-4 CONLEY A. BRADSHAW, PFC THOMAS A. LAWSON, 2nd LT RANDALL D. YEARY, S/SGT ROY M. BROOKS, 2nd LT ROBERT G. PRICE, LT JOHN W. WILSON, PFC GARY M. CARTER, SGT JAMES P. RICHARDS, S/SGT DAVID P. SPEARS, SP-4 GALE V. CRAWFORD, CPL THOMAS G. RICHMOND, SGT LUTHER V. GILREATH, PFC GARY S. ROWLETT, and SGT BILLY R. COURTNEY.

The program ended with a rifle salute and the playing of Taps.

The program was sponsored by Bulls Gap VFW Post #9683, Joseph Rogers VFW Post #9543 and Church Hill VFW Post # 9754.