Veterans honored across the county
By Dwight Otwell Editor

LIZZ HAROLD/Sentinel Photo Martin's Creek Elementary meets and greets local heroes.

Veteran's Day programs were held at 11 Cherokee County schools around the county on Thursday and Friday and at Memorial Park in Murphy on Monday.

Veteran's Day recognitions were held at various churches Sunday, which was officially Veteran's Day.

At Memorial Park, a contingent of veterans from WWII to the Persian Gulf war were honored.

Sandy Zimmerman, representative for Congressman Heath Shuler, presented a new flag for Memorial Park. The flag was flown above the capitol on September 11, 2007.

Mayor Bill Hughes addressed the crowd by saying the occasion is tinged with a bit of sadness as noted local veteran John Jordan passed away a few months ago.

"Our troops are fighting and dying today," Hughes said. "Let us hope as a nation that hostilities will end soon. We must remember the men and women who paid the ultimate price by giving their lives."

Dr. Homer Wilson, a WWII veteran, was the guest speaker. He worked with the 3rd Army under General George Patton.

"Freedom has never been free. It always costs us," he said. "To be good soldiers changes your way of living.

"A good soldier must know his weapon. In the Christian life there are a lot of people who go to church and don't know the word of God. This book (Bible) is your weapon. You have to know it.

"God bless America and he has blessed us and brought us through many trials and heartaches."

Wilson said he remembers seeing the Statute of Liberty as he sailed into New York after the end of WWII.

"I thanked God for being back on American soil," he said.

Dolly Savugot and Cynthia Mathis sang. Bugler Charles (Chuck) Reiford played Taps and God Bless America. Gold Star Mothers recognized were Opal Graves, Kathryn (Kate) Jones and Jane Wilson, whose sons were killed in Viet Nam.