‘With bowed heads and humble hearts’
Published 11:53 am Thursday, November 11, 2021
A Veterans Day program was held Thursday morning in the Jefferson Davis County courthouse. The program was led by Veterans Service Officer Joe Bridges. Speaker for the event was Veteran Chellie Payne, with comments given by Prentiss Mayor Charley Dumas and JDC 5326 NAACP President Duan Johnson.
Payne highlighted the importance of honoring our Veterans and facts regarding Veterans Day. “Veterans Day is to honor our nations heroes who have given so much to protect our freedom,” said Payne.
“With bowed heads and humble hearts we pay tribute to those who did not come home when final victory was won,” said NAACP Veterans Committee Member Cammie Reese before calling the names of the Gold Star Veterans from Jefferson Davis County. “May we ever honor their supreme sacrifice.”
Gold Star Veterans from Jefferson Davis County recognized were:
Killed in action in World War I and World War II are LT. W. B. McNeese, SSG. Victor Bullock, Pvt. Howard Rush, Pvt. Virgil McNease, PFC Willard Holloway and PVT. Louis E. Livingston.
Killed in the line of duty in World War II are SGT. Edwin McNeil, PFC. Joe Norton and Lt. R.C. Jones Jr.
Prisoners of World War II from Jefferson Davis County are Cpt. Morgan Whitefield, Sgt. Claude Burkett and SGT. George Truman.
Family members received a trophy and certificate on the Veterans behalf.
Duan Johnson recognized and gave appreciation to the NAACP Veterans Committe Members Chellie Payne, Jessie Payne and Cammie Reese who coordinated the program for the Gold Star Veterans. “This has never been done in Jefferson Davis County for our Gold Star Veterans,” said Johnson. “It is important to not forget. Freedom is not free.”
The committee intends for this to be an annual event for the Gold Star families, and will take place next year on Memorial Day.
The program was sponsored by the JDC NAACP Veterans Committee, he JDC Veterans Service Office and the Town of Prentiss.
If you have a family member from Jefferson Davis County that is a Gold Star Veteran, please the JDC Veterans Office at 601-792- 5939.
