Local Vietnam veterans sought for May 15 honors

In conjunction with the 50th anniversary Commemoration of the Vietnam War, the state of Georgia will attempt to honor every one of its 234,000 Vietnam veterans. The Georgia Department of Veterans Service, in partnership with the Office of Governor Nathan Deal, created the Vietnam War Certificate of Honor Program. Every Georgia veteran with honorable service during the Vietnam War era is eligible to receive this certificate. With the help of the Pike County American Legion Post 197, the Certificates of Honor will be presented to Vietnam veterans in Pike at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 15. In addition to the certificate, each awardee will get a Department of Defense Lapel Pin.’American Legion Post 197 is pleased to announce that it is hosting the Salute to Georgia’s Vietnam Veterans Ceremony for Pike County,’ said commander Bryan Richardson. ‘The Vietnam Veteran honorees and the public are cordially invited to attend this ceremony Sunday, May 15 at 3 p.m. at the Pike County Auditorium on Highway 19 in Zebulon. This will be a major event in Pike County. Post 197 knows it has not identified all Vietnam Veterans nor validated the required information for the Certificate of Honor. We know there are still a lot of Vietnam veterans in Pike County. We need your help to honor all our local Vietnam veterans.’ All Pike County’s governmental representatives, including the governor, U.S. Senators and representatives, state Senators and representatives, county commissioners, county manager, city mayors, county sheriff, superior court judges, school superintendent, commissioner of Veterans Service, Georgia Department of Veterans Service officials and the American Legion National and Georgia Department Commanders will be invited. ’For those of you not on this list or who may know of a Vietnam-era veteran who served in the military between 1954 and 1975 who is not on the list below, Post 197 can still add you or that person to the list,’ said Post 197 commander Richardson. ‘Our deadline to add veterans is May 5.’ To add a veteran to the list or for questions, contact Richardson at 770-884-9810 or email rich5060@bellsouth.net so the veteran’s DD Form 214 can be verified for required certificate information.Below is a current list of the Vietnam Veterans within Pike County who have already had their DD Form 214s verified and will receive the Certificate of Honor and DoD Lapel Pin. Veterans set to be honored at the May 15 ceremony include Glenn R. Abbott, Ronald C. Bartlett, George E. Bottoms Jr., David R. Bugh, Fred O. Caraway, Edward A. Collins, Charles H. Dayhuff III, William C. Dials II, Wayne L. Germain, Paul Faulds, James T. Harris (KIA, to be presented to family representative), Paul Harris, Robert L. Huckaby, Roy Hughley, Douglas E. Jones Sr., Timothy D. King, Willie L. King (MIA, to be presented to family representative), Julian S. Lowery, Arthur Long, Randolph A. Martin Jr., Benjamin R. Maxedon, Billy ‘Cowboy’ L. McClanahan, Charles W. McClelland, Glenn R. McCuaig (KIA, to be presented to family representative), Patrick A. Patten, Larry D. Pearson, Kenneth E. Riley II, Herman J. Scott, Lonnie L. Silver (KIA – to be presented to family representative), Lewis W. Tallant Jr., James M. Totten, William H. Walker, David E. Weldon, Charles G. West and Ralph C. Williams.