Veterans
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Post Commander William
McDonald, a Vietnam vet
who retired from the US
Army in 1995, after 23
years of service to his
country.
The free luncheon, an
annual tradition, is led by
members of the Post's
Ladies Auxiliary. The 2013
event attracted dozens of
veterans to the Post on Old
Rural Hall Road. After a
brief program, attendees
dug into the sumptuous
feast of ham, chicken,
green beans, pasta salad,
macaroni and cheese.
tossed salad and sweet
potato pie that were loving- ,
ly prepared by the Ladies,
some of whom have been
involved with the Post for
decades.
"We are very, very
thankful for all that they
did," said Betty McDonald,
the commander's wife and
president of the Ladies
Auxiliary. "They went
through a lot for us to have
our freedom and be able to
do these kinds of things."
Across town at Goler
Memorial AME Zion
Church, more than 100 vet
erans and their families
took part in HARRY
Veteran Community
Outreach Services' Fifth
Annual Veterans Day
Luncheon. Attendees
swappcu MUIICS
and shared
laughs as they
dined on a
spaghetti dinner
with all the trim
mings in the
church's Family
Enrichment
Center, where
the event was
held for the first
time this year.
Liiy naiive
Claude Moore attended the
Veterans Day luncheon for
the second year in a row.
"I always come out to
their events." he said. "It's
good to see old friends and
stuff
Moore. an alumnus of
East Forsyth High School,
said he joined the military
after graduation because of
the opportunities it present
ed him as a young man. He
remembers his years in the
service fondly.
"I was ready to get
away from Winston-Salem.
I wanted adventure - I
wanted to see the world,"
remarked the
retired carpen
ter, whose serv
ice took him as
far as Germany.
"I've gone to all
parts of the
world. It was
beautiful."
Former
Army nurse
Adele Turner
says she makes
a point of attending a spe
cial event for Veterans Day
every year. This year, the
Long Island, NY native
brought along her eight
year-old granddaughter, in
hopes that she would team
to appreciate the contribu
tions that military men and
women make to their coun
try on a deeper level.
"Children - the
younger generation - a lot
of them are not educated on
the importance of what we
do and what it means to
serve our country," said the
grandmother of six, who
spent eight years in the mil
itary. "We don't just put on
the uniform; it means
something."
Rev. Dr. George Banks,
the church's pastor, said he
felt hosting the luncheon
was a good way for Goler
to demonstrate their sup
port for veterans and the
organizations that serve
them.
"I think that the church
as a universal body has a
responsibility of reaching
out to those who need our
help." said Banks, who has
led the congregation for
just over a year. "Many of
our veterans gave their
service to this country, and
to come back and not be
able to find jobs or ade
quate healthcare, that is one
of the great travesties. I
believe, of the American
democracy. The church is
here to make a difference in
our community, in our
world ... anything we can
do to help, then that's what
we're going to do."
Many among the
parade of local officials
who addressed attendees
also expressed concerns
about the many pitfalls that
veterans face in today's
society. Despite the sacri
fices they make for the
greater good, many veter
ans don't get the support
and assistance that they
need on the home front,
and Mayor Pro Tempore
Vivian Burke said she is
determined to see that
change here in the local
community.
"God blessed us with
veterans and 1 don't want to
put a damper on this, but I
have said so many times to
the city that our veterans
are homeless and without
jobs," she stated. "...I will
stay this course to try to do
everything that I can so our
vets will not be homeless
and hopeless."
County Commissioner
Everette Witherspoon, who
helped to found the
HARRY organization,
decried the high rates of
suicide and unemployment
among veterans. Because
they are more likely to be
employed in the public sec
tor than their civilian coun
terparts, veterans are harder
hit by cuts to government
led programs and services,
he said.
"Twenty two veterans
kill themselves every day.
More of our veterans are
dying by their own hands
than in Afganistan - that
has to stop," Witherspoon
declared. "...We give them
one day, but the fight for
veterans is an everyday
fight."
The HARRY luncheon
was followed by a
HanesBrands clothing
giveaway and a healthy liv
ing presentation by John
and Rosie Raye.
. Veterans and civilians
in search of employment
are invited to visit a job fair
at the North Carolina
Armory, 2000 Silas Creek
Parkway, from 10:00 am.
to 1:00 p.m. on Friday,
Nov. 15. Forsyth County
Workforce Center Vet Staff
will be in attendance. For
more information, call 336
776-6723.
Banks
Photos by Lay la Garms
Ladies Auxiliary members (front row, from left): Betty McDonald, Margie Pitts,
Evelyn Funches, Dorothy Britt (back row, from left): Phyllis Smith, Molly
Cunningham, Beverly Williams and Shirley Scott.
I I H '"-RBI i ?: ? n 1
Claude Moore
Molly Cunningham (left) and Beverly Williams pre
pare a veteran's plate.
Veterans at Post 128
enjoyed a patriotic cake.
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Vivian Burke, former Marine Alfonzo Boyd and
Everette Witherspoon recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
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Former Army nurse Adele Turner with her grand
daughter Tieshero Reid.