Wade Hampton High School Principal Lance Radford and Senior Aerospace Instructor Col. Ben Pittman presented the first annual veteran’s Wall of Honor award to Brigadier General Wayne Brock during a Veterans Day program in the school auditorium with the school’s Air Force JROTC cadets and invited local veterans, including 3 World War II veterans who were in attendance.

On a very blustery, chilly and rainy morning, the annual Veterans Day ceremony was held on Wednesday, November 11, at 10 a.m. at Greenville County Square. The theme of this year’s program was “Veterans Honoring Veterans.”

Approximately 250 veterans, family members, and guests braved the elements to attend this year’s program.

George Blevins, Greenville County Veterans Affairs Officer, welcomed those attending the event this year in spite of the bad weather conditions.

“H” Hour arrived on Wednesday, November 4, for the eighty-six men and two women, World War II veterans, who were scheduled to be on the third “Honor Flight” Upstate South Carolina.

These veterans got up Wednesday morning before dawn, just as they had done during military basic training almost seventy years ago.

Senator Jim DeMint was the Keynote Speaker at the Veterans Day celebration on the grounds of the Bi Lo Center, Friday, November 6, sponsored by the BiLo Center and the Col. Robert Anderson Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution. Music was provided by the Travelers Rest High School Band. The ceremonial bell was provided by the Furman University Army ROTC unit.

The U.S. Navy Office of Community Outreach chose twenty-three cities in the U.S. for a group of Navy officers and sailors to visit, and explain to citizens what the U.S. Navy is doing with regard to the “War on Terror,” including humanitarian projects.

The officer in charge of the Greenville visit was Rear Admiral John W. (Bill) Goodwin, a graduate of the University of South Carolina who was commissioned  in May 1975 and started his training as a naval aviator in February 1977.

Perceived Indecision May be Planned Strategy to “Change” Complexion of Armed Forces

Word coming from the White House is that it may be “weeks” before a decision is made on strategy for Afghanistan and the level of troop strength to carry out the strategy.

In the meantime, troop morale is sagging. The Times of London interviewed U. S. Army Chaplains in Afghanistan recently and published a report October 8th.

“American soldiers serving in Afghanistan are depressed and deeply disillusioned,” the report began.