Shortly after 6 a.m. on a rather cold Wednesday morning last month, forty-five American Legion Post 3 members left Greenville for a bus trip to Norfolk, VA.

The trip resulted from an eventful week that took place October 5-10, 2009. Greenville was chosen by the U.S. Navy Outreach as one of twenty-three cities in the United States for a group of U.S. Navy officers and sailors to visit and explain to citizens what the U.S. Navy is doing with regard to the “War On Terror,” as well as humanitarian projects around the world.

On Saturday, November 14, American Legion Post 3 members held a memorial service for Major Rudolf Anderson, Jr., at Woodlawn Memorial Park.

American Legion Post 3 Commander John Collins was Master of Ceremony. His opening remarks contained a brief outline of Rudy Anderson’s life growing up in Greenville, SC. He graduated from Greenville High School and later from Clemson College where he was a member of the Air Force ROTC program. After he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant, he underwent flight training as a F-86 pilot and he flew combat missions over Korea during the Korean War.

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.