Nov. 11 is the day set aside each year to honor our veterans young and old. This past Monday, veterans, several residents at Village Manor, family, and friends of the veterans being honored, gathered together for a program held by Larry McKnight, President of the Veteran’s Outreach Program. After a prayer was led and the pledge of allegiance was recited, The American Heritage Girls sang three patriotic songs, The Star Spangled Banner, Grand Old Flag, and America the Beautiful. Jeannie Hinds, advisor of The American Heritage Girls, informed everyone about Wreaths Across America, a non-profit organization whose mission is to Remember, Honor, and Teach. Members and volunteers of this organization place wreaths on veterans’ graves to honor them. On Dec. 14, two million wreaths will be placed on graves at more than 1,600 locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea and abroad, which includes the Nashville National Cemetery.

Bill “Blossom” Ezell, a member of the 42nd Rainbow Infantry Division during WWII, gave a very informative talk about how he enlisted in the army and spoke of several occurrences that took place during his service years.

Jeremy Moorehead and Vincent Cuevas presented nine veterans and fifteen deceased veterans’ wives, blankets that have the military emblem of the branch of service in which they served. The blankets were a token of appreciation from the Veteran’s Outreach Program.

Larry McKnight also presented blankets to veterans at NHC-Oakwood, NHC-Lewisburg, as well as several veterans who reside in their homes, prior to this program.