Names of 16 Veterans Added to Monument
dclarkadvance@gmail.com
A ceremony held on Veterans Day in downtown Alamo honored the sacrifices of Wheeler County residents who served the United States in times of war, but the occasion was made even more significant as an additional 16 names were added to a monument erected several years ago in a tribute to these service members. Alamo Mayor Pamela Lee officiated at the 9:30 a.m. ceremony during which City Administrator Jeff Floyd and Alamo City Councilman Thomas J. Lott, Jr., explained how a project initiated over the summer updated the names on the monument that were unveiled on Veterans Day.
After Floyd and Lott announced their campaign to solicit the names of veterans who served in Afghanistan and Iraq for inscription on the city monument, local citizens responded with additional names for service during other wars as well. Contributions made the inscriptions possible, Floyd said, as he thanked the community for its support of the project.
As a group of local dignitaries and families of service members who were being honored assembled at the Veterans Memorial in the Alamo flower garden on Main Street, Lott read the names of veterans who served in wars extending from World War II to Iraq: World War II — Gorsieur T. Bryant, Sr., Russell
B. Harrelson, William M. Hood, and Allen Oliver.
Korean War — Willie C. Thomas and Samuel H. Pittman.
Vietnam — James L. Burkhalter and Donald W. Wooten.
Lebanon and Granada — Alton Holloway.
Persian Gulf — D. Bryant Dallis, James C. Lee, Jr., Chandalier M. Rivera, and Lorenzo Simmons.
Iraq — Joe. D. Bryant, Thomas J. Lott, and Shawn A. Murray. The monument to Wheeler County veterans records the names of service members dating from World War I to 21st century conflicts. It was dedicated on May 27, 1996, by the Jenkins-Patterson Post #193 of the American Legion and its Ladies Auxiliary.
MUSEUM RECEIVES DONATION — The Second Century Project of the Altama Museum of Art and History/1911 Brazell House receives funds from members of the Vidalia Woman’s Club. The Museum will use the donation to continue renovations and updates to the historic building, including a new sign. L to R, Dan Brown, Altama Board of Trustees President, and Jennifer Martinez, Director of the Museum, accept a check from VWC members Bonnie Brown and Rebekah Arnold.
