Photo of Hardeman County Superintendent of Schools Warner Ross and Brigadier General Baker by Anna-Alicia Sails.

Remembering Pearl Harbor

Families and friends gathered in the gymnasium at Whiteville Elementary School for the Hardeman County Veterans Ceremony on December 9, honoring veterans and their families who served in the Korean, Vietnam, and WW II wars. 
Sergeant First Class Will Ross facilitated the program and the Liberty Technology Magnet High School AFJROTC Honor Guard presented the colors followed by prayer led by Union Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Whiteville Pastor Jerry Crisp.
 The speaker for the morning was Brigadier General Tommy Baker, who is an Assistant Adjutant General in the Army and Bolivar Mayor Barrett Stevens.
Baker spoke about the importance of the ceremony as the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor was two days before. First Sergeant Larry Anthony Prince, who is retired, read the names of the WW II veterans that were killed in action. The LTMHS Choir came after the speakers and sung sang patriotic songs.
 Frances Ward, who put the ceremony together, spoke about how this program got its start. 
"Sergeant Major Spencer and I first started the Veterans' Program and it started out with Black History. Then, in a couple of years, the county and city mayors wanted us to go county-wide. "
 Ward also said that she loves to put the ceremony together and honor all the veterans and has a great staff to help her do it. A lunch was served to the veterans.