Veterans Day held in Historic Train Depot

Better Hometown Blackshear hosted a Veterans Day Program November 11. The Reverend Morris Pate— Pastor of the Fourth Mount Olive Church—pictured, served as keynote speaker for the event, delivering a powerful speech on the role of veterans in our community and how the average citizen can thank vets for their service.  Among his suggestions: vote, don’t waste your time and in a country where you’re free to put them to use, spend time with your loved ones and put in the effort and involvement that veterans are unable to do when serving in the armed forces separates them from their families. Pate also encouraged everyone to respect your fellow citizens, working and thinking as one and continue to observe the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month (Veterans Day). He finished with a call to “honor, love and thank veterans in your life.” Pate himself served in the Navy and he described his role in a family legacy of military service. Troy Mattox, an Army veteran, leads guests in the Pledge of Allegiance. Guests would later hear “Taps” performed by Mikayla Cox and an “Armed Service Medley” during which attendees were asked to stand as the anthem of their branch of service played. Originally meant to take place in Blackshear City Park, rain caused by Tropical Storm Nicole pushed the ceremony into the Historic Blackshear Train Depot. Better Hometown Blackshear organized the event, with water and flags donated by the Rotary Club of Blackshear, food was donated by Blackshear Piggly Wiggly and soft drinks donated by Coca-Cola. Members of the Blackshear Fire Department grilled the food and Hospice Satilla allowed the use of seating and decorations from an event the previous evening.