A Veterans Appreciation assembly program was held Friday morning at Smithville Elementary School in recognition of Veteran’s Day.
Kelly Birmingham led students from pre-K to the second grade in singing “God Bless the USA” and other patriotic songs in honor of veterans who have served in each branch of the military.
Veterans attending the assembly program pictured above are:
Bottom Row (left to right): William Dyer of Crossville who served in the U.S. Marines as 1st Sergeant during the Vietnam War. He was founder of the National Vietnam Veterans Day; Garry Davis of Smithville who served as a Specialist 4 in the Army during the Vietnam War; Jimmy Sprague of Smithville who served in the Army as an E5 3rd & 75th Ranger in Operation Just Cause; and Dale Pedigo of Buffalo Valley who served in the National Guard as an E6 Staff Sergeant. He served 27 years in the military.
Middle Row: (left to right): J.R. Redmon of Smithville who served in the Navy and Air Force and was a 2nd Class Petty Officer; James Cantrell of Smithville who served in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict as a 1st Lieutenant; Ricky Rafferty of Sebring, Florida who served as a Marine Corporal during the Vietnam War; Alan Stengel of Smithville who served in the Navy at the rank of A-5 during the Vietnam War; Joe Goodwin of Smithville who served in the U.S. Army as a Sergeant. He was a Prisoner of War in Germany during World War II; and Guy Mathis of Liberty who served in the Army as a PFC Machine Gunner during World War II. He received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, plus six other medals.
Top Row: Douglas Bonner of Smithville who served in the Army as a Specialist 3; George Steinbach of Smithville who served in the Army as an E-6 during the Vietnam War; Ray Vaughn of Smithville who served as an E-4 in the Army; Brent Arnold of Smithville who served in the Air Force as an Airman 1st Class; Chad Polk of Smithville who served in the Army as an E-6 Staff Sergeant in Afghanistan and Iraq; Jake Merriman of McMinnville who served in the Marine Corps as a Lance Corporal; Walter Johnson of Smithville who served in the Army as a Corporal during the Korean Conflict; James Dunn of Smithville who served in the Army as a Corporal during the Korean Conflict; Richard Widener who served in the Marine Corps as a Sergeant during the Vietnam War; John Hummer of Smithville who served in the Marine Corps as a Corporal during the Vietnam War; Ronnie Redmon of Dowelltown who served in the Air Force as an E-3 during the Vietnam War; and Paul Cantrell of Smithville who served in the Navy as a BM3 during the Korean Conflict.