Monette Manor veterans honored

Monette Manor veterans were honored on Thursday morning with a flag ceremony conducted by the Craighead County Veterans Honor Guard.

"We needed a new flag," Marla Layne, Monette Manor Administrator, said. "We contacted the Craighead County Veterans group and we got more than just flags."

Carl Mosby, VCW Post 1991, said the Honor Guard was pleased to bring the flags and conduct the ceremony in honor of the veteran residents at Monette Manor. Mosby served 22 years in the Army. Other members of the Honor Guard were Billy Jack Simpkins, Army Air Borne; Bob Owens, 22 years in the Navy; Jerry Crump, Marine; J.F. Jim Lane, Air Force; and Carol Bragg, 20 years in the Army.

Veterans from the Manila Post 197, R.A. Davidson, commander; Freddie Vandivor, post manager; and Jerry McCain, member, attended the flag ceremony.

Also attending were veterans from Monette American Legion's Post Jerry Reed, Ricky Copeland and Jim Pyland.

Gary Perkins, Monette Manor Director of Nursing, is a Navy Veteran. He retired from the Navy before going into the nursing field. He expressed his appreciation to the Craighead County Honor Guard for the flags and conducting the ceremony. He also praised Monette Manor's resident veterans.

The Honor Guards presented the flags and saluted the resident veterans.

Mosby, Post Service Officer, distributed forms to the veterans for a book being compiled of veterans in Craighead County. He asked the veterans to fill out the information and submit it to be included in the book.

He also gave information on commemorative veteran bricks, inscribed with veteran's names and military information. Bricks are ordered twice a year in Oct. and April. The cost is $50 and they are placed in the Craighead County Courthouse Plaza. For more information on purchasing a brick for a loved one, interested persons can contact J.F. Lane at (870) 931-2112.

Monette Manor Veterans honored included F.L. McHaney, Army; Mervin Lewis, Army; James Biggs, Navy, Larry Weathers, Army; Winford Pyland, Army; Walter Dennis, Navy; Jimmy Pyland, Army; Jerald Sizemore, Army; Ronald Crawford, Army; and Jerry Stevenson, Air Force.

Monette Manor's female veteran, Era Vickers, who served in the U.S. Air Force, was not able to attend the ceremony on Thursday.

"We appreciate our veterans and our military," Layne said. "They served our country well and deserve our respect."

Gary Perkins also praised the veterans for being there and supporting the Monette Manor Veterans.