Overwhelmed with emotion, Brenda McPherson Mahoney pulled her hands to face as the American Legion Post 96 honor guard marched into formation in the center of downtown Murphy and officially started the first Veterans Day parade Saturday morning.
“I’m proud. Really proud,” she said, tired but happy.
The parade was just an idea only one year prior. She had been working with the Cherokee County Veterans Service Office and local veteran service organizations to make it a reality.
The parade featured eight grand marshals – World War II veterans Charlie Raper, John Love, Julian Highsmith, Hoke Henson, Reuben Taylor, David Rabhan and Walter Kerr, as well as Korean War veteran Carol Kingsley.
Kerr – who served in the Navy in World War II, then later joined the Army and served in the Korean War, too – thought it was great to be a part of the event.
“We need to remember what’s been done in the past to preserve our country, to preserve our freedom,” he said.
Murphy Mayor Rick Ramsey thought it was “unbelievable” how many World War II veterans the community was able to honor in the parade. He added that his father was in WW II.
“For the first veterans parade for Murphy, it was outstanding,” Ramsey said.
The parade included several local organizations and musical entertainment from the Appalachian St. Andrews Pipe and Drums, Murphy High School Marching Band and Union County (Ga.) High School Marching Band.
The parade concluded at Konehete Park, where participants could enjoy a country fair. In addition to food, crafts and entertainment, the event featured two special ceremonies.
A bench was dedicated at the park’s brick memorial, a project of the Marine Corps League, Cherokee Detachment 1011. As part of the dedication, Mahoney presented Commandant Frank Bailey, with an outstanding community service award.
Later in the afternoon, Ramsey unveiled the new sign for the road that travels through the park – now Veterans Memorial Lane. Mahoney thought that touch made a difference in letting local veterans know the community supports them.
Matt Lowe, a veteran who was volunteering at the Warrior Veterans Outreach booth, thought the event was great for sharing information about the organization with he community.
“It was a good turnout,” he said. “And everybody was respectful.”
‘A great cause’
Stephanie Chase of Acworth, Ga., was visiting downtown Murphy when she overheard people talking about the parade and fair. She decided to come by the park, where she found headliner Michael Hulett singing and playing a variety of saxophones.
“He’s fantastic,” she said, admitting she videotaped some of his performance. “He’s impressive.”
Hulett entertained with his ability to quickly and smoothly switch instruments during songs. He sang hits the small crowd enjoyed, from The Four Tops’ “I Can’t Help Myself” to Huey Lewis & the News’ “The Heart of Rock and Roll.”
Hulett was honored to swing by Murphy while on tour.
“It’s for a great cause,” he said, adding he has siblings in the military. “It’s really important to take care of the people who take care of us.”
Another person touring the country, Michele Ladd of National Veteran Resources, also came to Murphy for the event. The mother of two veterans, she travels the country in an RV to share veterans’ stories and build her database of resources for veterans.
“My goal is to just raise awareness to suicide, PTSD, mental health in all our veterans and first responders,” she said. “I’m trying to get the 22 (suicides) down to 0 a day.”
She said organizations, like the American Legion and Marine Corps League, are great resources for veterans to support each other.
The fair was fundraiser for the veteran service organizations. Mahoney said she plans to meet with key people to discuss tweaks for next year, including possibly having the event on a different weekend so it doesn’t have to compete with as many other events.
“I do think overall it was very successful,” she said. “I just really want to thank the community for being a part of it and thank the veterans for their service.”
At the airport
One other event was a Veterans Day program presented by American Legion Post 532 of Hayesville and Ivie Funeral Home at Western Carolina Regional Airport in Andrews.
The event, “Welcome Home: A Tribute to Veterans,” included a U.S. Air Force flyover, appearances by state Rep. Kevin Corbin (R-Franklin) and U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) and performances by both the Andrews and Murphy high school bands.
Peachtree program
On Monday, many of the area’s veterans gathered again for Townson-Rose Funeral Home’s 22nd annual program and barbecue luncheon for veterans and public servants at Peachtree Memorial Baptist Church.
The program featured a speech by Col. Howard Lovingood, who said there had never been a generation in American history that was not put in harm’s way, but the veterans suicide amount is “unacceptable.”
“We’re losing massive people to that, and that’s unsatisfactory,” Lovingood said, encouraging fellow veterans to help. “We know what they’re dealing with… . You, as a veteran, are the heart and soul of this nation.”
After a musical presentation by Bill Rinaldo, followed by “Taps” played by Joslyn Parker-Booth, Townson-Rose co-owner Teresa Jefferies welcomed everyone to gather for the barbecue.
“It’s just such a blessing to give back to the men and women who have given so much to our country,” Jefferies said as she served coffee at the meal. “For us to be a part of their lives is amazing.”