Saturday events will honor local veterans

A wreath-laying ceremony Saturday will precede a Veterans Day parade and special program honoring the county's veterans.

The parade will begin at 10 a.m. at the Veterans Monument at the county administration building. St. Paul's Lutheran Church Pastor Rev. Corky Spitler will offer the invocation.

The parade route will extend from the Gaffney City Hall to Railroad Avenue. A Veterans Day program will be held at 11 a.m. at VFW Post 3447 on South Granard Street.

"Anyone can participate in the parade as long as they are flying the United States flag," VFW Ladies Auxiliary President Linda Brown said. "We are celebrating the veterans who have fought and continue to fight under the United States flag for our freedom."

Cherokee County Veterans Affairs Officer Sammy Willard is the guest speaker for the program.

Willard spent 21 years in the U.S. Air Force before he retired and began a second career working for the U.S. Post Office. Willard was elected the Cherokee County Veterans Affairs Officer in 2003, 22 years after he began his post office career.

Willard estimates there are approximately 10,000 Cherokee County veterans.

There are a few World War II veterans. Many county veterans served in the Korean and Vietnam wars as well as Iraq and Afghanistan in the country's ongoing war against terrorism.

"We are here to serve veterans and help them receive the benefits that they are entitled to for their military service," Willard said. "We serve as an advocate and representative for not only the veterans, their surviving spouses and children of this county, but for any veteran who needs assistance."

Veterans Day organizations are continuing their efforts to build a veterans park in Gaffney.

Wayne Powell will provide an update on the park during Saturday's program.

Chicken dinners are $10 and will be served at the veterans program. Proceeds will go towards the veterans project. Takeout orders are available by contacting the VFW Post at 489-7345.