Local veterans honored in West Tenn.
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JACKSON, Tenn. — A local congregation paused Sunday to honor and remember the men and women who serve our country. This comes just two days before the Veterans Day holiday. The congregation honored those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. “Those to whom we owe our freedom to,” Pastor Randy Carter said. “The veterans that have served and sacrificed so that the heritage of this great land might be ours.” Members of Northside Assembly of God came out in droves Sunday to salute West Tennessee’s veterans through song and prayer. “It takes us back to some of the months and years in our service for this country,” U.S. Army veteran Gayton Echols said. “We did it because we love this country.” As people made their way into the ceremony, they were greeted by dozens of American flags, all to showcase the sacrifices so many Americans have made. “It’s good that you can see that flag,” Echols said. “We know that we live right here in the good old USA.” Members of the veterans advocacy group Rolling Thunder held a special presentation during the ceremony paying respect to prisoners of war and those missing in action. “We have over 83,000 members that are still missing or unaccounted for from this country,” Rolling Thunder member Randy Edwards said. “That’s 83,000 families that have no idea, no clue where their service members are.” Edwards says his mission is to bring awareness to those who have not served. “We want the non-veterans to uplift them,” Edwards said. “So even though you’re not a veteran, hold your veteran up. They deserve that attention.” Local veterans from all five branches of the military were honored at the ceremony. Organizers say this is the best turnout they have seen since the event started.
