Veterans honored at Jackson church service

JACKSON, Tenn. — Northside Assembly of God switched up its normal Sunday service this week to honor all who have served and sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy.

The church’s annual veterans’ appreciation service is a chance to say thank you to veterans and service members.

Members of the University School of Jackson’s choir say they look forward to being part of the day each year.

“Were just trying to let the veterans know that we appreciate them so we put all of our veterans day music together,” Chandler Haynes, a senior at USJ said.

Chandler Haynes says he’s just one of many in the choir who has a veteran in the family.

“It’s not about us,” he said. “We live in the land of the free. We get caught up sometimes but its nice to know we stop and think about them for once.”

Goody bags were passed out to veterans during the service. Each came complete with a handwritten thank you card and handmade cookies.

The service brought out veterans from around the area. Army captain Mark Benton the second is from Kentucky.

“At the end of the day, everyone wants to be valued, whether its something that they are doing or that they have done before,” he said. “So its just really neat to see not only the pastor standpoint but the community standpoint.”

Veterans from all five branches of the military were honored throughout the service.

“We have freedom but as we all know freedom wasn’t free. It came with a price. So its just great to know people really value that.”