Hope Civic Clubs Hold Veterans Day Program At Hempstead Hall

By Staff, 11/12/18 9:32 PM

The Hope Civic Clubs sponsored their annual Veterans Day Program Monday November 12th at noon at Hempstead Hall. After a welcome from chairman Bob Willis and an Invocation from Rev. Kenny Martin of the First Assembly of God, the Hope High Air Force ROTC students presented the colors and Arnetta Bradford sang the National Anthem. One hallmark of the program is the playing of the anthems from all the branches of American military service. This duty was handled by the EAST students from the Hope Academy of Public Service. Following the anthems, the “gold star” families of our area were recognized. These included the families of the late Sgt. Thomas Chad Rosenbaum, Staff Sgt. Carlos Robinson, and Sgt. First Class Ricardo Young.
Huck Plyler of Spring Hill was recognized. 7 year old Huck, son of Briana and Caleb Plyler, has sent over 130 boxes of items to active service personnel around the world. “Huck’s Military Care Package Project” is setill underway. If you’d like to learn more, call Huck’s Mom, Briana at 870-723-0604 or his dad Caleb at 703-1394.
Veterans Service Officer Leon Prince honored the Vietnam-era veterans and the HAPS EAST showed a video they had made honoring veterans.
The speaker was Col. (ret.) Joseph “Jay” Kopecky. Kopecky’s program was primarily composed of actual stories he had collected from veterans. After his presentation, Hempstead County Judge Haskell Morse read a proclamation making November 12th “Jay Day” in Hempstead County in recognition of Col. Kopecky’s over 10,000 hours of public service. Following the presentation, the HAPS students gave away door prizes and the program concluded.