The Veterans at the Library held their weekly meeting, Monday morning, June 19, 2023, at the First Methodist Church social hall. Because of the renovation Franklin Memorial Library is currently undergoing, Veterans met at the Vann Community House during the first week of renovation and at the First Methodist Church the last two weeks of renovation. After the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, the Veterans were treated to an outstanding breakfast of pancakes, syrup, butter, sausage, muffins, sliced watermelon, coffee, orange juice and apple juice. The morning host was Shari Watt, who was assisted by Judge Kathy Palmer and Sarah Lumley. Chair Johnny Tapley began the meeting by discussing this past Saturday's Veterans & First Responders Memorial Park clean-up. A lot was accomplished by putting out the mulch and pine straw around the trails and shrubbery. He also talked about a short workday this Saturday, June 24, that will allow volunteers to finish putting out the mulch and trimming the tree limbs. At around 10:15 a.m., Saturday, Veterans will drive to the Saint Phillips Baptist Church on South Racetrack Street to attend the funeral of fellow veteran, Lee Jones, Jr. Veteran Jones had been attending the Veterans at the Library Monday morning breakfast meetings since April 17. Jones was drafted into the Army in 1967 and after basic training and AIT he served with the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, NC. He also served as a Drill Sergeant during the Vietnam Conflict. Veterans will begin meeting at the library once again, next Monday, June 26 at 9:15 a.m.
