SPECIAL TO THE DEMOCRAT

JONESVILLE — American Legion Auxiliary Boyd Mann Unit 163 will hold its Annual Memorial Day Program on Monday at 2 p.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church at 401 Third St., Jonesville.

The Boyd-Mann Unit 163 of the American Legion Auxiliary in Jonesville was established in 1941. Some of the things the organization does is host the Veteran Day Program held at Block High school, host the Memorial Day Program in Jonesville, gives two $500 scholarship to high school seniors from Catahoula Parish, oversees the flags at Veteran’s Memorial on Hwy 84 in Jonesville and other projects.

During the Memorial Program, POW Raymond “Scottie” Wright will again bring in the POW/MIA flag to honor those who were held captive as a Prisoner Of War and for the ones who are listed as Missing In Action.

Scottie, originally from Catahoula Parish, was himself one of the POW/MIA’s that he honors. During the Korean Conflict, Scottie was one of three Americans who escaped as prisoners from North Korea.

Scottie now resides in neighboring Concordia Parish but stills comes back home to Catahoula to help in the Memorial Day Program. Scottie is also the last surviving POW from Catahoula Parish.

Others from Catahoula Parish who were POWs are Korean Conflict veterans Vernon Carlton and Shelby Creel; World War II veterans James Paul Bates, Charles R. Craddock, J.S. Gray, Herbert Hawthorne, Zack Wilkes, Hiram Wright and Howard Wright. Hiram and Howard Wright were brothers and were both POWs in Germany during World War II.

Those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country are: World War I — Perry D. Alexandria, Fred D. Baker, John M. Blair, Silas W. Book, Lewis Brooks, Benjamin Burrel, John C. Chevallier, Albert W. Dorsey, Lathere Finnis, Jimmy Gordon, Willie Jordan, James M. Knapp, William E. Lee Jr, Perry Little, Joseph E. Montpelier, Curtis Mosley, Wesley B. Paulk, Cleveland Ray, James B. Smith, Robert H. Smith, James F. Trichel, Wash Whitehead, Tollie Womack, Will Woods and William Young.

World War II — William J. Adroin, Elious Bass Jr., Raymond C. Bell, Oscar F. Blair, Johnnie F. Bourke, Charles E. Boyd Jr., Theodore P. Bradford, Robert L. Bruster, Wallace O. Cloy, Shelton T. Cockerham, Burton Collins, Charlie Cooper, Murele Dalton, Alton Davis, Ervin N. Denny, David C. Dixon, Kaga A. Doughty, Charlie Drumgoole, Lloyd G. Ellis, W.A. Easterling, Marcy M. Francis Jr., Herman Franklin, Sherman Franklin, William F. Gardner, James A. Golman Jr., Elton E. Gorham, Stanley W. Hailey, William M. Hawkins, Bobby Ray Hawthorne, Henry C.Hooter, Carlan Huff, David E. Jeter, Ray Jones, Joseph A. Jenkins, George W. Johnson, William W. Kendrick, Spence R. Kennedy, Hillory Laffon, Joseph C. Lawrence, Robert E. Lee Jr., Clint Littleton, Mack Litton, Henry C. Mann, Johnnie Newsom, Paul A. Newton, Clyde W. Ogden, Lincoln C. Parker, James R. Randall, Roy D. Robertson, Othel Lamar Russell, Sam W. Rutledge, John W. Ryal, Dewey C. Sanson, Willie E. Sikes, Earl L. Slaughter, Sammy R. Smith, Leonard Straward, Robert L. Taylor, Wilber Tidwell, Fredrick M. Washburne, Charlie W. Watson, Odis White, James Williams, Sullivan Wilson and Earl M. Yancy.

Korean Conflict — Alex Johnson, John W. Johnson, Robert V. McHale, Laster Mills, Thomas Hilton Tradewell and Charles Watson.

Vietnam War — Budrow Bass Jr., Roger Edward Denny, Howard Lee Early, Hubert Aaron Erwin, Jerry Roy Long, Dave Mayes Jr., Jimmy Ronald Walton and James Hardy White.

Some others connected to Catahoula Parish who will be honored are Global War of Terrorism – Iraq, Rick Morris; 2010 Haiti Earthquake, Ken Bourland; Troy Riddell Poole, WWII killed at Iwo Jima; and Thomas Lynn Poole, killed during the Vietnam War at Cambodia.

Key Note Speaker Lt. Col. Jeff McClure, U.S. Army (Ret.). McClure retired from active duty in December 2008 with almost 36 years of service. His awards and decorations include The Legion of Merit, two awards of the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the National Defense Service Medal with two service stars and various campaign medals for service in Korea, Kuwait, and during the Global War on Terrorism.

Upon his retirement from the Army he returned to the classroom, resuming his duties as a social studies teacher at Block High until his retirement in February 2013. He and his wife Linda opened The Bakery Cottage in Vidalia after his retirement from teaching.

LTC McClure and his wife Linda are the parents of four children, Jessica, Jason, Justin, and Jeni, and are the grandparents of Brennan, Jackson, Brooklyn, Sophia, and Ethan. Linda is an Army veteran, as is their son Jason, who served five years of active duty with the Army, including two tours to Afghanistan. He is the son of the late Doug McClure of Trout and Mary Bert Arnold of Jonesville.

Refreshments will be served following the program provided by American Legion Auxiliary Boyd-Mann Unit 163, The Columns Community Care Center, Jonesville Woman’s Club and Sue Walker. Hand held flags will be shared at the program furnished by the family of POW Norman Hardie. Flags posted at the Memorial on Hwy 84 for Memorial Day is a joint project between ALA Boyd Mann Unit 163 and Jonesville Woman’s Club.