Veteran to share war hero stories Sunday

Published 1:23 am Thursday, November 8, 2018

NATCHEZ — On Sunday, a Natchez war veteran will provide the opportunity for the next generation to hear stories of local war heroes at historic Stanton Hall.

Dr. James Coy, who served on active duty in the U.S. Air Force from 1960 to 1964, said he was inspired to share the story of his father-in-law, Richard E. Conner III — a combat fighter pilot in World War II — and more than 20 other notable World War II veterans and Natchezians, whose stories may not have been told.

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Coy’s presentation will start at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost $20 per person for everyone, and all proceeds will be used for the preservation of Stanton Hall, said interim coordinator for Natchez Pilgrimage Tours, Luke Cockerham.

Coy said he became concerned that Conner’s children and grandchildren would not know about a huge part of history Conner had his thumbprint on unless someone did their research and told them about it.

“Like most other veterans, (Conner) did a lot of extraordinary and heroic things that most people have never heard about,” Coy said. “Most veterans feel so strongly that the real heroes are the ones who didn’t come home, so they never talk about the war. … These stories are important for the younger generations to know the sacrifices that those before them made so that we can maintain the life that we have here in America today. If they don’t know that, it’ll just be taken for granted.”

Stanton Hall will be open for all veterans and their families to tour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Veteran’s Day — free of charge, Cockerham said. Regular tour prices apply for all other visitors, he said.

For more information, visit natchezpilgrimage.com.