Local veterans honored at annual luncheon

Veterans from Barnwell County and beyond were honored for their valor and celebrated for their service at the Veteran’s Day Program held by the Veterans Affairs Office at the Barnwell County Museum on November 3.

After hands crossed over hearts for the Pledge of Allegiance, Marine Corps. veteran Sheriff Steve Griffith expressed his everlasting gratitude for each individual’s service.

“I thank each and every branch that has come today,” said Sheriff Griffith.

The event was organized by Barnwell County Veterans Affairs Officer Joyce Nickens-Brooks, who felt it was successful in showing Barnwell County veterans they are appreciated.

“If it wasn't for the veterans, we would not have what we have today,” said Nickens-Brooks, “They put up their lives to protect this country and without the veterans, we wouldn't have what we have today. No jobs, no food, no nothing.”

Gulf War veteran Reverend Albert Pressley provided the invocation where he led the room in a prayer for past, present, and future veterans.

Before Afghanistan veteran Marlon Hinds recognized the distinguished guests, he asked the spouses and children of veterans to stand. Hinds expressed how essential a solid support system is either on active duty or as a veteran.

“It is as, or more important, than the boots on the ground,” said Hinds.

Hinds recognized SC Representative Lonnie Hosey, Barnwell County Administrator Tim Bennett, Chief Veteran Experience and Employee Service at Charlie Norwood Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) Eric D. Bryant, Sheriff Griffith, and Lowcountry Regional Integration Officer at Columbia Veterans Affairs Bennen Beck as the program’s distinguished guests.

Another guest of honor was Sally Grill. Grill served as a Captain in the Air Force in Thailand during the Vietnam War for four years, nine months, and four days from February 1968 to November 1972. One of Grill’s many awards is the Air Force Commendation Medal with one gold leaf cluster.

She was one of the first women to hold the many positions she did, as there were so few women actively enrolled in the armed forces during this time.

“I had the chance to end stereotypes, and that’s what I did,” said Grill.

In her speech, she detailed the various roles of women in war and how they would serve both on and off the battlefield. In the Air Force, women first entered pilot training in 1976, navigator training in 1977, and fighter pilot training in 1993.

As Grill told the crowd of the places she had been, she jokingly added how most military facilities did not come equipped with women’s restrooms at the time and what an obstacle it commonly was to find one.

She also told the story of how she and her husband, Air Force veteran and Captain Jim Grill, fell in love while on assignment.

Today, the Air Force is 21.4% women, according to the active duty military demographics of the Air Force as of Sept. 30.

Grill is currently a Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church and a retired school teacher and vocational rehabilitation counselor. She is also the past president of Friends of the Libraries of Barnwell County.

Raffle tickets were drawn throughout the event and prizes were donated by local businesses. Gas stations Shell, BP, and Sports and restaurants like Lucy Lu’s and Chrome Dome & Nutt’s both donated gift cards. Tina Brooks donated a red, white, and blue wreath to be a prize in the raffle, and a cake was donated from Adrian Robinson and Tiffany Wilson of Aaron’s.

Lunch was catered by Michael Morrow and served by Mary Robinson, Annie Hallingquest, Dorothy Clark, Tammy Fireall, Latvia Gin, Tina Brooks, Wanda Jones, and Elouise Dunbar.

Representative Hosey’s closing remarks brought the room together in song when he began singing the first words of The Marine’s Hymn.

He encouraged veterans to continue being active members of Barnwell County by reciting the Veterans Creed, an eight-point mantra meant to inspire veterans to continue being leaders in their communities. Rep. Hosey served in the Marine Corps. from 1966 to 1967.

The Veterans Creed was created and is recognized by many veterans advocacy groups including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Military Order of the Purple Heart, and the Wounded Warrior Project.

This is one of the first events honoring veterans in the county this year. Williston-Elko High School (WEHS) is holding a program on Wednesday, Nov. 9 from 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. in the high school gymnasium. WEHS also held a Veteran’s Day Poetry Contest where students were asked to submit a piece of poetry reflecting the sentiment of service.

Barnwell School District 45 is holding a breakfast followed by a program on Nov. 11 at the Barnwell Elementary School Multipurpose Room to honor all local veterans and their families. ‘Barnwell School District 45 Salutes our Veterans,’ will begin with breakfast at 8:30 a.m. immediately followed by the program at 9 a.m.

Nickens-Brooks holds Let’s Talk: Veterans Supporting Veterans on the third Thursday of each month to provide Barnwell County veterans with a place for support and conversation. November’s discussion will be around housing options through Veterans Affairs and will be held at the Barnwell County Veterans Affairs Office located at 34 Pechman Street in Barnwell.

Although there are many ceremonies held for veterans in the first weeks of November, Nickens-Brooks hopes community members and local businesses will continue to support initiatives and efforts around the needs of veterans in Barnwell County.