The 100th anniversary of the end of World War I was commemorated at the Oconee County Veterans’ Memorial in Watkinsville at 11:00 a.m., on Sunday, November 11, 2018. Sons of the American Revolution served as the color guard, a Scottish Bagpipe ensemble provided some of the patriotic music on a sunny, but chilly day. MOPH Chapter 531 Patriots Farris Johnson, John Dowd, Richard Olsen, and Brian West represented the chapter in the wreath laying ceremonies in memory of our fallen.
It is with great sadness that Chapter 531, MOPH notes the passing of CSM Robert Ham. Members of the Chapter served as honorary pall bearers at his funeral on 11 November.
MOPH Chapter 531, NE GA, members John McGilvray (red cover / white shirt) and Brian West (purple cover) , both U.S. Marines and wounded in 1968 in Vietnam were honored with a Quilt of Valor from the Quilt of Valor Foundation at very patriotic ceremonies at Lyndon House, Athens, GA, on August 15, 2018. A local ROTC unit did the presentation of the quilts. Anne Flippen, Athens/Oconee Co. Coordinator, conducted the ceremonies. The mission of the Quilts of Honor Foundation is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.
U.S. Army, Corporal, Terrell J. Fuller, Korean War Veteran was a member of Company D, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was listed as Missing In Action while fighting the enemy in South Korea on February 12, 1951. He was presumed dead on February 18, 1954. Through the work of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, the remains of Cpl. Terrell Fuller, a Stephens County native, were accounted for this year, 2018. Family visitation and graveside side ceremonies with full military honors were conducted on August 10th and 11th. MOPH Chapter 531 partnered with Marine Corps League, Joseph Schmittou Detachment in Athens in attending and giving their respects at the services at Stephens Memorial Gardens in Toccoa, GA….
MOPH Chapter 531 NE GA members pose for photographs after the wreath ceremonies at the Memorial Day ceremonies Monday, May 28, 2018 at the Oconee Veterans’ Park in Watkinsville, GA. The program was held indoors this year because of the severely inclement weather.
Banks County High School held its Student Awards’ Ceremonies on May 21, 2018. Two young very deserving students were awarded the Purple Heart ROTC/JROTC Leadership Award, presented by MOPH Chapter 531 NE GA. Andrew Bertrang and Danielle Stephens were the winners. Both were very outstanding students as their names were called many times to receive various awards from other departments during the ceremonies.
Commander Farris Johnson presenting a Past Commander pin to John Cranmer
Patriot Jim Wood accepting a check from “The Path Makers” Sunday School class of Tuckston United Methodist Church on behalf of MOPH 531 for the benefit of the Veterans Treatment and Accountability Court Mentors Fund.