Carroll County said ‘thank you’ to those who’ve served in our nation’s armed forces with several events centered around Veterans Day, which was Saturday, Nov. 11.
Local schools paid tribute with special assemblies and meals for veterans. The Berryville Chamber of Commerce presented checks for $1,500 apiece to the local Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion posts. Montgomery- Whiteley Realty hosted a special lunch for veterans and their spouses on Saturday, Nov. 11, and later that day the Veterans Day Parade rolled through downtown Berryville.
In a touching show of respect, Equity Bank’s Berryville branch and the RECON VI veterans support organization held their quarterly veterans appreciation event on Friday, Nov. 10, handing out several awards to Carroll County veterans before treating them to lunch.
Among those honored at the Equity event was Mary Springer, whose husband, Army Capt. Charles A. Springer, was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions as commander of an infantry company during a firefight in Vietnam on Nov. 12, 1967. Springer was mortally wounded, but according to his award citation, “(h)is unhesitating actions and personal bravery, in close combat, inspired his troops to succeed in overcoming and destroying the numerically superior insurgent force.”
Mary Springer, who attended the Equity Bank event with her granddaughter Amber Bowman, was presented with a Gold Star Flag in recognition of her family’s sacrifice.
Others honored at the Equity event were Army veteran Robert Clark, Air Force and Arkansas National Guard veteran Lyle Palmer, Air National Guard veteran Mike Eastwood, Navy veteran Lyle VanBlaricom, Army veteran Chuck Welch, Army veteran Billy Whiteley and Army veteran Vince Eastwood.
Vince Eastwood is president of RECON VI, a local nonprofit. His award was presented by his daughter, Julianna.
State Rep. Harlan Breaux read a proclamation that was adopted by the Arkansas House of Representatives earlier this year in honor of Charles Springer.
The Equity Bank event also included a ceremony honoring the MIA/POW flag that symbolizes prisoners of war and those missing in action.
Tom Mischo, commander of American Legion Walker-Wilson Post 9 in Eureka Springs, told those in attendance that the terms MIA and POW don’t refer just to veterans who haven’t returned home.
“We have many veterans in this country that are MIA,” he said. “We have many veterans here, in this country, that are still prisoners of war.”
On Friday, Nov. 10, Eureka Springs High School FFA members cooked and served breakfast to recognize local veterans. Instructor Jason Hill’s SkillsUSA/ shop students also designed and created individualized boards honoring local veterans.
