With the public encouraged to attend, the annual Veterans Day observance hosted by American Legion Dexter Allen Post 90 will be held Wednesday morning, Nov. 11, at the Emma Kelly Theater in downtown Statesboro. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. for the main program at 11 a.m.
That’s the historically significant 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, you see. The First World War armistice took effect in Europe at that hour in 1918, leading to observances that honor military veterans on what is still called Armistice Day in some other countries.
“Veterans Day is much more than a date on the calendar,” said Commander Bobby Godwin of American Legion Dexter Allen Post 90. “It is a day set aside for our nation to pause, reflect, and recognize the men and women who answered the call to serve our country.”
This year’s keynote speaker for the downtown Statesboro observance will be Lt. Col. Damion Hunter of the U.S. Army, who arrived last summer as Georgia Southern University’s new professor of military science. You can read more about him in a moment.
Those attending Wednesday will hear music, too, and prayers and poetry about veterans and the meaning of their service to the nation, as well as from one or two veterans’ organization leaders about challenges veterans are facing today.
“At the American Legion Dexter Allen Post 90, we celebrate Veterans Day because we believe every veteran deserves to be recognized, respected, and thanked for their service and sacrifice,” Godwin said in typed remarks. “Behind every uniform is a story of commitment, courage, family sacrifice, and a willingness to put something greater than oneself ahead of personal comfort and safety.”
The annual Veterans Day program provides “an opportunity to honor the veterans of Bulloch County and surrounding communities, recognize their contributions, and remind our younger generations that the freedoms we enjoy today did not come without a price,” he said.
So, the American Legion post invites the entire community, as well as veterans, current military personnel and their families, to attend this special observance. With the program at the Emma Kelly Theater, 33 East Main St., expected to last until noon, the Legionnaires also invite everyone who attends to join them for lunch afterward at the Post 90 headquarters, 100 Rucker Lane.
Other sponsors include the Averitt Center for the Arts, which maintains and operates the Emma Kelly Theater for live performances and community events; Chick-fil-A Statesboro and Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory.
When the doors of the theater open at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, the Daughters of the American Revolution, specifically the Archibald Bulloch Chapter of the NSDAR, will be providing coffee and doughnuts for attendees before he program.
Dr. Michael Braz, Statesboro-based musician, composer and music educator, is scheduled to perform at the piano, and Lisa Muldrew and other vocalists will sing. A special performance of the Armed Forces Medley, sampling the hymns or anthems of the various U.S. military service branches, is planned.
Lt. Col. Hunter
As the professor of military science at Georgia Southern, this year’s featured speaker, Lt. Col. Damion Hunter, is helping to prepare some of the next generation of Army officers, specifically Eagle Battalion cadets of the Reserve Officer Training Corps.
Born in Miami, Hunter grew up in Naples, Florida, where he graduated from Barron Collier High School in 2005. He subsequently earned his commission as an officer through the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.
While attending West Point, Hunter majored in systems management and was a key member of the Army West Point football team.
Since his graduation in 2010, he has served in a number of military leadership and operational assignments. These have included battery commander for an air defense unit in Afghanistan, operations officer for an air defense battalion in the Middle East, and deputy air missile and defense officer for III Armored Corps at Fort Hood, Texas.
Beyond his military service, Hunter is a devoted husband and father. He and his wife, Melissa Hunter, have four children, Jaylum, 18; Vialette, 10; Luna, 9; and Alaya, 6.
Mental Health Stand-Down
Wednesday’s observance will actually be the first of two special events American Legion Dexter Allen Post 90 is hosting in a span of four days.
The second will be a Mental Health Stand-Down, with a different featured speaker, beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14 in the post’s facility at 100 Rucker Lane, Statesboro.
The stand-down is intended to bring veterans, spouses, families and community members together to promote mental health awareness, provide access to resources, and encourage meaningful conversations about suicide prevention.
Joseph Folsom, a licensed professional counselor and approved clinical supervisor as well as a registered therapist in some specialized types of therapy, will be guest speaker for the Nov. 14 event. Folsom currently serves as outreach director for the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Centerstone, where he works to expand access to mental health services and strengthen community partnerships across Georgia.
He holds a Master of Education in clinical mental health counseling from Georgia Southern and has specialized training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), play therapy, and sandtray therapy. Folsom also serves as vice president of the World Association of Sand Therapy Professionals.
A central message of the Mental Health Stand-Down will be that of the American Legion’s “Be the One” initiative, which encourages everyone to take an active role in preventing veteran suicide.
The initiative challenges Legionnaires and community members to recognize when someone may be struggling, to reach out and listen without judgment, and to help connect individuals with appropriate support.
Ongoing support
In fact, American Legion Dexter Allen Post 90 provides ongoing peer support opportunities for veterans and their spouses.
One of the post’s Veteran Peer Support Groups meets every Monday at 6:30 p.m.; the other meets every Thursday at 1 p.m.
The Spouse Peer Support Group meets every Monday at 6:30 p.m. All of the support group meetings are held at the post’s building on Rucker Lane.
“These groups offer opportunities for veterans and spouses to connect with others who understand their experiences, share challenges, find encouragement and build supportive relationships in a welcoming environment,” states a release Godwin provided.