Today is National Vietnam War Veterans Day and an event is planned at the Chattooga County Civic Center at noon to honor area Vietnam veterans.  Also, there will be an honor ceremony for 48 local veterans.  The Adjunct General of the Georgia National Guard Major General Thomas Carden will be speaking, along with Georgia Commissioner of Veterans Services Patricia Ross.

Major General Carden has held a number of key positions in the Army and Georgia Army National Guard. Most recently, he served as Deputy Commanding General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s Multi-National Division Southeast (Romania). Major General Carden previously served as the Georgia Army National Guard Commanding General, chief of staff,  deputy chief of staff for operations, and deputy chief for personnel. He commanded the 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade and the Georgia Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion.  He also served as the operations officer for the 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment.  While serving in this capacity, he deployed to Bosnia, Herzegovina as part Operation Joint Forge. In 2005, he deployed to Iraq with the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Commissioner Ross will also be speaking today. In November 2021, Patricia Ross was selected as the Commissioner of Veterans Service.  She served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Veterans Education Career Transition Resource – or VECTR Center, from 2016 – 2021.  Prior to leading the VECTR Center, Ross served as the first Director of Military Affairs for the Technical College System of Georgia where she led state-wide initiatives to expand educational benefits and opportunities for military students at Georgia’s 22 public, technical colleges. After 25 years on active duty in the United States Air Force, Ross retired as a Colonel in October 2014.

Today’s event was organized by local veterans supporters Barbara Massey Reece and Odell Anderson.  The public is encouraged to attend today’s event at noon.