September 11th is known as Patriot Day. A group of senior citizens who served in the US military were honored at a reception hosted by Rep. Barbara Reece at the Golden Living Center in Rome. Also sponsoring the event were Virginia Brock, President of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary-Unit 5 and Carolyn Gentry, President of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary-Post 6688.

Assisting were Auxiliary members Cookie Wozniak and Jeanette Fletcher, Ben Terry of American Legion Post 136, Ed Parker of the Marine Corps League and Chris Woodall, Activities Director for Golden Living.

The veterans, who are residents at Golden Living, were accompainied by family members and friends who expressed appreciation for their military service. Veterans were presented Certificates of Appreciation from the Auxiliaries and Ben Terry presented each a military pin. Widows of military veterans were also recognized and received a pin.

Rep. Reece made a special presentation to Virginia Myers, a WWII Army veteran. She read a House of Representatives resolution which recognizes Mrs. Myers for her years of service in the American Legion. She served as Post Commander when she lived in Florida, and has held many offices and volunteered for numerous projects and activities of the Post 5 American Legion in Rome. In addition, she has assisted Rep. Reece in organizing veterans events.

Other veterans honored were: J.W. Watters, Army WWII; Franklin Pelfrey, Army WWII; Weldon Walker, Army WWII; Guy Neyman, Army/Air Force WWII; Hardee Horton, Navy WWII; Bernard Teague, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam; Jack Anderson, Air Force Korea; Richard Allgood, Army Vietnam; Charles Jones, Army Korea; Adam Schneider, National Guard; Charles Edward, Navy WWII; and Henry Lansdell, State Guards. Mr. Lansdell is 102 years young. He said he was too young to serve in WWI and too old to serve in WWII, so he joined the State Guard to protect the homefront and help American troops win the war.

Earlier in the year, the Ladies Auxiliary of Post 5 provided American flags for Golden Living to decorate the grounds and lobby for patriotic holidays.