Banners of our heroes started going up this morning along Central Avenue.  The first banner to go up is this one of the late Charles McNeeley.  Appropriately, it hangs in front of his business, Walters Funeral Home. (PHOTOS COURTESY OF WLAF’S CHARLIE HUTSON)

LAFOLLETTE, TN. (SPECIAL TO WLAF)- The Vietnam Veterans Chapter 1148 is hosting a “Local Heroes” program. Banners will be displayed on the street light hangers in downtown LaFollette beginning this morning through the Independence Day celebration. The banners will highlight the heroes of the area who served in the various wars of our nation.

Banners honoring and saluting veterans of Campbell County include Lt. Delma Mull who served as an Army Nurse during World War II; Edwin Chapman who was on duty at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, but survived the attack and returned to his native Campbell County.

Debbie McNeeley, widow of Vietnam Veteran Charles McNeeley, and Darian Foust hold McNeeley’s banner, the first to be hoisted today.

Others include Ernest Hill, better known as “Sharky,” who was on a ship in the Atlantic when a German submarine attacked, destroying the ship. Many of those on board ended up in the ocean where they battled to survive while needing water and food as they fought off sharks. A British war ship rescued “Sharky” and the other soldiers who survived the attack. He later returned to his home in the mountains of Campbell County where he worked at Loby Block in downtown LaFollette.

There will also be banners honoring Gen. Carl Wade Stiner as well as his brother Col. Tom Stiner among many others who answered the call of duty.

A dedication ceremony will be held today at 2pm on South Tennessee Avenue in front of LaFollette City Hall where each name will be called and remembered as they are honored. A reception will follow the ceremony in the lobby of Community Trust Bank.

The public and family members of the heroes are invited to attend as their loved ones are honored.

South Tennessee Ave. will be closed in front of city hall; attendees can enter from Beech Street. Parking is available behind the city hall.

Mark Carroll’s banner was the next to go up on Monday as the crew takes a second for a photo from WLAF’s Charlie Hutson.

For more information, contact Chapter President Ed Housley at 423-489-2792 or Marvin Bolinger at 540-220-3311. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED 5/15/2023- 6AM)

5 Replies to “Veterans ceremony today at 2pm in front of LaFollette City Hall”

  1. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THE CITY OF LAFOLLETTE IS HONORING ITS VETERANS.. AND THEIR PICTURES REALLY MAKES PEOPLE REMEMBER THEM…THANK YOU CITY OF LAFOLLETTE FOR HONORING THOSE VETERANS….

    1. Thank you for your response, Amy.

      WLAF will soon be publishing the names of our heroes.

      Best,
      Jim
      WLAF

  4. This veteran’s banner program was the idea of Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 1148 member, Marvin Bolinger. He planned it and worked many many hours to bring it to fruition. We can never thank him enough for his service and hard work that he has put forth to honor our local veterans. His love of his fellow veterans and community is unparalleled.

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