What a fabulous group of people gathered in Wilson Park for the First Annual Veterans Appreciation Family Picnic. So many veterans, families of veterans, and citizens who appreciate what our veterans mean to us showed up for comradery and good food. The barbecue was terrific and plentiful, there were more hot dogs than anyone could eat, the chicken from 33 Diner was, as always, delicious. Everyone who wanted a raffle ticket (including children) had a chance to win one of the fantastic door prizes.

According to Wikipedia, “Missing in action (MIA) is a casualty classification assigned to combatants, military chaplains, combat medics, and prisoners of war who are reported missing during wartime or ceasefire. They may have been killed, wounded, captured, executed, or deserted”. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency researches, investigates, recovers and identifies American service members who never returned from wars and various other operational loss incidents and whose bodies have never been found and identified.

The Union County American Legion has one fundraiser a year to help pay for their many projects, and that fundraiser is coming up on Saturday, October 5, from 8 a.m. until noon. They will be at the intersection of Maynardville Hwy. and Hickory Star Rd. asking for your donation. On your way to the Union County Heritage Festival, grocery shopping or just driving around, please go by this intersection and help our American Legion help our Union County veterans, many of whom are alone and/or incapacitated, and donate what you can to the American Legion Post 212.

Thursday October 3, 2024

WATE 6 On Your Side is proud to once again to be partnering with Operation Honor Guard, a 501(c)(3) organization with their annual donation drive. It is the goal of all Honor Guards to offer a last tribute of respect to their departed comrades by rendering military funeral honors to any honorably discharged veteran, without any regard to sex, race, color, creed, national origin, or military rank. There is no cost to the family for this service.

Delicious food aromas hit you as you walked in the door of the American Legion Hall on June 3. If you thought you weren’t hungry before, the wonderful smells of the Chicken Alfredo dinner immediately changed your mind. And there was so much food – all expertly prepared by the cooks of the Veterans Volunteers. In addition to the huge pan of the Alfredo (see photos), there were pans of Caesar Salad and individual loaves of garlic bread that were baked to perfection.

Members of the American Legion Post 212 and their volunteers helped the Easter Bunny this year by stuffing plastic eggs for him to hide for Union County children. And hide he did! Over 60 kids descended on Wilson Park on an absolutely gorgeous Easter Sunday afternoon to find these eggs – and, boy, did they!! No matter how well the eggs were hidden, these young people (some with a little help from their parents) found all the eggs. Three of these eggs contained a $50 gift card to Walmart.

Calling all Veterans! What better way to celebrate April Fool’s Day than to be at the American Legion building at noon to feast on Veteran Volunteer Margo McCaffery’s Famous American Goulash! Sometimes called slumgullion, American goulash is a comfort food dish based on the Hungarian goulash stew. The ground beef, tomato and macaroni are in a beautifully seasoned tomato sauce. Shredded cheese and sour cream will be available for garnish.

Union County Business & Professional Association awarded scholarships to three Union County High School Graduates in 2019. Recipients spoke at the BPA June meeting and thanked the membership for their scholarships. Ethan Dyer received the Service Scholarship for performing over 200 hours of volunteer time to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital and another 100 hours at Milan Baptist Church and as a coach for Union County Youth Basketball. He will attend Lincoln Memorial University and plans to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in Business.

Every Veteran deserves being honored for their service, some paid the ultimate price, all have served granting us the privilege of living in the greatest country on earth. We are forever indebted to them for their service.

With World War II raging, Allen Francis Wolfenbarger was inducted into the United States Army on November 7, 1942, at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. Allen was assigned to the 60th Infantry, 9th Division, 2nd Platoon. After one week he was transferred to Fort Hancock, New Jersey, for three months basic training. Upon completion of basic training he was transferred to Fort Meade, Maryland, and later departed New York Harbor on the Luxury Liner, The Queen Mary. This ship had been converted to a troop transport ship. After 16 rough days at sea he arrived in Europe.