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It has become a tradition for Hogansville residents to gather at Veterans Park in November. Once again, a large crowd gathers for the annual Veterans Day program.

The beginning of the program saw Rev. Terry Rainwater do the invocation, followed by the pledge and national anthem, recited by Mayor Pro Tem Michael Taylor and TCSS board member Kevin Dunn, respectively.

The welcome was done by Hogansville’s mayor, Jake Ayers.

“Days like today are so important for a lot of different reasons…the fact that you can come, you can park, you can walk through a school, you can bring your family downtown, is the reason that today is important,” Ayers began. 

“When we say things like ‘We won’t forget’ and ‘We will remember’, It takes intentionality. It takes us taking time out of our busy day…to remember all the sacrifices that so many people gave. To remember the time and the effort that it takes to allow people like ourselves to live in the comfort and the sanctity of this great nation,” he said. 

George Bailey, a veteran and the longtime organizer of the event, gave the introductions of the speakers. 

Hogansville Elementary School choir students performed ‘God Bless America’ and read a poem to the Vets in the crowd. 

Cat Jenkins was this year’s keynote speaker. Jenkins said her intention was to give the Army a few years, then go back to school. However, after Sept. 11 happened she stayed on for another decade of her life. The armed forces took her to Iraq, Afghanistan, the Balkans, Alaska and more places around the world, until she and her husband David settled in Hogansville. 

“What I found,” Jenkins recalled, “Was that people are good throughout the world.”

She also discussed the difficulty many veterans face when coming home. Depression and suicide are high among the veteran population. According to an annual report put out by the VA, 20 percent of all suicides are veterans, meaning approximately 18 veterans die each day from suicide. 

“One of the things you also learn about is how important humor is, and sometimes there’s nothing else that you can do, but you’ve got to just be able to laugh about it,” Jenkins said. “I want to recognize and thank [veteran’s families] for your support and patience and most importantly, for laughing with this.”

American Legion Post 152 commander Lanny Braswell presented the Veteran of the Year award to Bryan Barfield. He is a U.S. Army veteran who served as an M1A1 Tank Systems Mechanic and M88 Recovery Specialist. After service, he transitioned to the automotive industry and now works at KIA. 

“This is for all the veterans. This is for the greatest generation in World War Two, and after that, everyone that was called to duty in Korea…Welcome home,” Barfield said. “Thank you to the Cold War veterans….the Gulf War, This is for the veterans that answered the call after 9/11 they left their high schools and they left jobs. This is for you guys.”

Tasha Burks sang America the Beautiful and Taps was played to close out another Veterans Day in Hogansville.