SCHS Class of 1965 honors 58 Veterans at 56th reunion

The SCHS class of 1965 held its 56th reunion at The Chestnut Tree Inn on Saturday, Sept. 25. This was a special Veterans Appreciation Reunion. All veteran classmates and spouses were honored.

The group included many family members of the 58 veterans represented as many are now deceased. With some 100 people looking on, the presentation was made to each veteran, spouse and/or family members present.

Appreciation was shown to each veteran with an American flag that had been flown in their honor over the US Capital, the Pentagon, and the NC Capitol. A certificate of each flying noting their name, branch of service, and the event was included. In addition, each veteran received an SCHS Class of ‘65 Certificate of Appreciation, plus two veteran flag pins.

The event began with the Cherokee High School ROTC, Army Instructor SFC (Ret) Jason Tremko and Cadets Rachel Maney, Nikkia Swayney, Mya Sequoyah, and Emma Anthony presenting the colors and Swain County High School students, Cyril Hipilito, and Katie Conner singing the National Anthem and Jonah Edwards, Student Body President, leading the Pledge Of Allegiance. The Swain students were accompanied by ensemble & drama teacher Nicole Huett.

Following the invocation by classmate Rev. Eddie Hollifield, the class was honored to have Joseph “Gunner” Daniel Vasquez and his wife Amy with us. Vasquez, a 31-year veteran of the Marine Corps made each appreciation presentation.

The room was patriotically decorated to include a picture and/or silhouette of each veteran, their branch of service, and years served. Centered above the pictures, hung the Veteran Board with all names depicted, as shown.

As required with this type event, an adorned “missing man” table was placed in the middle of the room.

Those honored were:

Terry Lee Allison, William Stanley Arvey, Willard James Barker, Robert Leon Biggs, Floyd Daniel Bowers, Albert Jackson Bowman, Lester James Bryson, James Douglas Burnette, Roger Lee Burnette, William Lester Burnett, Frank Edward Cabe, Marvin Ray Cable, Noah Max Cochran, Roy Phillip Cope, Lewis Carroll Crisp, William Gerald Davis Jr., Billy Wayne Dills, Gary Dean Duncan, Martin Dale Dunn, James William Edwards, James Howard Fellows, David Michael Ferguson, Charles Winford Fortner, Carl Eugene Fratus, Albert H. Glasgow, Roy M. Green, Billy Ray Greene, David Lee Greene, Phillip Michael Hall, Joseph Weyman Howard, Daniel E. Hyatt, Larry Hyde, Frank J. Jones, Marvin O. Jones, Johnny Richard King, Robert Vincent King, John Robert Lakey, William L. Lambert, Billy Wayne Loftis, Robert Dennis Matthews, Kenneth Donald McLean, Ellis Stuart Mchan Jr., Don Wayne Moon, David Harold Ollis, William Lloyd Phillips, Lon Dennis Queen Jr., Lonny Buster Ramsey, Larry Randall, John Edward Rowland, David Joe Sanders, Douglas R. Sutton, Edward Joe Thomas, Arthur Wade, Jack Harold Webb, Jackson Lee Wood, Billy Ray Woodard, Bertha Ruth Simonds Zollinger, and Joe Byran Zollinger.

The class then honored presenter Vasquez with an identical presentation.

Class Appreciation Special Recognition plaques were presented to classmates Virginia Welch Gribble, Paul Allen Garrett, David Ray Seay and Bobby Ray Marr prior to the banquet dinner.

Classmates Teresa Wikle Sweeney, Brenda Dehart Cadaret and Jack Parton were recognized for their extraordinary effort to make the event successful.

The entire event was live streamed on the class Facebook page to include those unable to attend.