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Crowd Gathers For Dillon County Memorial Day Ceremony Despite Gray Skies

Articles07 mins
A group of people stand outdoors, one man holding a framed award, others holding red roses, gathered around a table with a bell.
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By Betsy Finklea
With flags flying and a big sign that proclaimed Memorial Day, a crowd gathered at the Veterans Memorial in Veterans Square in Dillon for the Memorial Day program hosted by the Dillon County, South Carolina, Veterans of the Year as rain loomed overhead.
Dillon County Veterans of the Year Organization Commander Thom Thompson, a USAF veteran, opened the ceremony. He said we are here, not to celebrate, but to remember and honor. He then recognized key people on stage and in the audience. He spoke about “My Country Tis Of Thee,” and some of the key words that stood out to him in the song.
City of Dillon Mayor Tally McColl welcomed the audience. The posting of Colors was by the Dillon High School Army JROTC, who serves under Military Instructor Sergeant First Class Randy Gray.
The invocation was given by Rev. Joseph Graham of New Memorial Temple of Christ Church in Dillon.
Keniah Owens of Dillon High School, who plans to enlist in the military, sang God Bless America and The Star-Spangled Banner.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by American Legion Post 32 and Auxiliary Unit 32: Boys State Delegate Cooper Grainger and Girls State Delegate Madeline Solter, both delegates of the Class of 2026.
The guest speaker was Benny Cooper of Cooper Funeral Home in Dillon. He was introduced by USAF Veteran Thom Thompson. “Benny Cooper is President of Cooper Funeral Home located in Dillon County and established in 1970. He is a 1965 graduate of the Kentucky School of Mortuary Science and licensed in South Carolina to practice embalming and funeral directing for 56 years. He is known for assisting families in securing the military honors their veteran loved ones deserve during funeral services. When asked, he will lead the memorial service for the family. Mr. Cooper is an active member of First Baptist Church of Dillon,” according to his biography listed in the program. He said we should be thankful for the men and women who serve in our military. He spoke about the services he offers to veterans and some of his personal experiences with the families.
This was followed by the reading of the names of Dillon County Deceased Veterans by Army Veteran James E. Lockemy. Army Veteran Levern Hayes solemnly tolled the bell as each name was read. This year’s list includes two former Veterans of the Year and one past guest speaker at one of the Veterans ceremonies. The names were provided by the Dillon County Veterans Affairs Office. The 66 names read were as follows:
DECEASED VETERANS 2025–2026
MAY 2025
Stuart F. Carmichael — 05/26/2025 — US Marine

JUNE 2025
Samuel L. Williams — 06/01/2025 — US Army
Isaiah Barr Jr. — 06/02/2025 — US Navy
Donald W. McDowell — 06/05/2025 — Army National Guard
Lonnie Turner — 06/13/2025 — US Army
Russell H. Miller — 06/17/2025 — US Marine
David Rogers — 06/23/2025 — US Army
Johnny Bethea — 06/22/2025 — US Army

JULY 2025
Thomas C. Williams — 07/01/2025 — US Army
Clarence Moody — 07/08/2025 — US Army
Walter B. Blum — 07/09/2025 — US Army
Shelby Hardee — 07/14/2025 — US Air Force
Benny Jones — 07/15/2025 — US Army
Eric Soles — 07/24/2025 — US Army
Terry McDonald — 07/31/2025 — US Army

AUGUST 2025
Jestion R. McKenzie — 08/07/2025 — US Army
Charles A. Oneal — 08/12/2025 — US Army
James Legette — 08/16/2025 — US Army
Paul W. Smith — 08/23/2025 — US Marine

SEPTEMBER 2025
Benjamin F. Campbell — 09/07/2025 — US Army
Emory M. Cribbs — 09/10/2025 — US Air Force
Ray J. Brigman — 09/18/2025 — US Army
Carrol P. Williams — 09/18/2025 — US Army
Richard J. Miller — 09/13/2025 — US Army
James L. Sellers Sr. — 09/20/2025 — US Army
Daniel R. Arnette — 09/25/2025 — US Army
William T. English — 09/29/2025 — US Army

OCTOBER 2025
Barry Twaits — 10/22/2025 — US Navy
William B. Allen Jr. — 10/23/2025 — US Navy
Neli Byrd — 10/24/2025 — US Army National Guard
Levonda Breeden — 10/31/2025 — US Army

NOVEMBER 2025
Clifton A. Sparks — 11/01/2025 — US Army
Thomas B. Watson — 11/04/2025 — US Marine
Lawrence A. Rogers — 11/05/2025 — US Air Force
Ernest Turner — 11/10/2025 — US Army
Clyde G. Arnette — 11/15/2025 — US Air Force
Westly G. Tarte — 11/19/2025 — Army National Guard
Michael L. Roberts — 11/25/2025 — US Army
Clinton Murphy — 11/28/2025 — US Army

DECEMBER 2025
William C. Berry — 12/13/2025 — Army National Guard
Leroy B. Bracey — 12/14/2025 — US Navy
Mallory Scott — 12/14/2025 — US Army
Ernest Mullins — 12/15/2025 — US Army
Larry Hardwick — 12/20/2025 — US Army
Tadaski Pittman — 12/21/2025 — US Army
Robert L. Caulder — 12/21/2025 — US Army
Ervin L. Coward — 12/27/2025 — US Army

JANUARY 2026
Michael S. Moore — 01/07/2026
Harry Moore — 01/14/2026 — US Army
William Brown — 01/27/2026 — US Air Force
Francis Owens — 01/08/2026 — US Army & Marines

FEBRUARY 2026
William L. Floyd — 02/07/2026 — Army National Guard
Jerry G. Craig — 02/08/2026 — US Air Force
James B. Pittman — 02/08/2026 — Army National Guard
Depree Coleman — 02/24/2026 — US Army
Joseph W. Watson — 02/18/2026 — US Army

MARCH 2026
Carl G. Edwards — 03/06/2026 — US Navy
James E. Tart — 03/10/2026 — US Army
Milton T. Coleman Jr. — 03/17/2026 — US Army
Hardy McCray — 03/31/2026 — US Army
Roy M. Bethea — 03/31/2026 — US Navy

APRIL 2026
Wesley Mays — 04/01/2026 — US Army
Curtis Williams Jr. — 04/08/2026 — US Army
Oscar Hatchell Jr. — 04/14/2026 — US Army
David D. Mobley — 04/27/2026 — Army National Guard

MAY 2026
Michael A. Felton — 05/14/2026 — US Army

The wreath honoring our war dead was placed by Dillon Mayor Tally McColl and Benny Cooper assisted by USAF Veteran Lloyd Brown. The wreath was donated by First Citizens Bank.
TAPS ws played by Navy Veteran John Humphrey of American Legion Post 32.
The flags were then raised to full staff by US Flag Army Veteran Charlie Vance/SC Flag and Army Veteran Tommy Hayes, Jr.
The Distinguished Deceased Veteran for 2026 was presented to the family of 2026 Distinguished Deceased Veteran of the Year – Army MG Kathryn George Frost (b. 11/7/1948 – d. 8/18/2006). The presentation by Army Veteran James E. Lockemy and Navy Veteran Justin Foxworth. Members of Frost’s family and several friends were in attendance.
According to her obituary, “At the time of her retirement in April of 2005, Frost was the senior woman on active duty in the U.S. Army.
A native of Dillon County, Frost grew up in Latta where she was valedictorian of her Latta High School class in 1967. She was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of South Carolina in 1970 and later earned a Master’s in counseling from Wayne State University in Michigan while on active duty in the Army.
Frost entered the Army with a direct commission in 1974 and served with great distinction for the next 31 years. Her final assignment was as Commander of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), an $8 billion retail entity with 48,000 employees worldwide. As Commander of AAFES, she was responsible for establishing post exchanges (PX’s) and base exchanges (BX’s) in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Under her leadership, AAFES received a special award from the National Retail Federation for its work in these two war zones.
Prior to serving as Commander of AAFES, Frost served four years as the Adjutant General of the Army and as Commander of the Eastern Sector of the Military Entrance Processing Command. Her other assignments included two tours in Berlin, Germany, work on the staff of General Colin Powell when he was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and an assignment as a White House Social Aide during the Reagan and first Bush presidencies.
Frost excelled at everything she attempted. She was first in her WAC (Women’s Army Corps) basic course and first in her WAC advanced training course. The WAC’s were merged into the regular Army a year after Frost entered active duty.
She was recognized as ‘South Carolina Woman of Distinction’ at the 2005 Miss South Carolina Pageant, a proud moment for Frost who had been runner-up for ‘Miss Latta’ as a teenager.
She met her husband, former U.S. Congressman Martin Frost (D-Texas), when she was assigned to his district in 1996 as Deputy Commander of AAFES, headquartered in Dallas, Texas. They were married in August 1998 in the prayer room of the U.S. Capital Building in Washington, D.C., in a ceremony presided over by the Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives. She was a member of Latta United Methodist Church.” Her sister, Gwen George Strickland, and other family members accepted the honor. Each family member that went to the stage was given a rose and a challenge coin. Strickland thanked them for the honor among her other remarks. These roses were donated by Corey Jackson’s Petals & Stems.
The Dillon High School Army JROTC retired the colors. The benediction was given by Rev. Joseph Graham.

PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Johnnie Daniels/The Dillon County News, LLC
A man and an older woman stand outdoors side by side, both wearing blue shirts, with trees and a building in the background.Four men stand together outdoors, engaged in conversation; one man wears a red beret, another wears a white shirt with red and blue sleeves.A group of people gathered outdoors, some holding roses and documents, engaging in conversation around a table with a bell and papers.Man with a long beard speaks at an outdoor podium during a public event, with trees and people visible in the background.Two men participate in an outdoor ceremony, one speaking at a podium and the other bowing his head, with flags and greenery in the background.Four uniformed individuals carry American and blue flags, walking on grass, with cars and buildings in the background.A group of people standing outdoors in front of a white van, some shielding their eyes, with a stop sign and trees in the background.Uniformed honor guard carries American and other flags in a grassy area with small flags, nearby parked cars, and buildings in the background.Uniformed honor guard holds swords and flags during an outdoor ceremony, with American flags and a man saluting near a podium, cars and buildings in the background.Four uniformed cadets march in formation outdoors, with one holding a ceremonial sword. A red pickup truck and grassy area are visible in the background.People seated outdoors near a table and an American flag, with a white truck in the background. One person stands in the foreground, partially out of frame.Two men in patriotic shirts and red hats stand at a podium outdoors, with one speaking and the other holding papers. An American flag is partially visible.Four older men sit and stand outdoors, three wearing matching patriotic shirts and red caps, attending an event on a sunny day.A man with sunglasses and a white shirt with star patterns stands outdoors, with cars and trees visible in the background.Four men standing outdoors, two wearing patriotic shirts and hats, one in a suit holding a small American flag, participating in what appears to be a memorial or patriotic event.Two men wearing red caps and white shirts with patriotic designs stand outdoors; one speaks at a podium with a microphone, the other stands behind him.older woman with curly gray hair speaks at an outdoor podium, wearing a blue shirt. A car and greenery are visible in the background.older woman speaks at a podium outdoors while a man in a white uniform and red beret holds a red flower beside her.A group of people gathered outdoors, one woman holding red roses, while an older man in a red beret hands her an item, others watch.A group of people gathered outdoors, one woman holding red roses, while an older man in a red beret hands her an item, others watch.A group of people standing outdoors, some holding red roses, while one person hands a plaque to another in a casual, respectful gathering.Three people standing outdoors, exchanging items and holding red flowers. One man wears a red hat and white shirt, another holds a plaque, and a woman stands between them.Three people standing by an American flag during a ceremony; one holds a plaque, another receives a rose from a man in a red beret.A group of people at an outdoor event hold red roses; a man in sunglasses holds a plaque and stands by a bell and table.A group of people stand outdoors, one man holding a framed award, others holding red roses, gathered around a table with a bell.A man holding a plaque and a silver bell stands next to a woman in blue holding a red rose, both at an outdoor event.Several people gather outdoors, some holding red roses and wearing red caps, participating in what appears to be a commemorative or award ceremony near a table with a bell.Four men stand in a small group outdoors, talking. One man wears a red beret, and another has a long beard. Trees and a stone structure are visible.A group of people gathered outdoors, conversing and smiling; one woman holds a basket of items, and others are dressed casually.A group of adults sitting and standing on bleachers outdoors, some dressed in patriotic attire, with houses and cars in the background on a cloudy day.elderly man in a patriotic shirt and red cap speaks at an outdoor podium, with flags and a building visible in the background.A group of people standing outdoors on a street near parked cars, with trees and buildings visible in the background on a sunny day.A memorial wall with engraved names, and a large wreath of red, white, and blue flowers placed in front, honoring fallen individuals.A group of men stand in front of a memorial wreath with American flags, posing for a photo outside a building.Five men stand by an American flag and a red, white, and blue wreath, with small U.S. flags on the ground in front of them.Man in a red cap and white shirt tying or adjusting a rope on a flagpole outdoors.Man in a white shirt and red cap raising a flag on a flagpole during an outdoor event.A group of people standing under a blue canopy outdoors, with hands over their hearts, participating in a ceremony or event.older man with gray hair and glasses is standing outdoors, saluting, and wearing a black t-shirt with a graphic design.Three men stand in front of a building with American flags and a red, white, and blue floral wreath, possibly at a memorial or remembrance event.Men wearing red caps and white shirts stand near American flags and a floral wreath during an outdoor ceremony.People stand near a red, white, and blue floral wreath outside, possibly during a memorial or commemorative event.Two men in patriotic shirts and red caps participate in a ceremony with an American flag, bell, and microphone, standing beside a table with small flags.Three people in patriotic shirts and red caps participate in an outdoor ceremony with flags and small American flags in the background.elderly man speaks at an outdoor event, standing beside a man in uniform and several American flags, with a car and greenery in the background.A man speaks at an outdoor event with American flags and a microphone, while others in uniform sit nearby. A car and greenery are in the background.Military honor guard stands in formation holding flags during an outdoor ceremony, with a person saluting nearby. Small American flags are placed in the grass.People stand near American flags, some saluting and others with hands on hearts, during a ceremonial outdoor event.A woman speaks at an outdoor event with several flags, including the American flag, and three people in patriotic clothing standing nearby.Three men participate in a patriotic outdoor ceremony, standing near flags and a podium, with one man holding his hat and another reading from a document.Uniformed honor guard holding flags during an outdoor ceremony, with American flags and onlookers in the background, near a parking lot and commercial buildings.A uniformed honor guard carries the American flag and military flags outdoors, with cars and buildings visible in the background on a cloudy day.A uniformed individual holds multiple flags, including the American flag, outside on a grassy area with parked cars and buildings in the background.Two uniformed individuals stand outdoors holding American and blue flags near a sign, with parked cars and buildings in the background on a cloudy day.Several people in matching shirts and red hats salute in front of a memorial monument, with American flags and a vehicle visible in the background.Four uniformed military personnel carry flags, including the American flag, while marching on grass with parked cars and a building in the background.Two uniformed guards stand with the American flag on a grassy area, while a seated man watches in front of a parked white car.Three uniformed people stand outside holding flags beside parked cars and a pole, appearing to participate in a formal ceremony or parade.A person speaks at an outdoor podium beside several military flags; a building and sign are visible in the background.The American flag is flying at half-mast on a cloudy day with trees and power lines in the background.A group of people stand outdoors near a street, some holding small American flags, with a stop sign and parked vehicles visible in the background.older man in a red cap and patriotic shirt stands outdoors near another seated man in a suit, with cars and greenery in the background.Three men in matching white shirts with star patterns, two sitting on a bench and one standing, outdoors near parked cars and trees.People gathered outdoors at a memorial site, some seated and others standing, with a monument in the background and American flags displayed nearby.A man in a suit speaks at an outdoor podium with American flags, while another man in a red cap sits nearby.A man in a suit speaks at an outdoor podium, while another man in a red hat sits nearby. American flags and a bell are visible.A group of people of various ages sit outdoors under a blue canopy, watching an event on a sunny day.People seated under a blue Academy Sports tent at an outdoor event, with some wearing hats and festive attire, and others standing in the background.People sitting and standing under a tent at an outdoor event, some holding small American flags, with more people gathered in the background.A group of older men wearing red hats and white shirts stand together outdoors near a memorial stone engraved with text.Several men, some in suits and some casually dressed, gather outdoors near a floral arrangement, with trees and parked cars in the background.A group of people sitting on bleachers outdoors, holding small flags, watching an event, with trees and a brick wall in the background.White car parked on street behind six military flags and several small American flags on a grassy area.older man wearing a red beret and patriotic shirt speaks at an outdoor podium with flags, people, and cars in the background.older man and woman sitting outdoors, both wearing red shirts. The man wears a veteran cap and holds a small American flag.Two elderly people sit on lawn chairs under a canopy, with three people standing behind them near parked cars on a grassy area.A group of people gathered outdoors, with two veterans wearing military caps standing among the crowd in a residential neighborhood.Two women standing and talking in a parking lot, with parked cars, including a Mini Cooper and a red truck, visible in the background.Older adults socializing outdoors, one man wearing a patriotic shirt, others chatting and smiling, with cars and trees in the background.A group of people standing outdoors, some holding small American flags, dressed casually. One person wears a leopard-print hat. A brick wall and bushes are in the background.A group of adults stand outdoors having a conversation, some holding papers, with trees and buildings in the background.
Black Memorial wall with white letters
Memorial Day banner in dark blue, red, and s White

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