Dillon Lions Club Program Chairman David Brown invited Marine Veteran John Harlow to talk to the Lions about military Veterans at its 11/14/2024 meeting. Club President Terry Mussman opened the meeting at the Twin Lakes Country Club with everyone singing God Bless America. Afterwards, Harlow invited the Lions to join him in singing the Army service song. During his remarks, Veteran Harlow gave an overview of the history of Veterans Day and recounted the recent Veterans Day activities for the Dillon communities. These included:
· DILLON: The Dillon Veterans Parade along Main Street and the Veterans Day ceremonies at Veterans Square. The Dillon Christian School Veterans Day program.
· LATTA: The Latta Veterans Day program at the Ellis Performing Arts Center. The Pyerian Baptist Church Veterans Day program
· LAKE VIEW: The Lake View Veterans Day Breakfast at the Lake View Community Center.
Harlow went on to talk about the work local Veteran groups are doing to help area Veterans and their families facing challenges associated with their military service and transitioning from active duty to civilian life:
· Dillon VFW Post 6091 Commander Chris Norris – SC VA Palmetto Pathfinder program helping Veterans apply for their earned VA benefits and services.
· Dillon American Legion Post 32/ Commander Asa McDuffie and its Auxiliary Unit 32 President Terry Hayes – Running the Boys State and Girls State Dillon County programs. Placing flags on Veteran graves for Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
· Latta American Legion Post 266/ Commander David Moultrie – Visiting Dillon Adult Day Care Veterans and thanking them for their military service.
· Dillon Veterans of the Year Organization/ Commander Thom Thompson – Operating the local Memorial Day, Patriot Day, and Veterans Day programs at Veterans Square. Selecting the Veteran of the Year for Dillon County.
· Help for Veterans Inc./ Chairman Johnnie Daniels – Working with the Hamer Church of God, providing groceries and frozen food products to local Veteran families. Financial support for Veterans as needed.
· Dillon County Veterans Affairs Office/ Director Valerie Graves – Lead County agency helping Veterans obtain VA benefits and services.
Harlow said that all these Veteran groups do much more to help Veterans than he mentioned, and that others in our community are helping Veterans, too. He said, “As a Veteran, I see the concern and care that individuals, places of worship, civic groups, and businesses have for the Veteran community. A testimony provided are the many patriotic holiday newspaper ads thanking our Veterans for their service. We Veterans are blessed to live in a community where its citizenry welcomes us back home, thanks us for our service, and is willing to support patriotic programs, and provide a helping hand to those of us dealing with PTSD, depression or anxiety, service-related maladies, and more.”
In closing, he thanked the Dillon Lions Club for the work it does for sight-conservation that also impacts on the Veteran community.
PICTURED: L-R Lions President Terry Mussman, Veteran John Harlow, Program Chairman David Brown
