The Mountaineer

Tuscola High School’s Junior ROTC is honoring veterans this weekend.

For the fourth year, the JROTC is hosting a veterans’ luncheon Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Waynesville Country Club. 

Lt. Col. Robert Brown, the JROTC instructor at Tuscola, said the luncheon serves two purposes.

“It’s to engage the cadets in community service to honor veterans,” Brown said. “It also puts our curriculum into action. The cadets plan and work together to learn about Veterans Day.”

The cadets in the JROTC program organize the luncheon. They arrange for a speaker, invite local veterans and plan the details of the event. They invite Haywood County veterans to attend at no cost to the veterans, Brown said, so the cadets can learn from them and so the veterans can share their stories.

“Our primary objective is to honor them,” Brown said.

A guest speaker is on the agenda for the luncheon. This year, Salem Wyatt will be on hand to share his experiences in the U.S. Army. Wyatt served in Vietnam from July 1969 to July 1970 and served in a variety of areas. During Wyatt’s combat tour in Vietnam, he was awarded many decorations of valor, including the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm and the Purple Heart.

Cadets are seated at each table during the luncheon to allow them to hear the stories from the veterans in attendance. Brown said this is an important part of the luncheon, especially when cadets hear from World War II veterans.

“As they start to fade, they have a deep sense of urgency to pass along the values of citizenship which are so innate in their generation,” Brown said. “What I’m proud of I seeing the light bulb come on (in cadets) and that they get it. We’re in good hands with these cadets as long as they continue to develop their citizenship.”

The luncheon also serves as a fundraiser for the program. Brown said the JROTC does receive some funding from the military, which pays for basic things such as uniforms, classroom materials and one competition. To have a “vibrant program that reached out to the community,” Brown said, and the organization has to raise money for the extra activities the cadets participate in.

“There are a lot of expenses that come out of pocket,” Brown said.

Sponsorships are available. Those who wish to help out can do so in several ways, Brown said. A table can be purchased by a business or organization and then filled with veterans. Someone can purchase several tickets to bring any veterans they know and want to honor. Brown said the town of Waynesville is sponsoring two tables and told Brown to fill them with veterans.

Sponsorship funds will pay for the room and the food, with the remaining funds going back into the program.

Veterans will attend the luncheon at no cost to them, Brown said.

“We would like to honor them and serve them lunch,” he said.

There are still opportunities for veterans to participate, as well as sponsorships.

“Last year, donations were down from the year before and so far (fundraising) has been challenging to reach last year’s amount,” Brown said.

The luncheon takes place from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Waynesville Country Club.

For more information or to make a donation, call Brown or Master Sgt. Joe Johnston at 456-2450.