Memorial Day observance set for 10:30 a.m. at Gilmer Civic Center

(Image by Gemini)

By Philllip Williams

Vern Rennier, chief executive officer of Oceans Behavioral Hospital Longview, will be featured speaker for the city of Gilmer’s annual Memorial Day ceremony Monday.
The event, co-sponsored by local branches of three national organizations for military veterans, is set from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Gilmer Civic Center on U.S. 271.
It is open to the public.
Thadd Barr, commander of Gilmer’s American Legion post, said Rennier’s hospital has a department which solely serves military veterans and their families’ in-patient and outpatient mental health needs.
The hospital’s website said it provides mental health treatment to the public for, among other illnesses, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and “experiencing acute behavioral or psychiatric symptoms.” Examples include suicidal thoughts or “severe mood, anxiety or thought-related symptoms.”
According to his biography, Rennier was a U.S. Army sergeant, combat veteran and Purple Heart recipient who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The biography says “Vern’s commitment to health care was born from his own journey of recovery after being wounded in combat.”
Sponsoring the ceremony are the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 6715, American Legion R.E. (Peppy) Blount Post No. 320, and Disabled American Veterans Chapter 204.
The program will open with the presentation of the colors by the Gilmer High School AFJROTC, presentation of the National Anthem by Emma Kimbrough, and the invocation by local American Legion Chaplain Walter Clark.
After Barr, a retired U.S. Army master sergeant, delivers opening remarks, a moment of silence will be observed for prisoners of war and those missing in action.
Rennier will then speak, followed by a “musical tribute.” Crata Johnson, escorted by Huey D. Jones, will then lay a wreath before closing remarks.
The Legion post’s auxiliary, meantime, will be handing out Memorial Day “poppies” (pins) in remembrance of the war dead at Tractor Supply on U.S. 271 in Gilmer from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, said Legionnaire Shirley Parnell.
Anyone who wishes to donate for one can do so, and the proceeds will be used to help veterans, Barr said.