SHERWOOD, AR – Veterans Day isn’t until Friday, but Sunday, the City of Sherwood and the Rotary honored veterans with a parade. Veterans from World War II to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan say the community support lifts their spirits.
“It means we weren’t forgotten and we were true to our country, and our country’s praising us and thanking us for what we did, and that’s an honor,” says veteran Joseph Heathcock.
“A lot of vets were not welcomed home especially during the Vietnam War, and we need to support all of our vets,” says veteran Billy “Gramps” Conner who now works with the Combat Vets’ Motorcycle Association.
“I went to Korea and operated trains in the 712th Railroad Battalion in Korea,” said Bill Blakeney.
Blakeney proudly drove the 1943 military jeep he bought 53 years ago to take hunting in the parade. He’s covered a lot of ground in it.
“British Columbia moose hunt, Utah, eastern Oregon, Colorado, of course here in Arkansas,” he says.
Younger military members also honored those who’ve served before them. Chief Warrant Officer Two Keith Dortch played in the military band.
“I just saw someone out here in the crowd who served in Iowa Jima who’s actually in this parade, he’s actually one of the clowns in this parade. It’s just to honor him, as well as all our other vets throughout the years,” says Dortch.
Veteran Joseph Heathcock from North Little Rock came out to watch the parade. He became overwhelmed with gratitude.
“I’m just thankful for all what the people do and how they tell us thank you every time they see us and shake our hands and just give us that respect and we’re proud to have that from our country and we’re proud to do what we can do,” he says.
Friday, the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs has a Veterans Day ceremony scheduled for 11 a.m. in the State Capitol Rotunda.
“It means we weren’t forgotten and we were true to our country, and our country’s praising us and thanking us for what we did, and that’s an honor,” says veteran Joseph Heathcock.
“A lot of vets were not welcomed home especially during the Vietnam War, and we need to support all of our vets,” says veteran Billy “Gramps” Conner who now works with the Combat Vets’ Motorcycle Association.
“I went to Korea and operated trains in the 712th Railroad Battalion in Korea,” said Bill Blakeney.
Blakeney proudly drove the 1943 military jeep he bought 53 years ago to take hunting in the parade. He’s covered a lot of ground in it.
“British Columbia moose hunt, Utah, eastern Oregon, Colorado, of course here in Arkansas,” he says.
Younger military members also honored those who’ve served before them. Chief Warrant Officer Two Keith Dortch played in the military band.
“I just saw someone out here in the crowd who served in Iowa Jima who’s actually in this parade, he’s actually one of the clowns in this parade. It’s just to honor him, as well as all our other vets throughout the years,” says Dortch.
Veteran Joseph Heathcock from North Little Rock came out to watch the parade. He became overwhelmed with gratitude.
“I’m just thankful for all what the people do and how they tell us thank you every time they see us and shake our hands and just give us that respect and we’re proud to have that from our country and we’re proud to do what we can do,” he says.
Friday, the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs has a Veterans Day ceremony scheduled for 11 a.m. in the State Capitol Rotunda.