Tapley speaks to the Veterans

The Veterans at the Library held their weekly meeting at the they Baptist Church Monday morning, February 24, at 9 a.m. With Chair Johnny Tapley presiding, there were 47 in attendance. Hawhammock Baptist Church provided a breakfast buffet including eggs, grits, sausage links, biscuits and sawmill gravy, cut up fruit, jelly, honey, water, orange juice, apple juice, milk and coffee. Chair Johnny talked about their current activities, especially about some of the U.S. Flags that were being flown incorrectly in Emanuel County; flags that are ripped and torn, flags that are old and faded and flags that are hanging by just one hook. Owners should take them down if they are not going to change them out with a new flag. Chair Tapley mentioned that the Veterans Cup three-man Team Golf Tournament is coming up on Saturday, May 17, at the Swainsboro County Club and more will be said about this 2nd Annual Veterans Cup Golf Tournament as that time approaches. There were two new veterans attending this week’s meeting, brothers Mike Thompson and Chad Thompson. Mike served in the U.S. Navy as a Jet pilot with 80 Combat Missions in Iraq and Afghanistan and flew the Grumman EA-6B. After finishing high School at ECI, he attended the U.S. Naval Academy and served in the U.S. Navy from 1999 through 2019. Mike also graduated from the U.S. Naval War College. His highest rank obtained was Commander. Chad also graduated from ECI, then joined the U.S. Coast Guard. He attended the Naval Flight Training in Pensacola, FL and flew the Eurocopter MH-65 Dolphin in Search and Rescue missions. Chad was a pilot on the MH-65C model and then the MH-65D model on Drug Interdiction Missions. He also served on activities in Europe and the Netherlands. Chad served from 2003 through 2023, and his highest rank obtained was Commander. Both Mike and Chad moved to Emanuel County and attend Hawhammock Baptist Church. Mike and Chad were Eagle Scouts and Chad attended the Philmont Scout Ranch in 1995, along with Dess Smith III, where they backpacked over 125 miles in the Rocky Mountains.