b'NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE, continuedVeterans, Gold Star Families and Military Knights Honored on Veterans Day at St Annas in Monroe, Ga. by BOB GAUBERTLast year St Annas Catholic church in Monroe honored the mil- 21-year-old Julianna Minton sees more than pictures on the Wall itary veterans of their congregation with a gigantic Wall of Honor.of Honor. I see not only the men and women in our military who Knights of Columbus Council 14425 built the 4 wooden panels dis- have sacrificed their lives to protect us, but I also see my family- my playing just over 200 photos. The popularity of the wall has drawnchurch family who have let us live in freedom.One of those church more interest, now the faces of those who served on the wall havemembers she sees is her father John Minton who is retired from the increased this year to 286.Veterans and members of the militaryUnited States Marine Corps. This also lets me and others in our were honored at all masses at St Annas in Monroe for the Veteransparish see our men and women in uniform and allows us to show Day weekend 2019. There are 286 Veterans, Active Duty, Guards- our love and appreciation for them, said Julianna Minton.men and Reservists with a connection to St. Annas. They are all onWiley Stokes, Grand Knight of the St Annas Knights of Colum-the Wall of Honor. bus council grew up in a military family as his father was career Air ThisyearscelebrationincludedabreakfastpreparedbytheForce.Stokes says the wall has a connection to all in some way Knights, for all parishioners in honoring St. Annas Veterans. Airshape or form and hopes other churches in the community will fol-Force Colonel (ret) Bob Griffin, a Knight was Chairman of 2019 Walllow suit.Everybody knows somebody that served- take a piece of of Honor.In military uniform, he addressed the congregation at thewhat we did at St Annas and carry it forward and spread it around. mass services for Veterans Day weekend. Veterans K of C Mem- Father Dan agrees wholeheartedly. I recommend other folks imi-bers served as Color Guards presenting the flags at the beginningtate us because we had a good idea and the best ideas should be of the mass. American Flag pins were given to all Veterans as ashared. Everyone could benefit by honoring the military like we do. token of appreciation. Fr. Dan has a profound respect for the military as his father and Its only right that we recognize our Veterans as we are able touncle both served.The creation and growth of the Wall of Honor live like we do and worship like we do because of them, said Fa- helped the discovery of more commonality within his congregation. ther Daniel Toof, Pastor of St. Annas. It brought us together as a community sharing our love for our One of St Annas Deacons, John Duffield, a Navy Veteran, andcountry and those who fought for it. It brought the past back to life Knight spent years as a Nuclear Engineer on the submarine U.S.S.and made us realize how blessed we are, said Fr. Dan.ThomasJeffersonknowstheimportanceofrecognizingVeter- In addition to Veterans service, this years Wall honors families. ans. This wall of Honor shows these men and women when theyIts a distinction no military family wants but its important to St. An-served and there is a story in every one of them. I think this is greatnas to offer that love and respect to twelve such families identified for the teenagers of our parish to learn about dedication and sacri- with a connection to the parish. We are highlighting those Veterans fice. Duffield like his fellow veterans at St. Annas, knows all abouton the wall with a gold star indicating they were killed in action and dedication and sacrifice as they are part of the less than 1% of ourtheir families are being recognized as Gold Star Families, accord-countrys population who serve in our military.ing to Colonel Bob Griffin, USAF ret., Chairman 2019 Wall of Honor Duffield who resigned his commission after 11 years to be withat St. Annas.his family indicated the dedication of protecting the country, theThe Wall of Honor was on display the past two weekends at St. sacrifice of missing their family is the lesson for all who visitedAnnas for all to enjoy and garner a little education. The wall will the wall Saturday and Sunday at St. Annas during Veterans Dayremain up in the narthex until November 25th. The Knights of Co-honors. lumbus plan to make the Wall of honor a tradition every year.91'