Serving up gratitude at Medina High School's Veterans Day Dinner

Cordele Dispatch · Local

Crisp County High School JROTC holds annual Veterans Day program

The Crisp County High School JROTC held the annual Veterans Day Program on Nov. 11. JROTC Cougar Battalion Commander Makenzy Powell welcomed attendees. Cordele Ward 3 Commissioner and Army veteran Georgia Singletary addressed the ceremony. He read a reflection by Marine Chaplain Father Dennis Edward O’Brien called The American Soldier. The quote credits soldiers for preserving the liberties those in other occupations take for granted. Retired Colonel Alphonso Simmons, who spent over 26 years in the U.S. Army, was the keynote speaker. “Cordele is my hometown, and I just want to pour into you as much as possible.” He summarized the National Defense Strategy, calling it the U.S.’s game plan for national security. Protecting the homeland and the Western Hemisphere is a key priority, along with sealing and monitoring borders. The Indo-Pacific was another area of defense concern, specifically deterring China.