2009 Welcome to Wise.indd - Wise County Messenger

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WISE COUNTY Veterans
MESSENGER PHOTO BY JOE DUTY
WISE COUNTY VETERANS DAY PARADE
Veterans Service Office
205 N. State St., Decatur
(940) 627-2470
The Veterans Service Office
helps county veterans
acquire benefits through the
Veterans Administration.
These benefits range from
educational benefits, money,
home loans and monthly
compensation. Employees at
the VSO serve as mediators
who file claims and represent
Wise County veterans before
the VA regional office in
Waco.
The office is open from 8
a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to
5 p.m., Monday through
Thursday and 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
Friday.
Wise County
Veterans Group
The aging of American
veterans resulted in a dramatic
increase in the number
of veteran deaths and the
honors of a graveside salute
and flag presentation by uniformed
sevice personnel became
difficult for the government
to provide. This became
a task veterans organizations,
such as the Wise County Veterans
Group, proudly began
performing.
Founding members of the
Wise County Veterans Group
signed the original by-laws
Jan. 19, 2000. More than five
years later, on Feb. 22, 2005,
the WCVG registered as a
non-profit corporation.
In addition to salutes to the
fallen, the WCVG meetss at 9
a.m. every Saturday at Courthouse
Cafe, Bay Landing or
Johan’s, takes part in Veteran’s
Day parades and banquets,
host welcome home
celebrations and makes flag
presentations.
Current officers include
Walt Warner, commander;
Paul Lane, adjutant; Gordon
Hofstra, financial officer;
Art Pierce, historian; Eddie
Green, vice commander; Al
Smith, quarter master; and
Clint Walker, chaplain.
For more information on
the Wise County Veterans
Group, visit its Web site at
www.wisecountyveterans.org.
Wise County
Veterans Memorial Park
405 N. Trinity St., Decatur
The Wise County Veterans
Group planned, designed,
managed and completed the
Wise County Veterans Memorial
Park with the help of
community contributions.
Ground was broken June 3,
2003, and the park was dedicated
Nov. 11, 2005.
The Path of Sacrifice and
Valor, beginning at the Ash
Street entrance of the park,
is lined by 18 bronze plaques
on stone pillars that trace
America’s history at war from
the American Revolution
to today. An eternal flame,
a symbol of the sacrifice
needed to pay for eternal
vigilance and the defense of
freedoms, at the center of the
the park. The names of about
1,500 veterans are etched
into the bricks that form the
pathways across the park
such as the Path of Sacrifice
and Valor I, II, III, IV, V and
VI, Wise County and the Civil