| Installation of Offiders, always a public event in Tylertown, celebrates the work of the previous year while welcoming the promise of a new year. |
Installation of Officers 2007 >
Walthall County Post and Unit 56 of The American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary in
Tylertown installed its 2007-08 officers at 2:30 p.m. July 22 at the Family Life Center at the
Tylertown Baptist Church.
Post Commander Henry Grady Harvey presided over the afternoon’s program. Post Chaplain
Shane Freeman offered prayer, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Past Commander Jack Kilcrease introduced the state and local dignitaries in attendance.
Locally, Kilcrease recognized Chancery Clerk Bob Bracy and Bro. Buddy Day, pastor of
Tylertown Baptist Church.
Representing the Department of Mississippi Auxiliary, visitors included President Madeline
Vuncannon of Philadelphia; 1st Vice President Nancy Sanders and her husband Larry of Terry;
2nd Vice President Angela Kilcrease of Tylertown; Historian Mary Lyles and her husband John
of Pascagoula; National Executive Committeewoman Shirley Turner and her husband Charles of
Cleveland; and 7th District President Kathy Dungan and her husband Bill of Wesson.
For the Post, Kilcrease presented the new State Commander of The American Legion, Joe
Kersh of Hattiesburg. Also present were Northern Area Vice Commander Steve Sweet of
Greenville, 5th District Vice Commander Tom Vuncannon of Philadelphia; and Kilcrease as the
new 7th District Commander.
After introductions, Harvey presented a Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award to retired
Chief C. C. “Cap” Furbush of the Tylertown Police Department for his service to the community.
Harvey also presented the Legion Family of the Year Award to Emmett and Marie Luter for
their outstanding dedication to the Legion and Auxiliary during 2006-07.
Turning the program over to the Auxiliary, outgoing Unit 56 president, Paula Boyd McGinnis,
gave a few remarks, praising the work of the Auxiliary during the past membership year and
thanked all members for their dedicated work.
Assisted by Girls State Chairman Marie Luter and Terry Chopin, representing the Knights of
Columbus, a certificate was presented to Sarah Loper, a 2007 delegate to Magnolia Girls State
and daughter of Rob and Lisa Loper of Tylertown, as the recipient of the Knights of Columbus
Girls State Scholarship. This scholarship funded Loper’s participation in the leadership
program in June.
As her last official act as president, she presented the Unit Member of the Year Award to a
most deserving member, Johnnie Harvey, for her service to the local unit.
Department President Vuncannon was introduced and proceeded with the installation of the
unit officers, including Sadie Morgan, president; Maxine Martin, vice president; Nelda Breeland,
historian; Gwen Conerly, chaplain; Angela Kilcrease, secretary; Uta Grubbs, treasurer; and Kay
Griffin, sergeant-at-arms.
The Executive Committee Members-at-Large installed were Johnnie Harvey, Mary Skinner,
and Elaine Hartzog.
After the installation ceremony, Vuncannon presented the Minnie Reeves Memorial Gavel to
Morgan and a Past President’s Pin to McGinnis. On behalf of the members of the unit, Morgan
presented McGinnis with an engraved silver tray to commemorate her service as president for
2006-07.
Calling Loper back to the podium, Vuncannon presented her with her first year’s dues card
as a new junior member of the Auxiliary, with wishes for a long association with the
organization.
Morgan presented a gift of appreciation--a Walthall County Cream Pitcher pewter pin--to
Vuncannon and gave a few remarks to the audience.
Returning the program to the Post, Harvey gave a few remarks on his past year as
Commander of Post 56 and the good work that has been done by the Legion family, particularly
in the renovation project of the Post home. He announced the generous donations by two
Mississippi Legion Posts, Pascagoula 160 and Gautier-Vancleave 1992, that have been received
for the renovation project.
As his last act as Commander, he named Terry Chopin as Legion Member of the Year and
presented a plaque to him to commemorate his dedication to Post 56, especially in leading the
Post Renovation Project.
State Commander Kersh then assumed the podium to install the Post 56 officers, including
J. B. Webb, commander; Jerry Beard, 1st Vice, Max Luter, 2nd Vice, Stanley Reeves, adjutant;
Winston Fortenberry, service officer; David Dunaway, historian, Shane Freeman, chaplain; and
Jack Kilcrease, sergeant-at-arms.
After the installation ceremony, Kersh presented
Harvey with a Past Commander’s Pin and a plaque of
appreciation for his outstanding service to the Post.
Harvey and Webb also gave a Walthall County Cream
Pitcher to Kersh in appreciation for his visit.
After a few inspiring words, calling his installation
as Commander of Post 56 “the pinnacle of his 64 years
as a member of The American Legion,” Webb received
a standing ovation. He closed the meeting by asking
Unit Chaplain Gwen Conerly to give the Benediction. A
reception was given by Auxiliary Unit 56 following the program.
Tylertown installed its 2007-08 officers at 2:30 p.m. July 22 at the Family Life Center at the
Tylertown Baptist Church.
Post Commander Henry Grady Harvey presided over the afternoon’s program. Post Chaplain
Shane Freeman offered prayer, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Past Commander Jack Kilcrease introduced the state and local dignitaries in attendance.
Locally, Kilcrease recognized Chancery Clerk Bob Bracy and Bro. Buddy Day, pastor of
Tylertown Baptist Church.
Representing the Department of Mississippi Auxiliary, visitors included President Madeline
Vuncannon of Philadelphia; 1st Vice President Nancy Sanders and her husband Larry of Terry;
2nd Vice President Angela Kilcrease of Tylertown; Historian Mary Lyles and her husband John
of Pascagoula; National Executive Committeewoman Shirley Turner and her husband Charles of
Cleveland; and 7th District President Kathy Dungan and her husband Bill of Wesson.
For the Post, Kilcrease presented the new State Commander of The American Legion, Joe
Kersh of Hattiesburg. Also present were Northern Area Vice Commander Steve Sweet of
Greenville, 5th District Vice Commander Tom Vuncannon of Philadelphia; and Kilcrease as the
new 7th District Commander.
After introductions, Harvey presented a Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award to retired
Chief C. C. “Cap” Furbush of the Tylertown Police Department for his service to the community.
Harvey also presented the Legion Family of the Year Award to Emmett and Marie Luter for
their outstanding dedication to the Legion and Auxiliary during 2006-07.
Turning the program over to the Auxiliary, outgoing Unit 56 president, Paula Boyd McGinnis,
gave a few remarks, praising the work of the Auxiliary during the past membership year and
thanked all members for their dedicated work.
Assisted by Girls State Chairman Marie Luter and Terry Chopin, representing the Knights of
Columbus, a certificate was presented to Sarah Loper, a 2007 delegate to Magnolia Girls State
and daughter of Rob and Lisa Loper of Tylertown, as the recipient of the Knights of Columbus
Girls State Scholarship. This scholarship funded Loper’s participation in the leadership
program in June.
As her last official act as president, she presented the Unit Member of the Year Award to a
most deserving member, Johnnie Harvey, for her service to the local unit.
Department President Vuncannon was introduced and proceeded with the installation of the
unit officers, including Sadie Morgan, president; Maxine Martin, vice president; Nelda Breeland,
historian; Gwen Conerly, chaplain; Angela Kilcrease, secretary; Uta Grubbs, treasurer; and Kay
Griffin, sergeant-at-arms.
The Executive Committee Members-at-Large installed were Johnnie Harvey, Mary Skinner,
and Elaine Hartzog.
After the installation ceremony, Vuncannon presented the Minnie Reeves Memorial Gavel to
Morgan and a Past President’s Pin to McGinnis. On behalf of the members of the unit, Morgan
presented McGinnis with an engraved silver tray to commemorate her service as president for
2006-07.
Calling Loper back to the podium, Vuncannon presented her with her first year’s dues card
as a new junior member of the Auxiliary, with wishes for a long association with the
organization.
Morgan presented a gift of appreciation--a Walthall County Cream Pitcher pewter pin--to
Vuncannon and gave a few remarks to the audience.
Returning the program to the Post, Harvey gave a few remarks on his past year as
Commander of Post 56 and the good work that has been done by the Legion family, particularly
in the renovation project of the Post home. He announced the generous donations by two
Mississippi Legion Posts, Pascagoula 160 and Gautier-Vancleave 1992, that have been received
for the renovation project.
As his last act as Commander, he named Terry Chopin as Legion Member of the Year and
presented a plaque to him to commemorate his dedication to Post 56, especially in leading the
Post Renovation Project.
State Commander Kersh then assumed the podium to install the Post 56 officers, including
J. B. Webb, commander; Jerry Beard, 1st Vice, Max Luter, 2nd Vice, Stanley Reeves, adjutant;
Winston Fortenberry, service officer; David Dunaway, historian, Shane Freeman, chaplain; and
Jack Kilcrease, sergeant-at-arms.
After the installation ceremony, Kersh presented
Harvey with a Past Commander’s Pin and a plaque of
appreciation for his outstanding service to the Post.
Harvey and Webb also gave a Walthall County Cream
Pitcher to Kersh in appreciation for his visit.
After a few inspiring words, calling his installation
as Commander of Post 56 “the pinnacle of his 64 years
as a member of The American Legion,” Webb received
a standing ovation. He closed the meeting by asking
Unit Chaplain Gwen Conerly to give the Benediction. A
reception was given by Auxiliary Unit 56 following the program.
WALTHALL COUNTY
The American Legion Post 56
American Legion Auxiliary Unit 56
The American Legion Post 56
American Legion Auxiliary Unit 56
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Photo 1: J. B. Webb presents
Henry Grady Harvey, the outgoing
Post Commander with a plaque of
appreciation for service; Photo 2:
Paula McGinnis presents the Unit
Member of the Year to Johnnie
Harvey. Photo 3: Sadie Morgan
presents a silver tray of
appreciation to Paula McGinnis,
outgoing President, for her
service. Photo 4: Commander
Harvey present the Law
Enforcement Officer of the Year to
former Tylertown Police Chief C.
C. "Cap" Furbush.
Henry Grady Harvey, the outgoing
Post Commander with a plaque of
appreciation for service; Photo 2:
Paula McGinnis presents the Unit
Member of the Year to Johnnie
Harvey. Photo 3: Sadie Morgan
presents a silver tray of
appreciation to Paula McGinnis,
outgoing President, for her
service. Photo 4: Commander
Harvey present the Law
Enforcement Officer of the Year to
former Tylertown Police Chief C.
C. "Cap" Furbush.