American Legion Post No. 29 will honor the sacrifice and courage of America’s men and women in uniform Saturday during its annual Veterans Day program.
The program begins at 10 a.m. inside the American Legion Hut, 200 E. Claiborne Ave., with a selection of patriotic music from the Greenwood Community Concert Band. The program will conclude by 11:15 a.m.
“It’s open to the public as always. We invite everyone to attend,” said Johnny Favara, commander of Post 29.
Legionnaire Glenn Seefeld will be master of ceremonies.
Connie Black will sing the national anthem, and retired U.S. Army Col. D.I. Smith will be the keynote speaker.
Smith, a native of Sidon, served in the Army for 30 years in a variety of leadership and staff positions. His duties included personnel and administrative management, training and operations and financial management as well as research and development.
Smith has more than six years of command experience in field artillery and aviation, including combat in Vietnam and Operation Just Cause, the military operation in 1989 to remove Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega from power.
During his Army career, Smith received numerous awards and decorations including the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star and the Air Medal. He also earned Master Army Aviation wings, a Senior Parachutist badge and the coveted black-and-gold Ranger tab.
Upon completion of his military service, Smith served as chief operations officer for a new start-up wireless technology company.
He is the on-site property manager for the Dinsmor Subdivision in Ridgeland.
Smith is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and Staff College and the Army War College and has a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Southern Mississippi and a master’s in business administration from Troy State University.
Smith is a member of the Military Officers Association of America, the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, Army Aviation Association of America, the American Legion, the Jackson Metro Cyclists, the Jackson Triathlon Club and the Mississippi Track Club.
He and his wife, Linda, have two daughters and six grandchildren.
• Two Veterans Day programs will be held in Carroll County on Nov. 11.
Carroll Academy students will host their Veterans Day program at the Carroll County Courthouse in Carrollton.
The program will include a wreath-laying at the Carroll County veterans monument by Carroll Academy Headmaster Steve Flemming. Music instructor Terri Bowlin will sing the national anthem.
That same day, the town of Vaiden will honor veterans with a program at the Vaiden Gymnasium. The J.Z. George High School band will perform.
• Contact Bob Darden at bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com.
