Major James Carl Wise, Jr. Honored

(note: this is a follow-up to a special event we told you about a few weeks ago)

The day was perfect.  The bright sun, crisp.  The air clear.  COL. Wilbur Parker, Ret. Chaplain for the Joint Chiefs of Staffs stood to bring the invocation. Then we heard it.  The fly over by Major Wes Nims, US AFR (94th Airlift Wing, Dobbins ARB).  The crowd erupted in applause.  Tears streamed down the cheeks of the people who had gathered to honor and celebrate the life of Major James Carl Wise, Jr.  A man, who gave his life to his country oh, so many years ago.

My heart was glad when I looked around the crowd and recognized many Mt. Bethel members who came to show their respect to Lucille, the widow of Major Wise, and his three grown daughters, their spouses and their children.  What an honor to be there!  And as I sat, I had time to reflect on several things during poignant moments of this hour and a half long service.  Do the younger people today truly realize the cost of our freedom?  Or rather, the cost of anyone’s freedom?  Do any of us?  Those who were gathered, do they understand the complete and total sacrifice our military men and women make for the cause of our freedom – a freedom that we perhaps take for granted?

As COL. George E. “Bud” Day, USAF (Ret.) stood to deliver the message – can we even comprehend what his life as a POW was like – not to mention how he was medically cared for by another POW, now known as Senator John McCain.  And as the service drew to a close and the Atlanta Blues Notes band played a Medley of Service Songs from their hearts – I saw men from each military division stand, Navy, Marine, Air Force, Army, Coast Guard…  With pride and confidence, they all stood when they heard their theme song.  Do the young people today even know those songs?  Are we raising up a generation of ignorance regarding our military history.  Has my generation (the generation in between) – has my generation dropped the baton?  How I pray we haven’t.  How I pray that we will forever, indelibly etched in the hallowed halls of our minds, remember today, what it stood for, and what it means for our future.

Ms. Lucille, my gator country friend, indeed lost her husband to the hells of war, but her faith in God and in her country enabled her to continue on with her life, rear three beautiful daughters, and today to proudly stand tall on the stadium in front of all those gathered to honor Major Wise, as she gracefully received our Country’s flag presented to her by COL. Day.  As I said, the day was perfect.  The bright sun, crisp.  The air clear.  And then we heard it, TAPS, and the Taps echo reminding us that we have just experienced a most honorable day.

Diane Parrish

Special Honor for a Vietnam Vet

As a long time member of Mt. Bethel UMC, I’d like to share information about a very important event coming up for our family.

As stated on the AVVBA website, “Each year the Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association erects a permanent memorial in various locations in the greater Atlanta metropolitan area in honor of one of the many area servicemen who made the supreme sacrifice in Vietnam.   The official purpose of the AVVBA is to promote patriotism and sponsor activities of a patriotic nature among the business community; to recognize those who served and honor those who gave their lives in the Vietnam War; to promote a positive image of the Vietnam Veteran, their dependents and to bring closure for the widows and orphans of deceased Vietnam Veterans.”  With that said, some months ago we were informed that the AVVBA had selected my dad as the Veteran to be honored this year.

My father, Major James C. Wise, Jr., was a fighter pilot who actually volunteered to serve in Vietnam in 1965.  He served with the personal Squadron of General Ky with the South Vietnamese Air Force.  That same General later became the President of South Vietnam.  My father’s plane was shot down on December 23 of the same year and he was killed on impact.

When we heard that dad was selected as the veteran to be honored this year we were thrilled and are so grateful that finally we’ll have the closure needed after all these years.  It’s all happening on Thursday, May 22 and this year’s location is The East Cobb Park on Roswell Road.   Preservice music provided by a military band will begin at 10:15 a.m. and the ceremony begins at 11:00 a.m. with much planned for the hour long service.  There will be high dignitaries in attendance, a special speaker, a fly over, a 21 gun salute & more.  Immediately following the ceremony the group will provide a complimentary luncheon for all attendees at the Cobb YMCA on East Piedmont Road in Marietta.

I wanted to share this information with our church family since many of you not only know my immediate family (Steve, Kelly & Greg) but also know my mother, Lucille Wilcox, and sister, Vicki Corum, who are also members of Mt. Bethel.

We hope to see you there!

Blessings,
Jamie Allen

Any Soldier

Two of our Mt. Bethel members, Ed and Mary Ettel, will be recognized in Washington D.C. on November 6 by U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss. The time is to be determined.

The reason for this recognition is for the time and effort this couple has spent in their basement compiling care packages for troops in the Middle East.

View their website to see what a tremendous effort this couple has made along with scores of volunteers from all over the community:  http://ettel.typepad.com/anysoldier