Reflections

Hello everyone, hope you had a great holiday weekend.
Since this column wasn’t scheduled for last week,  this is my tribute for all veterans, living or dead.  It was my privilege to know personally many veterans. From World War I,  my dad, Norman Cooper; his brothers, Porter and Joe Cooper; Mother’s brother, Charlie Badley; B.G. Gurner; Gibb Harmon; Marvin Groves; Frank Carter; Grover Moorehead; Willie Wright Frost; Lem Jones;  Arthur Walker; Tom Scanlon; Taylor Howard;  Allen Windham; and Keith and Don Kirkwood.  
In World War II Wilton Hunt; Gene Meggs; Claudius, Charles Carlton, and S. F. Martin; Charles Williams; Roy Harold; James David, and Raymond Ford; Taylor Williamson; Charles Simpson; Barney Pullen; Crip Tyler; Dude Morris; Dudley Kelly; Jim Oakley; Charles Upchurch; Ray-mond Bynum; William Smith; “Spud” Boydston;  Robert Norwood; and three close friends, John Ashford, Chester Joyner, and Wade Doolin.  I realize this doesn’t do justice to them but the original premise of this column was to mention people who rarely got attention otherwise.  Most of you never heard these names, but remember they were young once and went to serve their country without question.           I’m able to write this column today because of their sacrifices and all of us owe them a debt for the life style we have today.
These names are only a few of the millions who made this sacrifice, so  we must never forget to hold accountable our elected officials who put politics ahead of our obligation. If you have any comments along those lines, let me hear from you.  
My email address is cncooper1@hotmail.com or write me at P.O. Box 613189 Memphis, Tn 38101 and have a great week.