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Monday, July 21, 2008 10:45 AM Lessons of war and service By Heather Wilkerson | Times Staff Writer I saw a Huey helicopter upclose and personal Saturday. Now on any other day, I would have considered it just an old helicopter. But on Saturday, I looked at it a little differently. The helicopter was on display at Lucama Elementary School. In the school's auditorium, a nearly packed house heard all about a local man who flew a helicopter, just like the one on the school grounds, in the Vietnam War. His name was Jimmy Lee Watson. I first heard the name two months ago when two of Watson's classmates, James Boyette and Chris Raper, told me all about the recognition service the Lucama High School Class of 1964 was planning for Watson. On March 13, 1968, Watson, an Army chief warrant officer, was piloting his Huey when it was struck by small arms fire, causing him to make an emergency landing in Thua Thien Province of South Vietnam. Watson never returned to camp, and his body was never found. For more than 40 years, he's been considered by the military as Missing in Action. The Saturday service was held just before the Class of 1964 reunion. I was unable to stay for the entire service. (I was invited to the service, two birthday parties and a graduation party, all happening between 3 and 6 p.m., but I made them all!) In the hour that I was there, I was very moved. I laughed when classmates shared some of Watson's antics. I got teary-eyed at the somber remembrances of him. I listened to each and every word spoken at the podium, and I really wished I could have shaken the hand of each speaker. When I first met Raper about eight years ago, I didn't know all that much about the Vietnam War. My parents were still children during that time, and I do not recall learning much about "America's unpopular war" in school. Raper's been my Vietnam teacher. Because of him, and men like Watson, I have a better understanding of the war and a much deeper appreciation for my freedom. Before Saturday, I also had never seen a presentation by Rolling Thunder. At least 60-70 motorcycles rolled into Lucama that afternoon. They represented Rolling Thunder, Christian Motorcycle groups, the Southern Cruisers and others that I am probably forgetting. Audience members stretched way beyond old classmates. Veterans came. Strangers came. John Schrawder and his wife traveled from Pennsylvania to attend the service. Schrawder has been wearing Watson's MIA/POW bracelet for more than 10 years. Saturday's master of ceremonies was Allan Hoffman of WNCT-Channel 9. The guest speaker was retired Army Col. Walter Joseph Marm Jr., a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. Raper created a video tribute to Watson called "Remembering". I think the Class of 1964 will consider the service a success. Their hope is that Watson will not be forgotten, and after sitting in that service, I know of at least a couple of hundred people who will always remember his name. Tournament One other thing I need to mention is an upcoming tennis tournament and community event. The BB&T and American Red Cross Tri-County Tennis Tournament Series starts Friday at Lake Wilson Tennis Club. The weekend event is the first joint fund-raising effort between the Wayne and the Wilson-Greene chapters of the Red Cross. Wayne County hosted its tournament in May. Greene County's event was in June. Lynne White, director of the Wilson office, said at least 150 tennis players are expected to play. The deadline for registering is today. There will be a lot more going than just tennis matches. A cake sale starts Friday at 3 p.m. Homemade and speciality cakes will be sold for between $20 and $30. Painted metal art will also be for sale. White said the pieces are beautiful and painted in bright colors. Designs include tropical fish, butterflies, dragonflies, crabs and seahorses. A silent auction starts at 3 p.m. Friday. The community has been extremely supportive, White said. Among the items up for bid are decorative birdhouses, artwork, furniture, small painted chests, tables, lamps, jewelry, plants and a Tobs family pack. The auction ends Saturday at 6 p.m. The Red Cross is raffling a "Staycation." Tickets are $1 and the winner will get a night at Wilson's Whitehead Inn, dinner at Jac's, lunch at Quince and a picnic basket with goodies including champagne and glasses. Those tickets are for sell at the Red Cross office and will be available all weekend at the tournament. The winner will be drawn Sunday at 5 p.m., and you do not have to be present. Lake Wilson Tennis Club is across the street from Wilson Veterinary Hospital. Bobby Taylor of Greene County is the tennis coordinator. All the money will benefit fire families. Last year, Wilson, Greene and Wayne County served 100 families affected by fire. Offering those services cost almost $90,000. The scene appears every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. If you have a story that you want to share with heather, e-mail thescene@wilsontimes.com or call 265-7811. If you have an event that you would like to enter on our community calendar, go to www.wilsontimes.com and click on the link for submitting information to the calendar. |
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