On Sunday, June 9th, Manning Chapel UMC in Latta celebrated Memorial Day with a special Memorial Day Celebration. The main focus of the service was that God would be glorified and the veterans honored for their service to this country. Pastor Mike Summerlin, also a veteran, led the celebration.
Special guests were Tammy McNeil from Cheraw, Rolling Thunder Chapter 3 Group of North Myrtle Beach, Otis Ford of Bennettsville, Joshua Cohoon of Wallace, and Christ Skipper of Laurinburg, NC. First Sgt. Swift from Laurinburg was also present for the celebration.
Rolling Thunder is a non-profit organization. Its major function is to publicize the POW-MIA issue and to educate the public that many American prisoners of war were left behind after all past wars and o help correct the past and to protect the future veterans from being left behind should they become Prisoners of War/Missing in Action. Rolling Thunder is committed to helping veterans from all wars. The group was presented with a wall hanging of a soldier’s boots, helmet and rifle with the American flag background. It is a representation of a “Fallen Soldier” who paid the ultimate sacrifice for his country.
Otis Ford, Chaplain of the Great Pee Dee Devil Dogs Detachment 1219 of the Marine Corps League in Bennettsville, was present to represent the group. Mr. Ford was the oldest veteran present and was also presented the “Fallen Soldier” wall hanging. Manning Chapel UMC and the Marine Corps League work together at Christmas to collect toys for the children of Marlboro County.
Special music was presented by Joshua Cohoon who sang “The Star Spangled Banner”. There was also a chosen selection just for our veterans.
The Manning Chapel Choir sang a salute to the veterans with The Military Branch song. Before the choir sang, Catherine McDowell presented the congregation with a select reading about the history of each branches song.
Ms. Tammy McNeil was the honored guest speaker and gave her testimony of how God brought her through the difficult time during her son PFC Spence McNeil’s death. He was killed when the military vehicle he was riding in overturned causing injuries that led up to his death. She spoke of how she and her family traveled overseas to see Spence one more time before he passed away. She shared how Spence decided to join the military and how he came to accept Jesus into his heart a month before he had his accident. Ms. McNeil is a strong supporter of our military and said that our service men and women do not get the recognition they deserve. She wants to share her story about her son so that others will know what it truly means to sacrifice ones self for their country. She also wants to share the struggles of families and what families go through when a family member is serving. As she placed the wreath in front of the Memorial Table with Mr. Otis Ford,
“Taps” was placed by Ron Christopher Skipper of Laurinburg, NC. Ms. McNeil was presented with a black and white framed wall hanging with the words “Never Forgotten” in front of a fallen soldier’s boots, helmet and rifle.
Pastor Mike Summerlin presented each of the guests with a gift to show the churches appreciation for their services and their families’ service. He then closed in prayer and invited everyone to join our veterans for a delicious meal prepared in their honor. Guests also enjoyed the tables up front in the sanctuary with memorabilia from the veterans who were there and their families. A great time was had by all and all are invited to come back for next year’s special service.