Every year, Trigg County’s students third grade to senior year are challenged by the local James Thomas Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution — tasked to write a letter about “special veterans” in and around their life.
It encourages students to learn more about veterans, offers cash prizes for top honors and helps improve writing skills.
Winners are chosen by committee, near Veteran’s Day.
During Friday’s Veteran’s Day celebrations in Cadiz, DAR’s Brenda Southwick had this to say on entries this go-round.
For Trigg County High School, Alexis Starcher took first and Jaden Williams nabbed second.
Starcher wrote about “Grandpa Duane,” a crew chief captain who flew and dropped equipment to troops from 1969-71 in Vietnam. Duane was honored with the National Defense Service Medal and an Army Commendation, was a patriot, and loved his grandkids — despite him not being the biological grandparent.
Williams penned a letter about John Scott, an ROTC member out of high school who enlisted during the Vietnam War. Scott also served in Korea, continued his education during service time and was a command sergeant major at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.
For Trigg County Middle School, Audrey Clark took first and Jada Hubbard snagged second.
Clark wrote about 2023 Trigg County Veteran’s Parade Ken Cunningham, who joined the service at 17 and worked in the U.S. Air Force and Army for 21 years. Severely wounded in 1967 during deployment to Vietnam, Clark wrote that even today, Cunningham “remains at his post.”
Jada, meanwhile, wrote about Jimmy Hubbard, who was a sergeant in the U.S. Army that eventually got stationed in South Korea. Through eight years, he also had stops in Puerto Rico and Louisiana, and when asked if he would serve again, the reply was a quick “yes.”
For Trigg County Intermediate School, Samuel Lancaster earned first, Reid Fourqurean was second and Maddy Carpenter third.
Lancaster authored a note about great grandfather Robert “Bob” Higbee, whose Hometown Heroes Banner hangs on the corner of Marion Street in Cadiz. A U.S. Navy man who fought in Korea, Higbee frequently wrote letters back to the family, saying “war was scary.” Higbee continued to serve Trigg County, and the region, for 90-plus years.
Fourqurean used his ink to talk about John Perry Fourqurean, who served for 10 years in the U.S. Army Armor Division. He was a platoon leader responsible for tanks, spending time living in Germany. His job: to capture enemies.
Carpenter, meanwhile, wrote about her great grandfather, Arthur Moody Hancock. He served in the Korean War as an Army man, and was stationed in Seoul, South Korea, where winters could be a brutal minus-40 degrees Celsius.
Several other veterans were written about in the competition. Perhaps, one day, they’ll be compiled into a book.
