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A salute to defenders
Veterans Day ceremony pays tribute to those who have and are still serving
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Families search for the names of loved ones on the wall of veterans at Veterans Park. - photo by Photo by Pat Donahue
Veterans of service from generations ago, from just a few months ago and those still in the ranks gathered for the thanks of a grateful community Thursday morning.
 
Effingham County held its annual Veterans Day observance ceremony at Veterans Park in Springfield, with honors directed to all veterans and especially to Alpha Battery of the Georgia Army National Guard’s 1/118th Field Artillery Battalion. The Springfield-based unit completed a year-long rotation in Afghanistan earlier this year.
 
“Now that I’ve been through combat, I think of all our forefathers who saw combat and saw more than I’ll ever see,” said Staff Sgt. Gilbert Sheppard III, sporting a 48th Brigade patch on his right shoulder and a combat infantryman’s badge on his chest. “I’m proud to wear the combat patch and combat badge.”
 
 
For the complete story, see Friday's edition of the Effingham Herald. 

The Rev. Lon Harden Receives 2025 John Adam Treutlen Award for Lifetime of Service
Chamber Award
The Rev. Lon Maurice Harden accepts the 2025 John Adam Treutlen Award during the Effingham County Chamber of Commerce annual meeting. (Photo by Nichole Buchanan)
The Rev. Lon Maurice Harden has been named the 2025 recipient of the John Adam Treutlen Award, the highest honor from the Effingham County Chamber of Commerce. A Marine Corps veteran, longtime pastor of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church and dedicated community leader, Harden was recognized for his decades of service, spiritual leadership and civic involvement across Effingham County.
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