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.