Video: Dozens of Vets Join Together In Amory To Celebrate Veterans Day

AMORY, Miss. (WCBI) – Dozens of veterans joined together in Amory on Friday, for an early Veterans Day celebration.

Community Bank put on its annual Veterans Day breakfast at the National Guard Armory.

Congressman Trent Kelly stopped by to show his appreciation to the vets and also gave a speech.

World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War Vets, and current soldiers, all join together as one, in honor of sacrifices, courage, and each other.

“I’ve had the privilege of growing up in this community and knowing so many of these people. Unfortunately, for years, I didn’t realize they were a veteran and probably didn’t recognize the impact that it had on their lives, but I’m a blessed man to be able to call many of these people friends, fellow church members, and mentors,” says Market President Brad Stevens of Community Bank, North Mississippi.

World War II Vet Edwin Booth enlisted in war when he was just 17 years old and is just as proud now at age 92, as he was back then.

“I’ve served in the United States Navy. I was a Gunner’s Mate in the Pacific in the Armed Guard. Gunners Mate against merchant ships.”

Another World War II Vet, Roy Lee Lindsey, says Veterans Day means a lot to him.

Lindsey served on a battleship in the South Pacific, and saw firsthand the enemy desperation in the last days of the war.

“We almost got hit with one of those kamikazes, but he blew up before he hit our ship. So, the Lord took care of us.”

Lindsey tells us three Monroe County World War II Vets have died since last year, including the most decorated non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Army, Rabbit Kennedy.

Community Bank has created a scholarship to honor his memory and dedicated this to Kennedy’s family.

“By empowering a young person, who has some of those attributes, that has courage and selflessness and compassion and confidence and all those things that Rabbit exalted. Yeah, we’re excited about his memory living on through this scholarship,” says Stevens.

Kennedy’s family also contributed to the scholarship by matching the bank’s donation.

The family also donated the memorial frame to Rabbit’s room at the Amory Regional Museum.