Veterans from the Ararat and Claudville communities were honored at the Blue Ridge/Red Bank Schools reunion which was held Saturday, November 5 at the Blue Ridge Elementary School gymnasium.
More than 100 former students, spouses, and friends attended the reunion. The gym was decorated with red, white and blue colors. During the registration and social time, a continuous slide program showing pictures of approximately 150 local veterans was on display. Two students from the class of 1940 were in attendance: Reba Smith Delionback and Otis L. Jessup, who also was recognized as being the only World War II veteran there. Mary Lee Epperson King, class of 1948, was also present. After class pictures (‘50s through the ‘00s) were made by photographer Joanne Hill, the group enjoyed a bountiful and delicious covered dish meal. The program for the evening opened with the Pledge of Allegiance followed by the singing of the National Anthem by Thelma Jean Dellenback Hill who awed the group with her beautiful singing voice. Harlan Hawks, a 1965 graduate of Blue Ridge High School and a Viet Nam war veteran, was the speaker for the evening. He currently is the commander of VFW Post 9346 in Pilot Mountain, N.C., as well as commander of the Honor Guard for that post. Hawks told about meeting four of his high friends (Buddy Culler, Charlie Dellenback, Donald Inscore, John Marshall) at the base where he was stationed in Viet Nam. He said that he was surprised to meet that many fellow soldiers from such a small community as Ararat.
Following his remarks, Shelby Inscore-Puckett and Carol Young Edgell conducted a memorial service for fallen veterans from the two communities. Recognized were: Sykes Lee Beasley, Herbert L. Marshall, Frank Mills, and Patrick Duncan from WWII; Columbus Christopher (CC) Marion Jr., Korea; Roger Dale Bowman, Viet Nam, and Leevi Barnard, Iraq. A candle was lit in memory and honor of each deceased veteran. The program concluded as Hill led the group in singing “America the Beautiful”. Door prizes contributed by various merchants in Mount Airy, N.C. were presented. Reunion committee members: Lucille Bowman Matthews, Estelle Hiatt Wrede, Frances Hill Radford, Carol Young Edgell and Shelby Inscore Puckett (all class of ’59) appreciate the attendance, the support, and help from the communities. They thank Otto Hiatt for the sound system, Joanne Hill for photographs, Bernice Hiatt Walker for helping in many ways, and Raleigh Puckett for securing photographs and information for the program.
