CRESTVIEW — Okaloosa County Public Works Director John Hofstad is the guest on WFTW Talk Radio 1260 at 7:30 a.m. Thursday. He'll talk about the county's new veterans park, Gulf Coast Marine Life Center and Wild Willy’s Adventure Island.

Call 664-1260 with your questions.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: New veterans park takes radio and TV show’s focus Thursday

CRESTVIEW — Strength, honor, pride, devotion and wisdom are personal qualities that mark a veteran, Kirby Locklear, in full Native American regalia as guest speaker at the Crestview Public Library, said Tuesday.

"There is a long participation with Native Americans in the military for more than 200 years," Locklear said, noting 1800s American Indians’ duties.

"Scouting the enemy was a particular skill of the Native American soldier," Locklear said. Scouts helped pursue Mexican Revolutionary general Pancho Villa in 1916 and served in the Spanish- American War.

American Indians played a bigger role in World War I and World War II, Locklear said, praising Navajo Indians who created a secret code that opposing Japanese forces couldn't break.

The subject particularly interested Crestview resident Michael Warren.

"I came to learn more about the code talkers; I recently started reading a book them," said Michael, a member of Emerald Coast Young Marines, which prepares young men and women for the U.S. Marine Corps.

Locklear, a Lumbee Indian tribe member, was born in Robeson County, N.C., home of the tribe ranked as the ninth largest in the country, according to lumbeetribe.com. 

Locklear enlisted into the U.S. Air Force after graduating from high school. His career took him to many places across the globe and awarded him several high honors.

There was one airbase in particular that Locklear seemed to favor most. 

"I got one of the best assignments you could get (while in the Air Force)," Locklear said. "I was stationed at Hurlburt Field in 1980."

 He returned to the area, having been stationed elsewhere, in 1992. He finished his career in 2000 as lieutenant colonel with 3,100 flight hours.

When he isn't working at Duke Field as a defense contractor, he often volunteers for the American Red Cross in Okaloosa and Walton counties and is the Thunderbird Intertribal Council’s vice chair.

Attendees Tuesday participated in a traditional Native American dance, following Locklear's lead and moving to the beat of Native American music around the meeting room. 

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Veteran presents information on Native Americans in the military

National Friends of the Library week may have been in October, but after reviewing our total fiscal year 2011-12 volunteer hours, special gratitude is in order.

Our Friends of the Library volunteered 503 hours last year. Another nine adult volunteers contributed an additional 303 hours.

We also had 41 high school student volunteers who worked 1,819 hours last year. Their youthful enthusiasm, strength and computer savvy support our library staff and programming endeavors. 

Their willingness to do everything — from shelving books and preparing children’s crafts to cleaning projects and setting up and taking down the meeting room — helps the library do more with less.

Sandra Dreaden is the Crestview Public Library’s reference librarian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Volunteers assist Crestview Public Library’s efforts

CRESTVIEW — A Niceville man received VIP treatment Thursday when he received a top honor from the Hub City.

George Atwell, 67, had a distinguished U.S. Army career that earned him a "Commendation of Respect" proclamation from the city of Crestview.

Atwell, a longtime Niceville resident, spent 18 years in the military, including a Vietnam tour and three-year deployment to Germany. He volunteers as a service officer at the Disabled American Veterans office in Niceville; there, Atwell — whose wife, Carolyn, teaches at Davidson — helps veterans fill out paperwork to apply for disability benefits. 

But on this day, he was ready to help students with a few words of wisdom.

"If you have confidence in yourselves, you can accomplish anything," Atwell told students, who gave a standing ovation after his speech.

Atwell is active with several Davidson functions and sporting events, Assistant Principal Kelli Howard said.

"We knew that he was a veteran and we thought it would be nice to honor someone that is in our Davidson family,” she said.

Davidson students packed the school gymnasium Thursday morning to pay tribute to military veterans during their Veterans Day assembly. The school band and chorus performed several patriotic songs for past and present military service members.

"I am very proud of what the students did here," Atwell said. "I wish all veterans had the opportunity to be part of this.

"It was very inspirational and patriotic.”

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Niceville man recognized during Davidson veterans assembly

CRESTVIEW — Organizers already are planning for next year’s Veterans Day Parade, having named the American Legion its host and eyeing the local VFW and AmVets organizations for 2013 and 2014, respectively.

This year’s parade — hosted by local Disabled American Veterans Chapter 57 — drew 32 official marching units, down a few from last year’s 40-plus, but last-minute groups that showed up increased the number of participants, organizers said.

“We had 37 total entries this year,” DAV adjutant treasurer Debborah “Pinky” Jimison said. “Once you start counting up the people, gosh, we had well over 500 people who participated.”

From service members’ covers to Shriners’ fezzes, Cub Scout baseball caps to clown hats, the variety of headwear worn by marchers as they paraded up Main Street Saturday morning reflected the diversity of a community united by one goal: to honor local military veterans.

Landon Drake, 5, attending with his sister Jordan, 3, baby brother Dayton, 1, mom Leanne and grandmother Melissa Drake, smiled broadly as the groups went by. He seemed happy to receive an American flag to wave from a 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) soldier.

“I told him ‘thank you,’” Landon said.

VIDEO: See "Related Media" at top left of this article.

“Wave your flag,” Melissa Drake encouraged her grandson. “We’re saluting our veterans today.”

Standing across Main Street was George Ballard, who had a 20-year career in the Army, serving in Vietnam, Germany, France, Okinawa, the Philippines, and in the U.S. from Alaska to North Dakota before retiring at Fort Rucker, Ala., in 1979.

“I was one of those who received the notice that says, ‘Greetings. You are hereby ordered to report,’” Ballard said. “Back in those days, the military was not as popular. I sometimes think we should have the draft today.”

The diverse group of participants paraded up Main Street in diverse modes of transport. There were Shriners’ racing carts and all-terrain vehicles, antique cars, 7th Special Forces Group armored vehicles, wreckers, one “Hillbilly Cadillac” (a rusty antique pick-up truck), the Crestview Police Department’s patriotically painted Humvee, wreckers and civic leaders in golf carts.

Retired Chief Petty Officer Keith Van Doren cruised along, standing on a trailer towing one of the Blackwater ATV Club’s vehicles as he tossed candy to cheering supporters. He had entered the Navy during the Korean War, serving from 1952 until his 1978 retirement.

“I’m honoring all my fellow veterans today,” Van Doren said.

Crestview City Councilman Charles Baugh Jr. was among the participants, wearing his Air Force sergeant’s blues as he piloted his ATV up Main Street. He retired after 28 years in the Air Force.

Many marchers on foot included Cub Scout packs, Crestview and Baker high school JROTC battalions and bands, and the Shoal River Middle School band. Members of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office posse clattered by on horseback.

“Oooh, I love your horse!” called out Charlotte Bowman, 8, to retired Army Ranger Tom Moody as he rode by astride his horse. Charlotte and her friend Shelby Fetter, 11, were visiting Crestview for the day from Navarre.

Drawing the parade to a close, a woman sat astride the lead of three Loomis Bros. Circus elephants as ringmaster Justin Loomis led the mammals through Crestview’s historic heart.

On Sunday, the DAV presented its annual Wall Ceremony at the Okaloosa County Veterans Memorial near the county courthouse. The event, always at 11 a.m. Nov. 11, Veterans Day, was well attended, Jimison said.

“We had a hundred programs to hand out and I only had seven or eight left. We had a good turnout,” she said. “We honored World War II veterans by having them stand up and state their name, and giving them a round of applause because they so richly deserve it. There were also a few Korean War vets. The majority of the veterans that were there were Vietnam War veterans.”

A veterans’ luncheon, hosted by the American Legion, and a flag retirement ceremony hosted by the Knights of Columbus followed the ceremony.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview thanks its veterans at annual parade: VIDEO

LAUREL HILL — Nearly 120 elementary school kids stood and applauded as 13 American war veterans processed into the Laurel Hill School auditorium for the annual Veterans Day Celebration. The service members ranged from World War II heroes from “the greatest generation” to a Navy reservist still serving.

“They have served our country; they have protected our freedoms,” Principal Susan Lowery-Sexton said. “We are so honored to have them with us today.”

Lowery-Sexton’s father, World War II veteran James Cook, showed ribbons and medals he earned during the conflict. He shared vivid descriptions of digging foxholes, going weeks without a shower and eating military field rations.

Navy reservist Capt. Bonnie Halderson-Ritter described her role as a medic on a hospital ship to an eager group of students.

“We help our soldiers who have been wounded on the battlefield,” the 24-year veteran said. “It’s an honor to go out to a hospital ship and provide care to our troops.”

“When I was young, they didn’t have anything like this to share with the kids,” Bill Brown, the Crestview VFW post’s former commander, said. “I had my dad’s stories, though. Dad was in the Navy (in World War II). They shot down 200 Kamikazes from their ship.”

Students, particularly participants, showed respect for military sacrifice with symbolic gestures.

In a solemn moment, Pvt. Bailee Joy, a 12-year-old member of the Crestview Young Marines and Laurel Hill School sixth-grader, presented a service member’s hat at the lone place setting at the POW/MIA "White Table." After carefully turning the goblet upside down to indicate the missing service members would not drink with comrades at the event, she stepped back and saluted.

Bailee said the ceremony gave her a sense of pride.

“It was kind of like, when you’re done, you feel the patriotism and are proud of your country,” she said.

Sixth-grader Brandon Christensen said he enjoyed discussing aircraft, one of his interests, with retired Air Force Maj. Bryan Hooper.

“He told us about some of the big warships he was on and the planes,” Brandon said. “He said he went Mach 2 (twice the speed of sound) in an F15. It was cool.”

High school students in Lena Steele’s leadership class helped organize the event, at which senior Garrett Alford served as master of ceremonies.

“It is just an honor,” Garrett said. “I was glad to do it. I love hearing (veterans’) stories and I appreciate everything they have done for us.”

Hearing veterans’ accounts should help students understand material they learn in history classes, Brown said.

It was a lesson junior William Rorech takes to heart.

“I think it’s an incredible program,” William said. “It’s history. It’s their first-hand experience of that history. It’s not something you read in history books that somebody who found documentation wrote about.

“These people lived it.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill students come face to face with American heroes