We had a great turnout for Veteran’s Day in Middleburg.
First, Boy Scout Troop 2950 cooked a heartfelt breakfast for our Veterans, expressing gratitude not only for their service but also for their enduring support of the troop.
Following breakfast, we convened in front of the Post Office to unveil our Middleburg Hometown Heroes Banner Program. This initiative, spearheaded by Middleburg American Legion Post 295 and made possible through the efforts of Mayor Bridge Littleton, the Town Council, Town Staff Danny Davis and Will Moore, and Mr. Print of Middleburg, aims to honor past and present Veterans who have dutifully served our great nation and continued to make a positive impact on the Middleburg community.
Franklin Payne was presented with a quilt of honor crafted by quilter Mary Nickelson-Hill, daughter of a World War II veteran and mother of a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom. The quilt, measuring 60″ x 80,” was created using the Quilt of Valor Patriotic Log Cabin template, featuring a patriotic design incorporating red, white, and blue fabrics in a traditional log cabin pattern. The log cabin design symbolizes shelter, with a bright middle panel signifying the path home for the Veteran.
We paid tribute to the following individuals:
Franklin Payne (WWII): Flight engineer in the Army Air Corps stationed in Nice, France. Payne began serving in the Army at the age of 17. “I had a C-47 assigned to me and I flew all over France and Germany.”
Charles Jeep Craun (WWII): Former Chevrolet salesman turned city force chief, affectionately known as “Jeep.” because some friends decided he resembled a dog called Jeep in the Popeye cartoons.
David “Peaches” Lee (WWII): Middleburg Postmaster.
John P. Moliere (Cuban Blockade; Vietnam): A Vet’s Vet, Founder and Past President of the National Veteran Small Business Coalition a member of VetForce, Association for Service Disabled Veterans, founding sponsor of Operation Jumpstart, a Lifetime Member and Past Commander of American Legion Post 295, Middleburg
Ollie “Buck” Thompson (Korean)
John Randolph Embrey (Korean)
Ron Embrey (Vietnam): Past Post 295 Commander
Ricky Bell (Vietnam): Past Post 295 Commander / Past District 16 Vice Commander
American Flags and Poppies were distributed among the crowd. Royal British Legion Vice Commander, Stephen Carney, emphasized the significance of poppies in the United Kingdom, concluding with a reading of the poem “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae.
For future inductions or to sponsor a banner, we encourage you to reach out to the Middleburg American Legion.