8th Annual SCV Salutes American Veterans event held September 17th, 2011

09/17/11
By Steve Scroggins

The eighth annual SCV Salutes American Veterans event was a great success! Once again, veteran patients at the Carl Vinson VAMC enjoyed the entertainment, the prizes and the food and all the volunteers had a great time, too.

SCV members and other volunteers from across Georgia converged at the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Dublin, Georgia early Saturday. The cook grills were set up outdoors, the charcoal was started and fun began. For several hours well into the afternoon, the courtyard around Independence Park was filled with the sound of music, laughter and people enjoying themselves.

For eight years we've had clear weather (except 2009) for this annual event the third Saturday in September. September 17th (2011) stands out in memory for being the coolest ever. Low temps were around the upper fifties with a strong breeze in the early hours. Long sleeves felt good until later in the morning.

About a hundred and fifty patients and some staff joined us there to enjoy the food, the music, the wheelchair races and the prize giveaways. It's estimated that we fed about 250 total with about 90 pounds of chicken and 90 pounds of sausage. Many more who could not come outside received goodie-bags and good food delivered to them inside in their rooms. Goodie bags were given to all the patients that included writing instruments, candy and sundry items. As always, it was a pleasure to meet and talk with the patients.

The General Lee, the always-popular 1969 Dodge Charger of Dukes of Hazzard TV and movie fame, was on hand for viewing and photos. Its orange paint with the racing numeral "01," rooftop adorned with the Confederate Battle Flag, and horn that plays "Dixie" attracts attention wherever it goes. Special thanks go to owner Allen Baggett (a Laurens County deputy sheriff) who loaned it and to driver Rusty Henderson of Dublin for bringing it again this year.

Thanks to our many volunteers, sponsors and contributors, we had plenty of food and prizes for everyone. The non-SCV volunteers were many including three members of the band, Robert Sanders the master chef, his assistants Chris and Duke Bowen, Suzanne Huffman, Kitten Faulk, Connie Cranford, Joann Lusk and the ladies of the UDC (United Daughters of the Confederacy Sidney Lanier Chapter #25-Macon), and many others. The ladies prepared homemade desserts which are always a favorite of the veterans.

This writer wishes to add that the German chocolate cake was so good it about made my tongue slap my brains out. The only complaint heard about desserts was that SCV member John Hall, Jr., of Dublin grabbed the last piece of pecan pie and wouldn't share with anyone at the table.

Kitten Faulk (wife of SCV member Dan Faulk) of Twiggs County served as emcee for the festivities keeping things moving. The band was introduced and they started about 11am to entertain while the assembly ate a fine meal of grilled chicken, grilled sausage with all the fixin's and great desserts served by the volunteers.

Event chairman Russ Huffman of Jeffersonville (Past Commander of Clinch's Cavalry SCV Camp #2084 Jeffersonville) and Steve Scroggins of Macon (Commander of Lt. James T. Woodward Camp #1399 Warner Robins) organized the wheelchair races. Contestants using both manual and motorized wheelchairs, ran in three heats, one for straight line speed, and two slaloms (one forward and one backward) to test agility. The slaloms were between cones placed on the racetrack. The combined times for the three heats (plus any penalty seconds for cone contact) determined the winners. Racer #1 took first place with a combined time of 58.73 seconds. Racer #3 took second place with a combined time of 66.97 seconds; third place was Racer #2 with a combined time of 77.49 seconds (all times including penalty seconds). The winners were presented with trophies. Privacy regulations at the VA Medical Center prevent us from identifying the contestants.

SCV members and Mechanized Cavalry (motorcycles) from as far away as Dahlonega, Lawrenceville and Winder were in force. The Mechanized Cavalry was well represented; we had over 40 motorcycles on hand. About 30 met at a local Cracker Barrel and convoyed over under escort from Dublin's finest. About ten others showed up a little later.

Veteran patients volunteered to serve as judges for the motorcycle show; and their consensus voting named three winners all of whom received trophies. 'Dirtiest Bike' was "won" by perennial favorite Bud Cranford of Kathleen (incredibly Cranford didn't win in 2010); 'Best Overall' was won by David May. Cranford, of Kathleen, is a member of SCV Camp 1399 in Warner Robins and the Mechanized Cavalry. The name of the winner for 'Cleanest Bike' was not recorded by this reporter(sorry!), but it's rumored that he was helped to win by parking his bike beside Bud Cranford's.

The band was great and entertained everyone with a mix of patriotic, country, blues, funk, and pop. The band dubbed "The Duckworth Fab Jam Band" was fronted by Camp 1399 member Walter Duckworth who performed lead vocals. All the band members live in central Georgia. They put on a very impressive show.

SCV Georgia Division Commander Jack Bridwell of Moultrie (Camp #674) was on hand as was 4th Brigade Commander Kim Beck of Eastman with his wife Janine. SCV camps from Warner Robins, Eastman, Dublin, Cochran, and south Georgia were well represented. Apologies go to any left out of this list.

Due to privacy regulations, we are not able to show all the great photos and activities that we had, and the faces of the veterans really tells the story best (be there next year to see what we mean).

The veteran patients all seemed to enjoy the event and many expressed appreciation for the entertainment, prizes and attention paid to them. All the volunteers enjoyed the event as well and we hope to keep this an annual event.

Months of legwork went into planning the event and securing donations from our generous contributors. Special thanks goes to Russ Huffman for leading these efforts once again. The overall effort has become easier with practice, however, we welcome help and attendance from other SCV camps and volunteers going forward. You'll be glad you came.

Thanks to all the volunteers...but most of all, thanks to ALL our American veterans for their service and sacrifice.
---Steve Scroggins, Commander, SCV Camp 1399, Warner Robins, GA

Previous reports: 2009 Event, 2008 Event

Click the thumbnails below to see larger versions. Photos by Steve Scroggins.

Volunteers assemble in Independence Park.	L-R: Kim Beck & Dublin SCV camp members	Rusty Henderson and Daisy Duke	Steve Scroggins with The General Lee
Ricky Smith (1399), Alan Richards (Cochran) & Kitten Faulk	Russ Huffman & Dennis Lord (Cochran)	Walter Duckworth (hat, red shirt) & the band