Veteran of Year to be honored Monday
By W. WINSTON SKINNER
winston@newnan.com
Today is Veterans Day, and local veterans will be honored today and tomorrow at ceremonies across the county.
Many Veterans Day observances will be held Monday, which is the federal holiday for the tribute to America’s military personnel. Mel Hayden will be recognized as Veteran of the Year at the community Veterans Day ceremony on Monday in Newnan.
A Virginia native, Hayden grew up in South Carolina. He spent 20 years in the U.S. Army and completed Special Forces training in 1961 before serving three tours of duty in Vietnam. He also served in Panama and the Dominican Republic.
Following his military service, Hayden spent the next 20 years in the U.S. Civil Service. He holds a PhD in human resource development and has been active in civic and educational projects since moving to Newnan.
A tribute to veterans will also be held in Grantville on Monday morning. The Grantville Veterans Association is sponsoring the event, which will take place at Happy Hollow Memorial Park across from First United Methodist Church of Grantville at 9 a.m.
Several churches have Veterans Day events on their calendars today. Among them are:
• St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 10:30 a.m. Veterans who wish to do so may wear their uniforms.
• First Baptist Church, Moreland, 11 a.m.
• Allen-Lee Memorial United Methodist Church, Lone Oak, 11 a.m. Patriotic music and readings followed by a spaghetti lunch. The church youth group will be accepting donations for the lunch.
