Thank you to
Julian Black for heading up the Military Bows this year and collecting the wonderful stories included below. The 2014 Strawberry Festival provided a total of 11 new bow sales and some very nice comments listed below from the neighbors.
Erin Barrett: The Army Military Bow is to honor her brother Liam. He was in the 101st Airborne.
Karen DeChant: The Air Force Military Bow is to honor her late husband Art. Art was raised on a farm and learned at a very early age the importance of hard work. He got up early to do his farm chores and stayed up late with special lights on the tractor so he could do team sports in high school. He was stationed at Nellis AFB and Randolph AFB as a maintenance officer repairing F-105's that were damaged in the Vietnam war.
Justin Greear: The Air Force Military Bow is to honor his Grandfather, George Reid, who flew B-29s over the Pacific in WWII. He is still alive, lives in Raleigh, and tells great stories.
Carol Martin: The Air Force Military Bow is to honor her husband Bill who served in the Air Force Reserves.
Dunwoody City Councilman Terry Nall: This is the second year in a row that Mr. Nall has attended the VM Strawberry Festival. The Air Force Military Bow is to honor a family member.
Dallas Mueller: The Army Military Bow is to honor her grandfather. He was in WWII. She grew up in Tuscaloosa, AL living with him and has some wonderful memories of him.
Nancy Huey: The Army Military Bow is to honor her late husband Gary and her father. Gary was enlisted for two years and was stationed in Paris as a cryptographer. He returned to Auburn and graduated and served another six months in Ft Monmouth, NJ. Her father, LT. William E. Friel was called to active duty in 1941 into the 79th Field Artillery. He asked to report after the new baby came (Nancy) but was told to report as ordered! He served in European and Pacific areas of the war. His job was staging the troops for D-Day and the invasion of Japan. He was released in 1946 and retired as a Lt Col after 22 years.
Susan Wofford: The Navy Military Bow is to honor her father and her mother's brother. Her father, Roger Abbott, served in the Navy on the USS Iowa during wartime but did not see combat. Her mother's brother, Roy Rasmussen, was injured while in the Navy and spent a long recovery in the Bethesda Naval Hospital. He was a favorite brother to Dot and favorite uncle to all.
Jason & Rebecca Williams: (New neighbors moving into Jack and Jean DeVeer's home): A Navy Military Bow to honor his service. He was a Nuclear Submarine Officer and is still in the Reserves. Rebecca's Marine Military Bow is to honor her father. Her father was a Military Chaplain.