Purple Heart Veterans honored

Steve Morehead, owner of Smoke Master Bar-b-que catering service recently became aware of a special group of veterans scattered around Oconee County.   “Chapter #748 Military Order of the Purple Heart has been chartered here in Oconee County since September 2000”, according to County Veterans Affairs Director Jerry Dyar.  “Our office and the citizens of Oconee have been honoring our combat-wounded veterans with a special breakfast each year around Veterans Day and Morehead and his wife, Debbie, saw a story in the local media about that event last year.  The Moreheads became obsessed with the idea that they, too, wanted to do something to pay tribute to Oconee’s Purple Heart heroes”, Dyar went on.  So the idea of a bar-b-que luncheon was launched and Wednesday, April 10 is the date.  At noon, that day all Purple Heart veterans living in Oconee County are invited to be at the Walhalla Depot for a special “free” lunch treat.  The Walhalla Chapter DAR will provide desert.  Dyar said, “Because it is important to know how many to prepare for, the Oconee County VA Office is asking that all Purple Heart veterans who would like to attend to please call (864) 638-4231 as soon as possible.  The deadline to notify the Oconee County VA Office of your intentions to attend is April 5.  We hope to see all of our combat-wounded veterans at the Walhalla Depot on April 10 at noon.  Our sincere thanks to Smoke Master Bar-b-que and the Walhalla DAR for this great gesture.”