Memorial Day 2021 - Pins & IMO Signs
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The CPP outreach group met at the home of Mrs. Edie Potter,
surviving spouse of Vietnam War veteran, Pat Potter. Edie is joined by her family,
church group friends and neighbors with the IMO sign following her pinning ceremony.
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This gallery presents photographs taken by Carl Bradley, Faith in a Flash Photography, contracted by the EC-47 History Site Vietnam War Commemorative Partner Program (CPP) committee to record their outreach to the San Angelo community on Memorial Day, May 31, 2021. The CPP group included JJ Graham, president of the Heritage Chapter-Freedom through Vigilance Association, Larry & Pat Miller, and Tom & Kitty Nurre, also members of the Heritage Chapter. Tom is the EC-47 History Site CPP outreach coordinator while Larry is the chapter special events coordinator. Carl Bradley and his wife, Sandra, celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary by "working" together to take these photos. Captions are provided with the thumbnail index pictures as best possible.
The American Legion Post 572 developed In Memory Of (IMO) signs in tribute to deceased military veterans of all wars. These 18 x 24-inch all-weather signs made from corrugated plastic (campaign yard signs) were placed throughout the Riverside Golf Course during the Memorial Day weekend tournament on Saturday and Sunday. The signs represented in this gallery were retrieved from the golf course and presented to individual surviving spouses or immediate family members in a prearranged convoy from home to home on Monday, Memorial Day 2021. Immediately after presenting the IMO signs, Vietnam War and All Wars surviving spouse lapel pins, Certificates, and Poppy flowers were also presented. A number of the surviving spouses had already received the lapel pin and Certificate at previous ceremonies.
This was a first in the use of the IMO signs...and a first outreach using the "motorcade" idea from home to home. Plans are afoot to conduct another outreach with signs and pins on or about the July 4th weekend. Please contact the CPP coordinator via email ([email protected]) if you are interested in participating or would like to purchase an IMO sign for your personal use in honoring both living and deceased veterans.
Enjoy viewing and using these photos...but remember - The photographer and website manager grant permission to download and use these images for personal use only. Users may not edit or change digital files with filters or any software without written permission from the photographer and website manager. This permission applies worldwide. The photographer retains the copyright to all images. Please credit Faith in a Flash Photography and The EC-47 History Site CPP when downloading or referencing these images for your personal use.
Mrs. Ann Lipp Kelton coming outdoors with her Visiting Angels caregiver, Mirna Luna, greets Tom Nurre at 11:00 am on Memorial Day, May 31, 2021.
Mirna Luna, Ann Kelton, her daughter, Kathy Kelton, and Tom Nurre prepare to start a Memorial Day tribute to Mrs. Kelton and her deceased husband, WWII veteran Elmer Kelton.
L-R: Tom Nurre, Mrs. Ann Kelton, Kathy Kelton, Mirna Luna and Larry & Pat Miller prepare to start the In Memory Of sign presentation ceremony.
Heritage Chapter-Freedom Through Vigilance Association special events coordinator, Larry Miller and his wife, Pat Miller, present the PFC Elmer Kelton In Memory Of sign.
Mirna Luna is a caregiver for Mrs. Kelton. Mirna works for the Visiting Angels which is a Living Assistance Services organization in San Angelo, Texas.
Tom Nurre provided last-minute comments to start the presentation program with Ann and Kathy Kelton listening intently.
Kitty Nurre stands in watchful tribute to the Kelton family ceremony.
Larry Miller presents the Elmer Kelton IMO sign. This sign had been displayed at the Riverside Golf Course during the weekend American Legion Memorial Day golf tournament.
Lary Miller plants the IMO sign in the Kelton front lawn.
Larry Miller reads the CPP Certificate of Appreciation to Mrs. Ann Kelton and Pat Miller stands ready to present the special All Wars surviving spouse lapel pin.
Larry Miller reads the special Certificate of Appreciation that is enclosed in a padded blue folder with a Fact Sheet description of the lapel pin and its distinctive blue star.
Pat Miller affixes the All Wars Blue Star surviving spouse lapel pin to Mrs. Kelton's collar.
Larry and Pat Miller complete the lapel pin presentation part of the Memorial Day ceremony honoring both Ann and Elmer Kelton.
Mrs. Ann Kelton poses with her newly presented surviving spouse lapel pin. This pin was designed by the EC-47 History Site for surviving spouses of all wars not included in the Vietnam War Commemoration program. It is similar but distinctly different from the Vietnam War lapel pin.
The Millers present the Certificate of Appreciation to Mrs. Ann Kelton.
Larry and Pat Miller with Mrs. Ann Kelton pose for this picture at the close of the lapel pin and certificate presentation ceremony.
The Millers complete the presentation ceremony and thank Mrs. Ann Kelton for her own service as a WWII war bride and life-long partner of her veteran husband, PFC Elmer Kelton.
Event coordinator, Tom Nurre, poses with Mrs. Ann Kelton as they sit together on her front porch on Memorial Day 2021.
Mrs. Ann Kelton and Tom Nurre exchange "war stories" and personal comments following the Memorial Day presentation program.
Mrs. Ann Kelton and her daughter, Kathy Kelton, pose with the Certificate of Appreciation following the presentation at Mrs. Kelton's home in San Angelo, Texas.
Memorial Day 2021: Back row: Pat Miller, Ann Kelton, Kathy Kelton, and Mirna Luna. Front row: Tom & Kitty Nurre, Larry Miller and JJ Graham.
Memorial Day 2021: Mirna Luna, Mrs. Ann Kelton and Kathy Kelton pose for a group picture at the conclusion of the presentation ceremony honoring Ann and Elmer Kelton.
A final picture of the IMO sign on display in the front yard honoring deceased WWII veteran, Elmer Kelton.
L-R: Larry Miller and Tom Nurre greet Mrs. Amanda Tijerina at her home on Memorial Day 2021.
Tom Nurre and Mrs. Amanda Tijerina. Amanda is the surviving spouse of Vietnam War veteran Captain Albert Tijerina. Captain Tijerina was killed in action fifty years ago in 1971.
Larry Miller and Tom Nurre visit with Mrs. Amanda Tijerina and prepare to present her the In Memory Of sign in tribute to her deceased husband, Captain Albert Tijerina.
Circle left to right: JJ Graham, Pat Miller, Kitty Nurre, Kathy Kelton, Larry Miller and Tom Nurre with Mrs. Amanda Tijerina. Amanda was presented the Vietnam War Commemoration Gold Star surviving spouse lapel pin and certificate in a November 2017 ceremony.
Tom Nurre with Amanda Tijerina as she directs Larry Miller where to place the IMO sign in her front yard on Memorial Day 2021.
Larry Miller, under the careful supervision of JJ Graham, plants the In Memory Of sign in the front lawn of the Tijerina home in San Angelo, Texas.
The Tijerina IMO sign was displayed at the American Legion Memorial Day weekend golf tournament for two days before being presented to Mrs. Amanda Tijerina on Memorial Day 2021.
