Chattanooga’s Live Music Scene – My Annual Veterans Day Salute

  • Thursday, November 10, 2016
  • Bob Payne
Colonel Robert M. Daugherty, My Uncle Bob
Colonel Robert M. Daugherty, My Uncle Bob

Each year, I try and take a minute to recognize those men and women that have served our country in the U.S. military. No, it isn’t very “music” oriented, but it is way more important. Veterans Day is different from Memorial Day, in that all veterans are recognized on Veterans Day and only veterans that lost their lives defending this country are recognized on Memorial Day.


I was fortunate enough to have served in the United States Air Force as a Vietnam Era Veteran. I wasn’t real happy about it at the time, but looking back, I am proud of my service to this great country. Georgia recognizes wartime veterans by giving us our driver’s license at no charge for life. I think that is very nice. When I lived in Tennessee a few years ago, I tried to have that law put into effect there, as well. I contacted my State Representative, Joann Favors, and she was kind enough to introduce it into the State Legislature for me. The legislature decided that $4 a year was too much money to recognize wartime veterans, so the bill did not pass. The legislature did not have a problem allocating $436,000 to the University of Tennessee in an effort to change the names we use for gender identification. (For example, they wanted us to use zir instead of him or her, and zirs instead of their.)  They also allocated $45 million to help out a television show in Nashville for 4 seasons. Representative Favors gave it her best shot, and I know all veterans appreciate the effort.


Each year I try and recognize a few Veterans that I have had the pleasure of knowing over my lifetime. My WWII buddy, Jack Jordan, passed away this past year, but his service to this country will always be appreciated by those that knew him. More than 16 million men & women served during WWII, but only 600,000 remain today.


My Uncle Bob, for whom I was named, was one of a very select few decorated for serving in three wars – WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. He used to joke that he was born at precisely the wrong moment to be able to accomplish that feat. When I say he was decorated, he was really highly decorated. He was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, this Country’s second highest military commendation, just below the Medal of Honor. He had multiple Purple Hearts, Multiple Bronze Stars, and many more.

He also was Commander of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, better known as the Old Guard. The Old Guard performs all burial duties at Arlington Cemetery, guards the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and as Commander, he served as official military escort to the President of the United States. It was the assignment of a lifetime, and probably the one Uncle Bob was most proud. He was one of the coolest guys ever.


For many years I always wrote a Veteran’s Day note to Dr. Richard E. Garth, a WWII veteran and the father of my ex-wife. That is a man that really served his country well. He passed away a couple of years ago, but I think of him often and especially around Veterans Day.


My Brother-in-Law, David Barfield, served in Vietnam and died a few years ago as a result of Agent Orange complications. To me, that is the same as dying on the battlefield. He served in the U.S. Navy.


My Dad, William E. Payne, served in Europe for the Army Signal Corp during WWII.


My friend Ray Hudgens, also served during WWII in Europe, eats breakfast with me on occasion. I can tell you it is a real privilege to eat with Ray. His stories are priceless and I enjoy his company.


A young man that I write about each Memorial Day, PFC Jonathon Hall, was killed in action in 2010. I never knew him, but I did attend his funeral service. He is not forgotten on Veterans Day, I can assure you of that.


My co-worker at Friends of the Festival, Captain Mickey McCamish, is a veteran, too. He is very active in veteran’s affairs here in Chattanooga and is a true officer and gentleman.


Veterans are tied together by a common bond – respect. For instance, I have many friends from Facebook who are really just casual friends. However, those that are veterans get an extra measure of respect from me. Michael Yarbrough would be an example. I see him out and about from time to time, but I haven’t spent much time getting to know him. I do know one thing – he is a veteran and for that I thank him for his service and respect him.

A friend, Andrew Kelsay, said he wished we celebrated a “peace day” in addition to Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and Armed Forces Day. He’s right. We have sent too many soldiers off to fight wars that were not necessary. My only comment is that we should always support the soldier, and take up the fight against the politicians that sent them into harms way.


I leave you with a poem by Rudyard Kipling:


God and the soldier, all men adore,
 In time of danger and not before.
 When the danger is passed and all things righted,
 God is forgotten and the soldier slighted.


May we never forget our veterans and never slight them or take them for granted.  Happy Veterans Day to all veterans and their families.


I’ll see you out!


Bob Payne is the Entertainment Editor for the Chattanoogan.com and talent buyer for Friends of the Festival/Riverbend. You can follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/davrik2000 or email me at davrik@aol.com.  


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