On Nov. 24, Jessica Joice-Frazier and her family joined veteran and entrepreneur Joe Spears to celebrate his 99th birthday — and to recognize and honor his service during World War II with a wreath bearing an American flag and Air Force flag, provided by Wreaths Across America.
In addition to his many community service contributions and business investments in West Plains, Spears served as a United States Army Air Corps B-17 waist gunner Flying Fortress. His bombing missions — and the missions of hundreds of other B-17s — assisted General George Patton’s troops in crippling the German defenses, railroad yards and oil supplies intended for German planes and tanks.
A reminder, Wreaths Across America, an organization dedicated to honoring veterans, will come to Howell County for the first time at 10 a.m. Dec. 16, to host a ceremony at Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1019 E. Third St. in Mtn. View. The Wreaths Across America event is intended to “Remember – Honor – Teach” about United States veterans and their ultimate sacrifices. The event is free and open to the public.
Also, reminds the Ozark Spring chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, which is helping to coordinate the event, time to purchase one of the few wreaths still available for inclusion in the upcoming event is limited. To purchase a wreath or make a donation, visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/MO0237 or www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/MOVTMC .
