Sampson County will once again come together this Veterans Day to honor the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States Armed Forces, as the 27th Annual Veterans Day Celebration is held Tuesday, Nov. 11, at the Sampson County Agri-Exposition Center.
The ceremony, scheduled for 11 a.m., is sponsored and presented by Sampson County, the Sampson County Agri-Exposition Center, and the Clinton-Sampson Chamber of Commerce, with support from the Sampson County Office of Veterans Services and the Sampson County Veterans Council.
For Sampson County Director of Veterans Affairs Ann Knowles, this event represents decades of hard work, dedication —and more importantly, long overdue acknowledgment.
“Veterans for so many years did not have any recognition,” Knowles said. “When I started in 1975, it was a couple years before the VFW and my office would meet up there at the courthouse on the lawn. We talked about how we needed a big celebration, and that is why we do this celebration.”
Knowles said the county made a decision nearly three decades ago to change the culture of how veterans are treated here.
“It means the world to them that they are finally recognized,” she said. “A lot of veterans were not recognized coming home. We have made it a point that veterans are important and that we want to thank them publicly for all that they have done and all that they have sacrificed. It is not just another day; this is a very special day.”
Knowles shared that the celebration has always been strongly supported by local leaders, the community, performers, chaplains, and keynote speakers, who all want to take part.
“We’ve never had an issue,” Knowles said. “When we started having this event and we would ask people to be our keynote speaker or singers, everybody is excited and so proud to be able to do this for veterans. Sampson County… the people in Sampson County really do appreciate and want to honor the veterans.”
Knowles emphasized that veterans never stop serving, even after they come home.
“Veterans are very, very proud of their country and they want to still serve,” she said. “When they come out of service, they didn’t quit serving. They are still serving. They serve the community all the time.”
Knowles referenced local leaders — educators, first responders, pastors, civic leaders — who once served in uniform and now continue to serve right here.
“They always come in and say, ‘What can I do to help?’” she said. “They continue what they were doing in the military… just in another form. They served our country and they continue to serve our country.”
Knowles said another reason this ceremony carries so much weight is because the country so easily forgets when there isn’t an active conflict dominating the news cycle.
“We forget about that,” Knowles said. “There hasn’t been any celebrations or anything on television. Veterans Day is coming up on Tuesday — have you seen anything on television? No. Because we’re not in war, and it’s not important. But we are one finger away from being in war.”
She said for many veterans, the mental state of readiness never turns off, regardless of age or branch of service.
“They may be 80 years old, but they would be there if needed,” Knowles said.
Knowles said she hopes Sampson County shows up strongly once again.
“If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t have a country for me to serve,” Knowles said. “Some veterans gave it all… and those who served gave it all too, because it makes a difference in our lives forever.”
The public is encouraged to attend and take part in honoring Sampson County’s veterans for their sacrifice, their service, and their continued role in shaping the community.