The American Legion Post 212 had a special guest attending this Veterans breakfast. Commander Tonya Launsby, a U.S. Navy veteran and department commander of all 154 Posts of the Tennessee American Legion, stopped by to distribute American Legion pins to the Veterans. This Navy Veteran served for 20 years, with deployments on six ships during Desert Storm and Desert Shield. Throughout her military career, she earned several commendations, including the Navy Commendation Medal and three Navy Achievement Medals, and was awarded the first Kosovo NATO medal while serving overseas. Following her military service, Launsby pursued education at Norwich University (where she later taught), earning a master’s degree in business administration with an emphasis on leadership and accounting.

Commander Launsby noted the transition of the American Legion posts throughout the country. Many had become more of a social organization with bars for the Veterans to grab a drink. The bars and drinking are gone, and the emphasis is now that of a family-friendly Veterans Service Organization. The mission is not social – it is service. This includes advocating for Veterans’ healthcare and benefits, supporting military families in need, providing scholarships for our youth, and honoring fallen heroes with dignity and respect. The commitment is to Veterans, families, and communities. The mission is Guidance, Direction, and Purpose.

As a veteran advocate, the Commander has dedicated her time to various leadership roles within the American Legion. She is only the second female commander of the Tennessee American Legion in the state’s history. Thank you, Commander Launsby, for joining the Veterans for breakfast and for your service in the Navy and with the Legion.

Chaplain Arnold Smallin led the meeting with an update on the Veterans’ Wall. George Brothers Excavation resolved the drainage problems. The stairstep top of the wall has been redesigned to increase the wall's surface area for memorial plaques, and the blockwork has been laid. They have received two bids to apply the granite faux stone finish, a very expensive endeavor. Once funding is secured, there will be a 2–3-week delay while we wait for supplies. When completed, the Union County Veterans’ Wall will be ready for Veteran Martin Shafer to reinstall the plaques.

To apply for a plaque on the wall for yourself or a family member, contact VSO Mark Cook at 865-661-7243, Mark.Cook@UnionCountyTN.gov or Mayor Jason Bailey 865-992-3061 Jason.Bailey@UnionCountyTn.gov A link to the applications can also be found on the county government website www.UnionCountyTN.gov/Veterans-Service-Officer/ You will need a copy of the DD-214.

A military honor guard performs ceremonial duties to represent a nation’s gratitude and respect at Veterans’ funerals. This includes the meaningful 13 folds and presentation of the American flag, as well as playing Taps. Taps are played at the conclusion of services to symbolize the end of a soldier's earthly duty, a peaceful final rest, and the gratitude of the nation. The membership of the Tri-County Honor Guard is dwindling. Members are aging out or are in poor health. When Arnold Smallin joined the Honor Guard in 2014, 25 members rotated for various funerals. Arnold said the baseline to “do it right” is 13 members. They presently have 11. If you are a Veteran of the US Military, please consider volunteering a few hours a month to honor another Veteran who has passed. Contact Chaplain Smallin at 423-919-0547 to find out more.

Leaf Guard sponsored this breakfast. Leaf Guard is a continuous, one-piece seamless aluminum gutter with a built-in curved hood that uses liquid adhesion to direct rainwater into the channel while letting debris slide off. Their representative, Parker Esmark, said that Leaf Guard offers a FREE gutter inspection. This inspection will provide photos and videos of any issues the present gutters may have when the Leaf Guard folks climb up on your roof to inspect them – something you may not wish to do personally! Leaf Guard is presently in 37 of the 50 states. Parker mentioned that they will send a $50 Visa card to everyone who has an inspection. Leaf Guard offers a free annual gutter inspection to all customers where they have previously installed, just to be sure that the TN weather has not affected the job the gutters are intended to do.

Thank you Brannon Shular, Bryson Shular and Charles Wilson, First Responders from the Maynardville Fire Dept, for your support of Union County Veterans.

And thank you, NJROTC, for honoring our Veterans by assisting them during breakfast. Your participation was noted and appreciated. The NJROTC is taking donations for Wreaths Across America. The wreaths help us remember the fallen, honor those who served, and teach the next generation. National Wreaths Across America Day is Saturday, December 19, 2026. You can sponsor a wreath at www.WreathsAcrossAmerica.org

Various attendees won the door prizes, including a TN hat, TN T-shirt, and gift certificates for Cracker Barrel, Food City, and Lowes.

The next Veterans Breakfast is scheduled for October 10. Meet and greet at 8 a.m.; chow line begins at 8:30. The next monthly dinner for Veterans and their guests is Monday, October 5th at 6:00.