For Immediate Release:
November 7, 2016
Contact:
Greg Jones
(276) 386-3831
Town Manager
townmanager@mygatecity.com
GATE CITY, VA Veterans Day Ceremony
The Town of Gate City, VA will host a Veterans Day program on Friday, November 11th, 2016 at 11:00 AM. The program will be held at Grogan Park in Gate City, VA.
Mark Tipton will be the keynote speaker. Mark is a Gate City native and a retired Air Force Officer. Mark graduated from Gate City High School in 1993 and enlisted in the United States Air Force the following year. He served as a Security Policeman at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, and Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming. In Wyoming, Mr. Tipton met Cindie Kaufman, who would become his wife of now 17 years.
After earning his college degree, Mark was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and continued as a Security Police Officer at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. He then returned to Wyoming for nuclear operations and training duties. During this assignment, Mark and Cindie’s two daughters, Morgan and Madison, were born. The Tipton family then moved “south” to Colorado, where Mark performed duty with the National Reconnaissance Office. They remained in Colorado for a second assignment, joining the Air Force Space Command Inspector General team. During that time, Mark deployed to the Combined Air and Space Operations Center to plan and execute battlefield airborne communications missions across the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. He voluntarily concluded his 20-year career in 2014 as the U.S. Air Forces Central Command Inspector General, Forward.
Following military service, Mark served as the Director of Veterans Affairs at East Tennessee State University, and he is now a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones. Mark, Cindie, and their girls reside in Gate City, and they are members of the Gate City United Methodist Church.
This year we will commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the escalation of the Vietnam War. There will be a special recognition of service for veterans of that era. Their heroism and sacrifice continue to serve as inspiration for all who serve our country. We are dedicating this program to our Vietnam Veterans and giving them a long-overdue “Welcome Home and Thank You.’”
Our Veterans Day Program will also include:
Presentation of Colors: Overmountian Men Chapter SAR Color Guard, American Legion Gate City Post 265 and Kingsport American Legion Hammond Post 3.
Laying of Wreaths: Town of Gate City, Charter’s Fort Chapter DAR, Overmountian Men Chapter SAR, Elijah Cross II Chapter U.S. Daughters of 1812, and the American Gold Star Mothers.
The National Anthem will be performed by Judy McConnell accompanied by the Gate City High School Brass Quintet.
There will be a free cookout provided by the Gate City Civitan following the program.
Everyone is welcome to attend this event and honor our Veterans and their families.