Happy Valley honors 14 alumni who died in wars

ELIZABETHTON — Happy Valley High School does not forget the 14 alumni who were killed while fighting in the nation's wars from World War II to Operation Desert Storm.. To ensure those memories of sacrifice remain strong, the current study body of the school looked on while family members of the 14 fallen warriors sat in Bayless Gym on Thursday morning for a tribute. Also present were Sen. Rusty Crowe, Rep. Renea Jones, Carter County Mayor Patty Woodby, and Carter County Sheriff Mike Fraley. Crowe read Senate Joint Resolution 1031 to the audience. Crowe and Jones worked to get the resolution approved in the General Assembly after they learned there would be a day to honor the 14 alumni in May. This resolution passed by both houses of the General Assembly is entitled "A resolution to honor the 14 fallen veterans of Happy Valley High School. It said: "WHEREAS, while no measure of commendation could properly express our gratitude for the service of these fourteen men, it is incumbent upon us to honor their memories to the full extent of our abilities, today and every day." The resolution then concluded by saying "we honor the fourteen fallen veterans who were alumni of Happy Valley High School and pay tribute to their service and their ultimate sacrifice during war time for the United States and their fellow Americans." The resolution included a description of each of the 14 men: •Cpl. James Bowers, Marine Corps, Class of 1966, killed in Vietnam; •Seaman, 2nd Class William Vane Campbell, Navy, Class of 1939, killed on the Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor, World War II; •Pvt. Charles Wayne Clamon, Marine Corps, Class of 1943, killed on Tinian Island, World War II. •Staff Sgt. Billy Joe Ellis, Army, Class of 1966, missing in action, Vietnam; •Capt. Daniel Eugene Graybeal, Army, Class of 1983, killed flying a medical evacuation helicopter in Desert Storm; •Staff Sgt. Larry Jerome Lyons, Army, Class of 1959, killed in Vietnam; •Pvt. Joe Pete McKeehan, Army, Class of 1946, killed in Korea; •Seaman, 2nd Class Louis Henry McKeehan, Navy, Class of 1944, missing in action when USS Hull sank, World War II; •Pvt. Edwin McKeehan, Army, Class of 1944, killed on Omaha Beach, World War II; •Staff Sgt. Ira Meredith, Army, Class of 1932, killed on Utah Beach, World War II; •Spc. 4 Gary Dalton Murray, Army, Class of 1964, killed as a medic in Vietnam; •Staff Sgt. Raymond Francis Range, Army Air Forces, Class of 1934, killed in World War II; •Petty Officer 1st Class Frank Eugene Verran, Navy, Class of 1936, missing in action on a flying boat in the Atlantic on anti submarine duty, World War II; •Lance Cpl. Harold Wendell Wilson, Marine Corps, Class of 1963; killed in Vietnam. Mayor Woodby presented a memorial plaque to the school bearing the names and details of their service of the 14 alumni. Several of the current students made their own tribute in the form of a new memorial wall at the entrance to the school to pay tribute to the 14 men. Following the ceremony in the gymnasium, the families went outside, where the new sign in front of the school was unveiled. Because the road is not a county road, but is the property of the school, the Carter County School Board had approved a motion to rename the road "Happy Valley Fallen Warriors Way" Following the ceremony, one of the family members said "I think it was a really nice way to honor those 14 men. It was beautiful." McKeehan had family connections with several of the 14 men. Louis McKeehan was his brother. Joe Pete McKeehan was an uncle.Tommy McKeehan was a first cousin. Billy Joe Ellis was a brother to his brother-in-law. Although he was not related to Jerome Lyons, they were in the same graduating class.