Page 158 - Anthology

Thornberry Epilogue
June 4, 2014

I am proud of my Air Force service. The simple fact is that when I said I was going to join, people thought
I’d never be accepted because of my education. I proved them wrong. Out of two hundred high school
graduates, I scored third highest in the group. So, I’ve got a whole lot of reasons to be proud that I did
make it in the Air Force. As I made my rank, I had to take tests; a lot of the high school and some with
college, failed the tests – I passed.

“I don’t think it is any more than right that I work to help …”
Bobby Thornberry - June 4, 2014

I’ve invested twenty-eight years of my life for the American Legion. Twenty years I’ve really worked hard;
it has become my family. I’ve put my heart and soul into it. I was District Commander for seven years;
from there I became the Area B Vice-Commander which is only two steps from the top.

The first year I was the Commander at Post 34, I wanted to build the Veterans Wall of Honor. I got
permission to start raising the money. Some of the members told me that I’d never finish it because we’d
never be able to raise the money. But they didn’t know my wife. Shirley wrote letters to all the members
listed in the Chamber of Commerce book. Her letter mentioned that if they donated two hundred dollars
or more their names would be permanently posted at the wall. The money started rolling in. In the first
six months we raised twenty-six thousand dollars.

We started building the wall. When it came time to start laying the blocks, I talked to a young brick layer
from Harrodsburg. When I gave him the blue prints, he said it was nothing, just three straight walls. I
asked him to figure the cost. His reply was “oh, you don’t have to worry about me.” I said: “Larry I have
to worry about everyone.” Larry did not charge anything. He saved us about five thousand dollars. The
next thing I know, an electrician installed electric and he didn’t charge anything; that saved another five
thousand dollars. He put in all the lights and everything.

With donations, free brickwork and free electric; we got it built. The wall was dedicated on the sixth day
of November 2005. The weather was so cold; the ceremony had to be held at the club house with
standing room only. The one regret I have is that Sandy Sloan was not with us at the dedication. She
had wanted to see that wall built so much. Sandy got cancer and died on the fifth of November. She
never did get to see her name on the wall. When you look at the wall, you will see that Sandy’s brick is
surrounded by the bricks with the names of those who were close to her.

I have no regrets about the time I’ve been in the Legion. I just wish that my health would have let me stay
on and do more. It will work out. When I’m gone, they will be able to say that I gave one hundred percent
or maybe more.