MADISON – Sometimes, it doesn’t hurt to have friends in ‘high’ places.

A country music artist invited several veterans from Alabama to travel to Dickson, Tenn. to participate in the city’s Veterans Day Parade.

Craig Morgan, who is also a military veteran, has a great respect for all veterans, particularly the older group of World War II veterans. During the past year, several members in Forever Young Senior Veterans of Alabama had visited Craig in Dickson.

Morgan’s friends, Paul and Mitzi McCallister, coordinated travel for and hosted the Alabama veterans. 

“The weather was cold but the reception from the people of Dickson was warm and friendly,” Tom McKinney said. McKinney served in the Vietnam War and is a member American Legion, Post 229 in Madison and Forever Young Senior Veterans.

U. S. Army World War II veteran Major Wooten of Madison led a convoy of 80 Jeeps Caravans through the downtown streets of Dickson to cheers from the crowd on Nov. 11. Wooten also is a Legionnaire and member of Forever Young Senior Veterans. “It was fitting that Major Wooten at 102 years of age led the jeeps, which were provided by ‘The Topless in Tennessee Jeep Club,'” McKinney said.

Other senior veterans from Alabama in the convoy included Mac McCollum, Harold McMurran, Tom McKinney, Barry Sammet, Chuck Drown and John Kuhn. Several volunteers, relatives and younger veterans from Alabama attended the event to cheer for the elder service members.

“Since the Madison County Veterans Day Parade was cancelled due to inclement weather, these senior veterans still got to enjoy a Veterans Day Parade with the people of Dickson, Tenn.,” McKinney said.

Diane Hight of Memphis, Tenn. founded Forever Young Senior Veterans in 2006. The organization provides trips and wish fulfillment to veterans 65 years old and older.

Promoting honor, healing and hope, the organization sponsors trips to destinations where veterans fought or to other historic sites, such as Washington D.C. Forever Young Senior Veterans of Alabama, an extension, was formed in 2017 to benefit senior veterans of the Madison County area. 

Anyone interested in joining the group can call Chris Batte at 931-409-3812.  For more information, visit foreveryoungvets.org/alabama.