Today our walk was dedicated in honor of :
Navy Veteran Willard Harris, Age 92 of Wartburg, TN.
Died Oct. 14, 2024
He proudly served in the U.S. Navy aboard the ship USS Leyte. He went on to become a registered technician at the Ford Motor Company, and later retired from Martin Marietta at Y-12 National Security Complex after working there for 18 years. Willard loved talking to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren about his childhood growing up in Fork Mountain and took them on visits to see the former coal mining community. He enjoyed showing them his Scrip coins that were used to buy goods in the general store there. Willard loved spending time with his family, especially his wife Geraldine of over 60 years. He was often working on home improvement projects with Geraldine and taking their son Barry camping.
It was an honor to walk 6.31 miles with Navy Veteran Willard Harris. We walked by Holiday Hills Lake and made our way to town where we stopped at the Veterans Memorial Park and read some names of our Fallen Brothers on the Memorial Wall. We then headed north and turned west at the bakery towards home. I want to thank everyone who honked, waved, and saluted today in helping me honor this hero. We had 215 honks. It was amazing. Thank you.
Navy Veteran Willard Harris will not be forgotten !
