Lakelands veterans honor their own at Uptown Greenwood ceremony

May 31, 2005

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal staff writer

From sea to shining sea, millions of Americans took time Monday to honor veterans and troops who have put themselves on the front lines of battle to defend their country in the name of freedom.
Dozens of Lakelands-area residents, soldiers and veterans, including members of American Legion Post 20, Lakelands Marines, Vietnam Veterans Association, Disabled American Veterans Association and Veterans of Foreign Wars, paid tribute to those brave men and women with a special Memorial Day ceremony in Uptown Greenwood. A similar ceremony was conducted in the Mathews Mill Village area.
“Our veterans are why we have the freedom we do today,” said Gene McDaniel, Commander for Post 20, which helped coordinate the Uptown event.
As a veteran, McDaniel, who served in the Army during the Korean and Vietnam war eras, said the day holds a special place in his heart, as well as the hearts of all of those who have served.
“It makes me very humble to be a very small part of preserving the freedoms that we enjoy,” he said. “To see these young men and women coming back from Iraq, and realizing some of the things they went through, it leaves a lump in your throat. We appreciate what they’ve done and the sacrifices they and their families have made.”
Guest speaker George McKinney II, a Greenwood resident who has been with the National Guard for 19 years, read an emotional story of a U.S. Marine who was killed while on duty in Baghdad last year.
A light mist began to fall as a bugle played “Taps” to end the ceremony, and for some in the crowd, it became hard to hold their emotions in.
Throughout the ceremony, Eric Williams held in his arms two photos of a World War II soldier. The young Army infantryman, dressed in his 17th Airborne Division uniform, was Williams’ father, Bill Williams.
“My dad was a medic, and he was in the Battle of the Bulge,” Williams said of his father, who survived the war, but died in 1984. “I always wanted to bring a picture of him to one of these ceremonies to honor his service.”
For Vietnam veteran Dave Burns, Aide to the 3rd District Commander with the Disabled American Veterans, the day held not only a sense of pride and gratitude for those that have served, but also a sense of sadness for those that have given their lives for their country.
“Today brings back thoughts of the war I was in. It’s still hard to talk about it even today.
It’s just a sad time,” Burns said. “If you’re a veteran, probably not a day goes by that you don’t think about the war you served in. You think about what this country would be like if we didn’t have those veterans. We all owe them a tribute.”

Joseph Davidson

Joseph Davidson, 83, of 123 Timberwood Road, husband of Edithe W. Davidson, died Sunday, May 29, 2005 at National Health Care in Clinton.
Born in Gloucester, N.J., he was a son of the late William J. and Annie Thompson Davidson. He was a graduate of Camden Vocational School, Camden, N.J., and a retired offset pressman with Regal Printing. A member of Laurel Baptist Church, he served with the Army 10th Armored Division during World War II.
Survivors include his wife of the home; a son, Joseph Leonard Davidson of Oaklyn, N.J.; two daughters, Joan E. Teti of Barrington, N.J., and Nancy Farrell of Aiken; four brothers, George Davidson, Alexander Davidson and David Davidson, all of New Jersey and John Davidson of Naples, Fla.; a sister, Elizabeth Kite of Marlton, N.J.; and three grandchildren.
Services are 11 a.m. Thursday at Harley Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Todd Johnson. Burial is at a later date at Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Visitation is 10-11 Thursday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to The Alzheimer’s Foundation, P.O. Box 658, Greenwood, SC 29648 or a charity of one’s choice.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at harleyfuneralhome.com

Lunelle Greene

HODGES, SC – Lunelle Bodie Greene, 90, formerly of Hodges, died Sunday May 29, 2005, at Westwood Extended Care in Evans, GA.
Born in Saluda County and a daughter of the late Clarence Abram and Clarissa Johnson Bodie, she was the wife of the late Alvin Greene. Mrs. Greene was a graduate of Ridge Spring High School and was retired from Connie Maxwell Chil-dren’s Home and was a member of Providence Baptist Church in Hodges.
Surviving are a daughter and son-in-law, LuVin and Roger McCoig of Clarks Hill, a brother, Bill Bodie of Johnston and nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 3:00 PM Tuesday, May 31, 2005 at Ramey Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Lamar Babb officiating.
The family will receive friends following the service at Ramey Funeral Home.
Interment will be at Saluda County Memorial Gardens.
PAID OBITUARY

Nancy Stringham Harr

IRMO — Nancy Stringham Harr, 73, widow of William Evarts Harr, died Friday, May 27, 2005.
Born in Batavia, N.Y., she was a daughter of the late Elwood Glen and Eva Keyes Stringham.
Survivors include four children, Debra H. Tharpe of Greenwood, William Evarts Harr Jr. of Irmo, John Stringham Harr of Chapin and Susan H. Caron of Mount Pleasant and 10 grandchildren.
A memorial service is 3 p.m. Saturday at St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church in Chapin.
Visitation is after the services at the home, 140 Park Place Drive, Irmo.

S.C. Republicans giving Democrats cause to smile

May 31, 2005

Once again the state House of Representatives and Senate have denied most of Republican Governor Mark Sanford’s vetoes of items in the budget. And, once again, it highlights the strained relations between members of those bodies and the governor.
Taxpayers have to wonder what’s going on, especially when both legislative chambers are controlled by Sanford’s own party.
It’s simple, really, although some may deny it. The Legislature historically has held the power in South Carolina, and the governor’s office has always played second fiddle.
Sanford has worked to restructure state government and, as a consequence, thereby change the power structure, too. He has had some success, but where political power is the object, the Legislature isn’t about to let it go without a fight.
That seems obvious when the party holding the governor’s office, the House and Senate appears to be in constant turmoil.
Democrats, of course, want to resume control. Nothing offers them a better chance than opponents who can’t work together, and Statehouse Republicans aren’t disappointing them.