WARNER ROBINS -- Just about every meeting of a governing body begins with the Pledge of Allegiance, but the Houston County Board of Commissioners has taken it to another level.
Since Tommy Stalnaker became board chairman a little more than a year ago, he has invited midstate war veterans to come to the meeting and lead the pledge. The veterans then spend a few minutes talking about their experiences in combat, often telling gripping stories.
James Wheat, a Houston County deputy and Desert Storm veteran, told an especially appropriate story after leading the pledge at the board meeting Feb. 7.
Wheat, who served in the Air Force, was part of a unit in Saudi Arabia in 1991 when Saddam Hussein began firing SCUD missiles in a town Wheat’s unit had just left. They had to decide whether to head back to Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, or stay where they were. The decision was made to head for Riyadh, and on the way Wheat’s unit was told that a SCUD missile struck a barracks where U.S. troops were staying. It killed 28 troops and wounded 100 more, making it the single deadliest attack on Americans in that war.
If they had made the decision to stay where they were, Wheat would have been in that barracks.
When they arrived at base camp in Riyadh, he said, the first thing he saw through the darkness was the U.S. flag flying.
“That was one of the best things I ever saw in my life,” he said. “A lot of people say we shouldn’t be in places where we are. I’m no politician, but I’m just proud to serve my country.”
After leaving the meeting, the man who dodged SCUD missiles and lays his life on the line daily as a deputy called leading the pledge and talking to the audience an honor. He also said it was “the scariest thing I’ve ever done.”
Stalnaker said he came up with the idea because Houston County is a military community, and he wanted to do something to honor veterans and give them a chance to talk about their service to their country. Either a military veteran or active-duty member has led the pledge at every meeting since he became chairman.
“It’s been very enlightening to everyone who has been on the board to hear the various stories from the men and women who have come in and did the pledge,” Stalnaker said. “It’s amazing how so many of them have been all over this world.”
The first person Stalnaker asked to give the pledge was Walton Wood, a resident who attends every commission meeting. The Navy veteran served on a ship off the coast of Vietnam during the war. He shuns the title of “Vietnam veteran,” though because he said he doesn’t want to equate himself with those who were “in the jungle.”
He said having veterans lead the pledge is “a superb idea.”
“A lot times folks who haven’t been in the military don’t know really what they do,” he said. “There are some harrowing tales the veterans who have come to the meetings have told.”
To contact writer Wayne Crenshaw, call 256-9725.
