By Staff
HONORING VETERANS Former U.S. Rep. G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery, left, and Mississippi Secretary of State Eric Clark announce a project honoring veterans that they hope also will encourage people to vote in the Nov. 4 general elections. "Vote in Honor of a Veteran" lets voters recognize contributions Mississippi veterans have made to preserve democracy. Photo by Kyle Carter/The Meridian Star
special to The Star
Sept. 16, 2003
Secretary of State Eric Clark said Monday he hopes a project honoring veterans will encourage people to participate in the fall elections.
Clark and former U.S. Rep. G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery unveiled the "Vote in Honor of a Veteran" project, which recognizes contributions Mississippi veterans have made to preserve and protect democracy.
Montgomery and Clark made the announcement at a news conference at Key Field in Meridian. A second news conference took place later Monday at the Mississippi Veterans Monument in Jackson.
Program details
The Secretary of State's Office has mailed stickers to all county circuit clerks, as well as the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary, all state chapters of Veterans of Foreign Wars and state veteran's homes.
In addition, the secretary of state's Web site, www.sos.state.ms.us, encourages Mississippians to submit written tributes about the importance of a veteran in their lives.
Selected comments will be posted online. Contributions will be forwarded to the Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage at the University of Southern Mississippi, which has been collecting stories and reminiscences about the state's veterans.
Mississippi voters head to the polls Nov. 4 to choose new state, legislative and county leaders. Among the races on the ballot: the governor, lieutenant governor and county supervisors.
Mississippi veterans
Clark himself is running for re-election. Clark faces Republican Julio Del Castillo and Reform Party candidate Brenda Blackburn in the November general election.
Mississippi has about 245,000 veterans. Since World War I, 5,943 Mississippians have died since defending the country and 17 have won the Congressional Medal of Honor, according to Clark's office.