Veterans home to add 20 beds
Groundbreaking ceremony heralds addition of new unit

APRIL G. JACKSON, Editor
"Isn't it a beautiful day and this flag never looked any better!" said State Veterans Homes Board chairman Grover Poteet at the groundbreaking ceremony held last week for the new addition at the Veterans Home in Humboldt.

The American flag seemed to come alive in with the breeze as the National Anthem was sung by Barbara Blankenship. Warm May sunshine and bright blue skies welcomed the crowd who attended the ceremony.

A unit from the Trenton National Guard presented the colors prior to the ceremony as veterans saluted and others held their hands over their hearts in respect.

Poteet used the occasion to remember the late W.D. 'Bill' Manning, for whom the home is named. Manning was a double amputee from a firefight in Vietnam, but it never slowed him down, Poteet said. One of former Governor Ned Ray McWherter's first appointments in 1987 was Manning as the Tennessee Commissioner of Veterans Affairs. Manning worked tirelessly to establish the veterans home in Gibson County, Poteet noted.

Construction of the new 20-bed special needs unit is underway along with aesthetic and functional renovations at the home located on Main Street in Humboldt.
Another 120-bed vets home in Murfreesboro is also constructing a 20-bed addition. Both projects are expected to be completed in nine months. Construction of a third home has begun in Knoxville for at 140-bed facility.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has recognized that Tennessee needs 1050 beds to meet the needs of its veteran population.

Poteet noted that there are 70,000 veterans in the West Tennessee area.

POSTING COLORS - Guardsmen from the Trenton National Guard unit posted the colors Wednesday prior to the groundbreaking of the new addition at the State Veterans Home in Humboldt.

GROUNDBREAKING - A ceremony heralding the new 20-bed unit at the State Veterans Home in Humboldt was held Wednesday. Among those on hand at the groundbreaking are (from left) Humboldt VFW Commander Frank James, home administrator Di-Ann Jones, Humboldt Mayor Allen Barker and Tennessee State Veterans Homes Board chairman Grover Poteet. Several members of the State Veterans Home Board participated in the ceremony.

Barbara Blankenship

STATE BOARD PARTICIPATES - Members of the Tennessee State Veterans Home Board participated in the groundbreaking ceremony held last week for the new 20-bed special needs unit of the State Veterans Home in Humboldt. The chairman is Grover Poteet.

VETS ON HAND - Local veterans came out to show their support when the Tennessee State Veterans Home held a groundbreaking for a new 20-bed unit last week in Humboldt. Among those attending are (from left) Murray Jones, Sam Blissard, Clarence Hobbs and George Rasberry. Jones is with the American Legion in Trenton, Blissard is with the VFW in Humboldt and Hobbs and Rasberry are with the VFW in Trenton.