February 3, 2021

Montgomery County Commission on Veterans Affairs, During Black History Month, Establishes Virtual Tribute to Honor 29 County Residents Who Served Country


The Montgomery County Commission on Veterans Affairs is honoring 29 County military service members and veterans with detailed virtual tributes displayed on the County’s website to mark Black History Month in February.

The tributes of County service members and veterans include photos, background information and details of accomplishments during their military careers and afterward. In past years, the tributes were displayed at the Silver Spring Civic Building. Due to the COVID-19 health crisis, this year the Black History Month tribute is being displayed online at https://tinyurl.com/y2cn8h24.

“Every veteran who has served in the history of the U.S. military has their own unique story,” said Wayne Miller, chair of the County’s Commission on Veterans Affairs. “It is the intent of our commission to allow residents to learn more about these remarkable people. The veterans we are honoring during Black History Month all have stories that the people of this County should know.”

The veterans honored in the tribute include John Henry Chaney, Fred Cherry, Sr., Veronica Childers, James "Pat" Daugherty, Justin Davis, Lillian Fishburne, Jeremiah Floyd, Charles Frazier, Gloria White Gardner, Ella May Gray, Elwood Gray, Jr., Otto “Greg” Hamilton, Arthur Holmes, Jr., Preston Jamison, Isiah Leggett, Charles McGee, Roscoe Nix, LaMont Nowlin, Jonathan Powell, Vernon Ricks, Jr., William Smith, Jr., Joyce Tabb, Willie Vaughn, Ernest Walker, Charles Williams, Michael Wilson, Glen Barry Wolff, Waverly “Woody” Woodson, Jr., and William Zeigler.

The Montgomery County Commission on Veterans Affairs is accepting virtual tributes of veterans who have served in the U.S. uniformed and armed services currently living in or from Montgomery County to be shared on its website for Black History Month. To share your story or the story of a friend or family member, email Carly.Clem@montgomerycountymd.gov and provide the following information:
  • Servicemember or veteran's name.
  • Your name (if submitting on behalf of a servicemember or veteran) and your relationship to the individual.
  • Branch of service and rank.
  • Years of service.
  • Era served (WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, Global War on Terror or Peacetime/Other).
  • Brief narrative of their service.
  • If they live or once lived in Montgomery County. What County high school did they attend?
  • Photo(s) (preferably one during their service and one present-day).
By sending an e-mail, the sender agrees to have the information contained shared on the County's website and on the Commission on Veterans Affairs social media. Submissions may be edited to conform to Montgomery County Government standards.

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich’s thoughts on helping veterans, photos and bios of those honored and to learn more about the County Commission on Veterans Affairs, go to https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/veterans.