By: Melea Hwang
A local veterans association, the American Legion Desmond T. Doss Post 257, is preparing for its annual Veterans Day celebration and Space Force star monument unveiling.
The monument will honor the newest branch of the military, established in December 2019. Space Force is the first new branch of the armed services since 1947, according to the United States Space Force website.
On Nov. 11, the monument will be officially dedicated by a U.S. Space Force brigadier general, according to Dennis Smith, the commander of Post 257.
This year, the post looks forward to a special Veterans Day ceremony. The Collegedale Academy band will play before and during the service, and city commissioners, the mayor and vice mayor, Senator Bo Watson and Representative Chuck Fleischmann are expected to attend.
On Nov. 10, the post will visit seven retirement homes and skilled nursing facilities to honor veterans who cannot attend the Nov. 11 celebration. Smith said that the post honors retired military personnel from any country, not just the United States. This year, post members plan to visit a Canadian veteran.
The post was established in 2003 by the late Jan Haluska, according to its website. Haluska served three years in Germany with the United States Army, according to his obituary.
In 2003, Smith, who served in the Air Force as a crew chief for six years, was called by Haluska to join the post as second vice commander. He became commander of the post 15 years ago.
According to Rich Eberly, the post’s vice commander, Post 257 now has up to 150 members. Eberly and Smith said the group consists of veterans from nearly all states and territories and represents a variety of races and religions. Eberly believes the post has members who served in every branch of the military.
“All of our airmen, soldiers, seamen, everybody that we have—there is such a variety,” he said. “That’s what makes the post so good.”
Throughout the year, Post 257 participates in several city and community activities, such as selling popcorn on the Fourth of July. It also hosts many of its own events, including a Chili Fundraiser each October, a Flea Market in April and a special Christmas party.
The Collegedale Veterans Memorial Park, located across from City Hall, currently features 10-foot star-shaped monuments for the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and soon, the Space Force. The park is maintained by Post 257.
Smith said the park was the vision of the late Phil Garver, a Vietnam veteran and former Collegedale City Commissioner. Garver led the initiative for the park’s construction and development. The park is now owned and maintained by the city, but according to Smith, the veterans still contribute to the decision-making.
“So, we got together with Chattanooga Monument [a local business specializing in custom memorials] and they have been working on getting the park back in shape, cleaning things, monuments, cleaning the bronze,” Smith said. “It all belongs to the city, but they listen to us veterans when we have suggestions.”
As they look forward to the Veterans Day event, Smith and Eberly emphasized an open invitation for all students and community members to attend.
“The bigger the crowd, the better,” Smith said.
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In the middle of the Collegedale Veterans Memorial Park, near the US flag, stands the memorial to Desmond T. Doss. The American Legion website describes Desmond T. Doss as a combat medic in World War II. He is famous for being a conscientious objector who rescued around 75 wounded men in the Battle of Okinawa. Smith said that following his death in 2006, the members of the Post sought his wife’s permission to rename Post 257 after him. Its full title is now American Legion Desmond T. Doss Post 257.
