Greene County veterans recognized at Leakesville luncheon; plaque plan urged

Veterans from across Greene County gathered Nov. 6 at the Greene County Justice Court in Leakesville for a luncheon to recognize their military service and to connect with fellow veterans.

SuperTalk Mississippi reported the event featured local veteran Bill Rounsaville as a guest speaker and that Greene County Veterans Service Officer Shonna Pierce, a former member of the U.S. Air Force, said the county is home to more than 600 veterans.

Pierce told attendees she organizes events to reach veterans in the community. “I make it a point to have events like this so we can talk to the veterans,” Pierce said, SuperTalk Mississippi reported.

Attendee Esau Singleton Jr., a 14-year National Guard veteran, said he enjoyed reconnecting with others who had served. “It was a nice event and I enjoyed it. I got to meet people that I’ve been knowing, but I didn’t know they had been in the service,” the report quoted him as saying.

During the program, a speaker urged attendees to help identify veterans buried in local cemeteries so bronze plaques can be placed at their gravesites to recognize military service, SuperTalk Mississippi reported.

Pierce also noted the importance of meeting commitments to veterans and ensuring they receive available support. “We signed on the dotted line when we joined the service to defend our country, and our country promised to take care of us,” she said, according to the report.

The SuperTalk Mississippi story about the Nov. 6 event was published Nov. 11, 2026. The report was produced by the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Source: SuperTalk Mississippi