Ceremony to return dog tag lost in 1970s honors area veterans

  • Neal's Dog Tag (Photo/Shane Scoggins)
    Neal's Dog Tag (Photo/Shane Scoggins)
  • Veterans from Franklin County, surrounding counties, Atlanta, South Carolina and farther away attended Friday’s ceremony at the Lavonia VFW. Speaking at the event were (right photo, from left) State Rep. Alan Powell, Lavonia VFW Post Commander Vic Therou, Willie Neal, Lavonia Housing Authority Director Rick Whitworth and Lavonia Mayor Courtney Umbehant. (Photo/Shane Scoggins)
    Veterans from Franklin County, surrounding counties, Atlanta, South Carolina and farther away attended Friday’s ceremony at the Lavonia VFW. Speaking at the event were (right photo, from left) State Rep. Alan Powell, Lavonia VFW Post Commander Vic Therou, Willie Neal, Lavonia Housing Authority Director Rick Whitworth and Lavonia Mayor Courtney Umbehant. (Photo/Shane Scoggins)
  • Veterans from many arms of the U.S. Armed Forces and areas of service gathered Friday for a ceremony at Lavonia Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5847 called to return a lost dog tag to Lavonia and Hartwell native Willie Neal. (Photo/Shane Scoggins)
    Veterans from many arms of the U.S. Armed Forces and areas of service gathered Friday for a ceremony at Lavonia Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5847 called to return a lost dog tag to Lavonia and Hartwell native Willie Neal. (Photo/Shane Scoggins)

    By Shane Scoggins

    Publisher, Franklin County Citizen

     

    LAVONIA – A dog tag lost decades ago and rediscovered recently by accident brought together people from Franklin County and neighboring communi…