Veterans work to continue tradition of service

Steve Strickland, left, was one of the many veterans on hand as a large crowd gathered for the membership drive and open house at the Veterans Conference Center.

American Legion Auxiliary member Deb Calloway, third from left, welcomed fellow Kiwanis Club of Blue Ridge members, from left, Robin and Jessie Pinson and Mike Guerra to the membership drive and open house at the Veterans Conference Center.

Discussing efforts to increase membership in local veterans organizations are, from left, Deb Calloway of the American Legion Auxiliary, Jim Callender of the American Legion, and Marine Corps League Detachment members Joel Warner, Dale Greene, Dick Evelyn and Ron Wikander.

Jim Callender stayed busy calling out door prize numbers.

Paul Hunter, seated in the photo at left, presented Tommy Lee with a rocking chair donated by Ingles as his door prize for winning one of several drawings at the membership drive hosted by local veterans organization.