World War II veteran Coy Danner was honored with a lifetime membership to Brundidge VFW Post 7055 at a ceremony at Elam Church in Elamville Sunday afternoon.

Henry Middlebrooks Post commander, said Danner also received the Post’s Patriot Citizen Award for his unsolicited and inspirational daily display of the American Flag.

“Mr. Danner served his country during World War II and we honor him for that,” Middlebrooks said. “But, he is an American patriot. Every day, he flies the American Flay in honor of all those who have served and those who are serving and in honor of our country, the United States of America.”

Danner expressed deep appreciation for the Citizen Award, which he said, “means so much to me.”

“I’m honored to be a lifetime member of the VFW Post 7055,” he said. “These veterans hold a service at Elam Cemetery on Memorial Day that honors our deceased veterans and they come back and honor all of our military men and women, past and present, on Veterans Day. We should be honoring them.”

Freddie Turner, Post 7055 quartermaster, said Danner and his brother, the late Homer Danner, spearheaded the efforts to build a monument to veterans at Elam Cemetery. They worked tirelessly with Clio VFW 8039 until the monument was completed.

“The Veterans Monument is dedicated to those who served honorably in our nation’s armed forces,” Turner said. “It is a very impressive monument to all our veterans. I don’t know of any cemetery around that has a more impressive monument to America’s veterans.”

Turner said it was fitting for a Veterans Monument to be built at Elam Cemetery.

“There are about 60 veterans buried in Elam Cemetery and flags fly to honor them all,” he said. “Post 7055 is proud to honor Mr. Coy Danner for his service to our country and for the pride in country that he displays every day.”

Danner said flying the American Flay is an honor and “all I can do now to honor my country.”

Danner has honored his country with his military service and the daily posting of the American Flag. He also founded the Veterans’ Room at the George C. Wallace Heritage Center in Clio.

“We shouldn’t ever forget the men and women who have served our country,” Danner said. “I wanted us to have a place where they would be remembered.”

“Somewhere around 1975,” Danner began an individual effort to locate names, dates of service and photographs of those in the Barbour County area who had served in the United States military.

He received permission to use an upstairs room in the Heritage Center to display the photographs and the biographical information. Danner did most of the construction of the display areas so there would be a place of prominence for each photograph.

As word of the Veterans Room spread, people were appreciative of Danner’s efforts to honor the local veterans and gave their project their support by bringing in photographs.

“I guess, we’ve got around 300 photographs up there now,” Danner said. “I can’t go up the stairs anymore but I’m just proud to know there is a place in the Heritage Center where we honor our veterans.”

Those who would like to visit the Veterans Room may do so on weekdays. Danner is usually at the Center and said he will gladly make the necessary arrangements.