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'He carried veterans': Columbia's Veterans Day service to honor the late James Patterson

Daily Herald - 11/8/2021

Nov. 8—Maury County will recognize the county's late Veteran Services Director James Patterson during a Veterans Day event this month.

Starting at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, a Veterans Day service will be held at the Columbia Memorial Building recognizing Patterson's accomplishments and dedication.

During the ceremony, county leaders will unveil a memorial that will be permanently placed within the building in honor of Patterson.

Before his passing in 2019, Patterson said that veterans travel from Kentucky and West Tennessee to receive support from the local officer.

Maury County's Veterans Services' mission is to assist in dealing with the Department of Veterans Affairs, including filing claims for compensation and pensions, filing for medical reimbursement and applying for medical treatment at veteran's medical centers.

"Maury County is a very generous community," Patterson told The Daily Herald just weeks before his passing.

Weeks after his death, Rep. Scott DesJarlais recognized Patterson for his dedication to the region's veterans on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

"I feel like this service will recognize him for his dedication to the community's veterans," said Don Morrow, chair of the Maury County Commission. "He was so well liked by everyone in the community. He carried veterans to Murfreesboro after office hours. He went over and above his call of duty to veterans. During his time in the position, his work load almost doubled."

Patterson spent years providing assistance to the region's veterans from his office located at the Memorial Building.

"It is where we need to hang his likeness and recognize him for what he did," Morrow said.

At the time of his passing, the office reportedly managed the highest number of claims in the Middle Tennessee region.

He served honorably in the U. S. Army during the Vietnam War after being drafted in 1965. For his service, he was awarded the National Defense Award medal and the Republic of Vietnam Service Award.

After his retirement from a career with Union Carbide in 2004, Patterson began his work with Maury County Veteran's Service Office in 2005, serving more than 14 years.

He was a member and past Commander of Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19, former District Commander of American Legion; and on the state level, he served as Tennessee Department Service Officer from 2010 to 2016 and Tennessee Department Commander from 2015 to 2016. He was named Tennessee Department Legionnaire of the Year in 2014.

In honor of his legacy, Patterson loved ones have started the James Patterson Foundation which collects funds to help support veterans in the area.

Reach Mike Christen at mchristen@c-dh.net. Follow him on Twitter at @MikeChristenCDH and on Instagram @michaelmarco. Please consider supporting his work and that of other Daily Herald journalists by subscribing to the publication.

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