Jellico guardsmen, who died in Iraq, honored on Veteran’s Day

Three-year-old Mikkah Siler smiled Friday afternoon as she pointed at the name of her father, Sgt. Alfred “Barton” Siler, and remembered her daddy.
Barton Siler died May 25 in Iraq, when the Humvee he was riding in swerved to avoid a civilian and struck another vehicle. He was an eight-year veteran of the Tennessee National Guard, and was the turret gunner on the Humvee that crashed.
On Veteran’s Day during a ceremony Friday afternoon, Siler’s name was unveiled engraved on the Jellico Veteran’s Memorial in Veteran’s Park.
“I want to especially welcome our honored guests, the families of Barton Siler and Gregory Hicks,” Jellico Mayor John Clifton said during a ceremony attended by nearly 100 people. Hicks is another local soldier, who died during the war in Iraq.
Mikkah and her mother, Jenny, who live in the Boston community of Whitley County, were among the many members of Barton Siler’s family that were on hand for Friday’s ceremony.
“Thank you so much for the invitation to be here in Jellico today,” said Tennessee State Senator Tommy Kilby. “I want to say a special thanks to the Hicks family and the Siler family for the tremendous sacrifice that you have given. We live in an area that has never heard the sound of a bomb or the sound of a gun being fired to protect us.
“In a country far away, that war has come home many times because of the sacrifice of the 278 Regimental Combat Team, and I want to thank every member of that unit for what you have done, and the sacrifice you have made. To all the veterans of all the wars, thank you. Because of you we live in a country that has been free and blessed.”
During the ceremony, local veterans presented floral wreaths at the Jellico Veteran’s Memorial in honor of Siler and Hicks.
Clifton noted that the Buck family who recently opened a hardware store in Jellico, wanted to honor their brother, Albert Buck, who is a Vietnam veteran. He said the family decided to donate a $1,000 contribution to the Jellico City Library in Albert Buck’s name to honor Barton Siler and Gregory Hicks.
The Jellico Firing Squad and Honor Guard conducted a 21-gun salute in honor of the fallen soldiers, and veterans still living. Maurice Veach played taps.
Tennessee Fourth District Rep. Lincoln Davis presented members of Siler’s family with American flags that flew over the capitol in honor of Siler’s contributions to his country.
Clifton also recognized members of the local National Guard unit from east Tennessee.
“We want to sure give you a hand. Welcome home fellas. As somebody said the other day, you are our heroes,” Clifton noted. “That is our local unit. It is a unit in which we take great pride. It is one that suffered some serious losses, and some very tragic casualties in Iraq.”
During the ceremony, Jellico officials also recognized retired Army 1st Sgt. Robert Andreas, who had served as veteran’s service officer for the last 10 years before retiring recently.
“Since Bob has been in that office, he has brought into the county, $79,189,465 so you can see what kind of effect and how hard he has worked to get this to the veterans and their spouses,” Clifton noted as Andreas was presented with a plaque of appreciation.