Atlanta Regional Office Honors Our Veterans

HUD Atlanta Regional Office Veterans, Sgt. John Joss, Region Administrator Jennings and Deputy Regional Administrator Taylor

Standing before a packed conference room on November 4, 2014 over 150 Atlanta Regional Office employees gathered together for the Veteran's Day program in the Montalvo Conference Room in recognition of our Veterans.

The day's events were kicked off with a rousing ice breaker with a creative military jody call (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_cadence) lead by Veterans Darryle Burton and Carol Ward. The jody call quickly energized the room as the audience stood, sang and clapped with one unified voice about unique services and contributions of each of HUD's program areas. Posting of the colors was conducted by the Maynard Jackson US Army Junior ROTC color guard, the National Anthem was sung beautifully by Lily Patel and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Veteran Ms. Florence Welch.

The Regional Administrator Ed Jennings, Jr. provided opening remarks and HOC Director Dan Rogers III, introduced the keynote speaker Sgt. John Joss.

Joss an Iraqi War combat veteran, Purple Heart recipient, right leg amputee and member of the US Army Paralympic Marksmanship Unit addressed the audience and spoke of the sacrifice of Veterans, how we should be mindful and appreciative of their sacrifices and related with conviction in his heartfelt address that "the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." A proud young man of conviction he related how he was in school when 9/11 occurred and how it change his life forever.

He was injured in Iraq in 2007, losing his right lower left leg. In 2012, Joss was assigned to the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (www.usaac.army.mil/amu/) as the second competitive shooter/instructor with the Paralympic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paralympic_shooting) section. He quickly adapted to the sport of competitive shooting, posting high scores in his first events which he credited to some degree to growing up in Texas. Since then Joss has been at the top of the leaderboard, earning two Bronze Medals in international shooting matches before earning his first Gold Medal at the IPC World Cup in Bangkok this summer; qualifying him as a hopeful for the 2016 Paralympic Games (www.rio2016.com/en/the-games/paralympic/event) in Rio de Janeiro.

After Joss' remarks an informative presentation on HUD VASH was provided by Veterans La Ticia Wilson and Dedrick Patterson.

Topping off the events of the day Mr. Jennings along with Donald Wooten, Veteran and event organizer, presented HUD Certificates of Appreciation to Joss, Patel and the color guard. Mr. Willie Taylor, Deputy Regional Administrator presented to each and every Veteran present a complimentary multi-service mug provided complimentary by the HUD Veterans Affinity Group (VAG).

At the conclusion of the program attendees were treated to light refreshments and Veterans gathered outside the building for a group photo with Joss.

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