Community honors veterans
By Moriah Peterson
Edmonson Voice
BROWNSVILLE, Ky. – The community gathered on the courthouse lawn Saturday to honor two Edmonson County veterans, deceased Cpl. James Larry Hightower and retired Master Sergeant Larry L. Hawks.
Hawks was honored for receiving the Distinguished Service Cross for Valorous Actions in Afghanistan in 2005.
Hawks is the son of Tonie and Patsy Hawks of Wingfield. He and his wife, Callie Hawks, currently reside in Clinton, N.C. with their sons, Tristan and Adian and daughters, Lorin and Addie.
The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military award that can be given to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force.
During the ceremony, Green Street in Brownsville was dedicated to the honor and memory of Hightower, an Edmonson County native who was in the U.S Marine Corps Co. G, 3rd Marines, and was killed in action on Oct. 22, 1966, during a mission in Khe Le Valley of Vietnam.
Hightower was the son of Russell and Margaret Denham Hightower of Brownsville, and had one brother, William G. Hightower. Luther N. Norene, a second cousin to Hightower, attended the ceremony that concluded with the 21-gun salute by Barren County Chapter 20 DAV Honor Guard and the playing of Taps.
