Republicans, American Legion to feature three veterans affairs speakers

The August meeting of Union County Republican Women will be held Monday, August 27, at 6:30pm, in conjunction with the American Legion meeting at the Herbert Morgan War Memorial Building across from the fairgrounds.

The community is invited to come and enjoy a spaghetti supper available for purchase. (See flier below for details of dinner.)

About the featured speakers:

• Stacey Pickering, Executive Director, Mississippi Veterans Affairs Board

Stacey Pickering

Stacey Pickering is the newly appointed Executive Director of the Mississippi Veterans Affairs Board. Prior to this role, he served as the State Auditor of Mississippi for three terms, during which time he received several national awards and served as president of National State Auditors Association in 2018. Twice during his tenure as auditor he was honored by the Department of Defense with a Patriot Award in recognition of his extraordinary support of its employees who serve in the Mississippi National Guard and Reserve.

Stacey serves in the Mississippi Air National Guard with the Air Operations Group. Chaplain Pickering has served First Air Force, Seventh Air Force, 25th Air Force and 432nd Air Expeditionary Wing in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Stacey and his wife Whitney live in Laurel, MS.

• Senator David Parker, from DeSoto County, Chairman, MS Veterans Affairs Committee

Senator Dr. David Parker

Senator Dr. David Parker is a life-long resident of DeSoto county, where he founded and practices optometry at Olive Branch Eyecare and Horn Lake Eyecare. He has served as an adjunct faculty professor for the University of Alabama-Birmingham School of Optometry and continues to serve as such for the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN.

Dr Parker was elected as state senator in 2012 and currently serves on nine comittees. This year Senator Parker received the national Patrick Henry Award for his service on behalf of the national guard and veterans.

Senator Dr. Parker and his wife Ashleigh live in Southaven and are the proud parents of four children.

• Major General (Ret.) T.K. Moffett, Tupelo attorney, former Chancery Court judge

Major General (Ret.) T. K. Moffett

Major General (Ret.) T.K. Moffett has served 37 years in the Army, after first completing his B.S. from West Point. His assignments included the 25th Infantry Division, the 155th Armored Brigade, and the 66th Troop Command of the Mississippi National Guard, 91st Division in CA, and Commanding General in the 104th Division in Washington state. He mobilized the 155th Armored Brigade for Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm and the 91st Division for Operation Enduring Freedom. He has received many medals, commendations, and distinguished awards.

T.K. graduated from Amory High School, received his MA from University of Hawaii, a Juris Doctorate from the University of Mississippi School of Law, a National Security Fellowship from Harvard University. He has served as Chancery Judge of the 1st District, as city prosecutor of Tupelo, and as an adjunct professor at various colleges.

He and his wife Rita live in Tupelo and have one daughter, Tara Leigh Dowden, and four grandchildren.