A Veterans Day service will take place Monday beginning with a Parade of Honor at 10 a.m. through downtown Vicksburg.

This year’s Veterans Day Parade Grand Marshal will be Vicksburg resident Master Sgt. (Ret.) Tommy Tribble, who served in the United States Armed Forces in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Following the parade, the annual Veterans Day service will take place at 11 a.m. at the downtown Rose Garden, located at the corner of South and Monroe streets. Serving as this year’s guest speaker will be Brig. Gen. Jimmy E. Fowler.  

A native of Union, South Carolina, Fowler graduated from Clemson University in 1975 with a degree in chemical engineering. He was commissioned through the ROTC program as a 2nd Lt. in May of 1975. After graduating from Engineer Officer Basic Course, he served two years of active duty with the U.S. Army Engineer District in Charleston as an environmental specialist. 

Following his release from active duty in 1977, Fowler joined the 391st Engineer Battalion (USAR) in Greenville, South Carolina, where he served for five years as a heavy equipment platoon leader and battalion maintenance officers. In August of 1983, Fowler joined the 412th Engineer Command, where he served as a facilities engineering staff officer, headquarters commandant, and ports and docks division chief. 

He has served as the action officer for the Troop Construction Program in Europe and, in February of 1999, served with the 412th Theater Engineer Command (TEC) as assistant chief of staff, engineering. From 2001-2002, Fowler served as assistant chief of staff, plans and operations, for the 412th TEC. From 2002-2005, he held the office of chief of staff, 412th TEC. Fowler joined the 416th TEC in 2005 and served the next five years as deputy commanding general. He closed out his military career with a 12-month stint as deputy commander of the 412th TEC.

Fowler served 35 years as a hydraulic research engineer with the Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory of the U.S. Army Research and Development Center (ERDC) in Vicksburg. Fowler holds a PhD in civil engineering from Clemson, where he also served as assistant professor for a year. He also graduated from the Army War College in 1999. Fowler, now fully retired, is active in his church, the Port City Kiwanis Club and the American Legion Post 3 in Vicksburg.

Following Monday’s service, the annual Liberty Luncheon will be held for veterans and their families at American Legion Allein Post 3, beginning at 1p.m. A Liberty Breakfast, also for veterans and their families, will be held at Vicksburg High School, beginning at 8:30 a.m., organized by the ROTC Unit.