In April of 2007, Army Staff Sgt. Jerry Clark Burge Jr. was killed in the line of duty, Picayune teacher Allison Wheat wrote in a statement.  

“On the day that Sgt. Burge was buried, there was a procession down the main drag in town and our administration allowed us to take our students to the procession,” Wheat wrote. “Several members of the local VFW post were standing nearby and a female student walked over to one of the gentlemen, shook his hand and thanked him.”

Multiple students followed suit and afterward decided they wanted to do something special for veterans and members of the Armed Forces.

The first reception took place in 2007 and 13 veterans attended, now more than 100 veterans attend the reception, Wheat wrote.

This year’s reception will be Friday at Picayune Memorial High School in the Kelly Wise gymnasium.

The All-Service Color Guard will be present colors for the national anthem at 10:30 a.m.

For more information contact Allison Wheat at (601) 590-1380.