For the past eight years your Veterans Club has the esteemed honor of presenting our community’s Veteran Day Commemoration. This event draws the largest audience annually at Sun City Anthem.
For 2014 our keynote speaker is a Navy Veteran that not only fought on the high seas but also racial oppression in the country he so willfully defended.
In 1940 Leedell Neyland went to a segregated section of his local post office in Gloster, Mississippi, where he saw a poster stating the “Colored boys should join the Navy as mess attendants to officers and see the world”. Thereafter he enlisted for a six year tour. After mess training Leedell served on many ships, eventually Mine Squadron 7 (Mine Ron7) where he was mess steward to Admiral C.C. Miller. The Squadron served in the Caribbean, Mediterranean and eventually sweeping mines in the English Channel just before D-Day off Utah Beach. He saw the D-Day plans laid out in the Admiral’s ward room prior to the invasion. He also saw action of the coast of Italy, France and Spain.
After discharge Leedell went on to a storied civilian career earning a PHD. He was married for 66 years, has three accomplished children and resides in Sun City Anthem. Dr. Neyland is 92 years old. Please join us as this brave American shares his special story.