LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A celebrated Arkansas veteran and one of the last surviving members of the famed Tuskegee Airmen received a special honor Monday as family, retirement community peers, staff and some fellow veterans gathered to recognize a century-long legacy of service.
Sergeant First Class Thomas Vaughns, a 105-year-old World War II and Korean War veteran, was presented a Quilt of Valor and two commemorative coins during a ceremony at the Summit Senior Community in Little Rock. The recognition was organized by Never Forgotten Arkansas, a group dedicated to honoring veterans across the state.
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The event brought together not only service members but long-time friends and family who described Vaughns as a man whose impact has extended far beyond his military service.
“He’s the greatest thing ever,” said his daughter Hope Johnson. “He’s amazing as a dad, a veteran, as a follower of Jesus Christ, as a community leader. He’s leaving a legacy of faith in God—and he overcame so many difficulties in life by holding on to that faith.”…