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Local veterans honored at ceremony during SHS basketball game
SIKESTON — Local veterans were honored prior to the Kennett/Sikeston varsity basketball game Friday night, with two veterans getting special recognition.
Each year, Sikeston Public Schools along with the Sikeston community, offer a special salute to the men and women who served in the military. The veterans assemble together in the wars in which they fought, including peace time veterans, and are greeted with standing ovations as they enter the basketball floor.
The Sikeston High School band also plays a patriotic song for the veterans.
This year, two veterans received special recognition in Tommy Staggs of American Legion Post 114 and the late Robert “Bob” Lutes of Sikeston VFW Post 3174.
Staggs was deployed with the Sikeston National Guard during Operation Iraqi Freedom, truly in harm’s way. During the deployment, he provided an important role, ensuring his unit always had adequate heat and air conditioning. Under his leadership, Staggs built a working gym out of plywood for the soldiers of his unit.
Staggs now serves as the first vice commander of American Legion Post 114 where he is active, including working each year to ensure a successful Cotton Carnival and chairing the annual Lenten Fish Fry the Post sponsors each spring for the Sikeston community.
Lutes earned his eligibility to be a member of Sikeston VFW Post 3174 from his honorable service in Vietnam, spending a one-year deployment in the combat zone.
Lutes, who was employed by C&K Lumber Company in Sikeston, was very active in the Sikeston VFW Post and was one of their best volunteer workers. He also transported veterans who needed assistance by driving them to their doctor’s appointments.
Lutes passed away on Dec. 15, 2021. His plaque was accepted by his family and members of the VFW.