Ware County Board of Commissioners: the October 13, 2025 vote that added Veterans’ Day to the county’s approved holidays, with American Legion Post 517 in Waycross

The board. The county's Commission page names the current elected commission with terms: "Elmer Thrift (R), Commission Chairman ... My term expires on December 31, 2028"; "Leonard Burse (D), Commissioner, District 1 ... December 31, 2026"; "Jon Tindall (R), Commissioner, District 2 ... December 31, 2028"; "Timmy Lucas (R), Commissioner, District 3 ... December 31, 2026"; "Barry Cox (R), Commissioner, District 4 ... December 31, 2028." "Commission Work Sessions and Regular Meetings are typically held every second Monday of each month. Commission Called Meetings are typically announced at least 48 hours in advance." The board's office: 305 Oak Street, Suite 227, Waycross, GA 31501, with County Manager James Shubert and County Clerk Melinda Brooks at (912) 287-4300; meetings are live streamed on the county's Facebook page and archived on its YouTube channel. The record. The board's 2025 and 2026 public-hearing, regular-meeting, work-session and called-meeting agendas and minutes - 160 files from the county's own document store, each downloaded and read whole - carry one veteran item. The September 22, 2025 called meeting deferred it: the chairman "noted that Veterans' Day has been discussed to add to the list of County holidays", to wait for the October meeting when all commissioners would attend. The October 13, 2025 work session took it up: "County Manager Shubert told the Commission that Veterans' Day was previously discussed as a possible holiday when Juneteenth was addressed; however, it was never added. Commissioner Burse stated he is in favor of Veterans' Day as a holiday. His son is a veteran, and two of his granddaughters are actively serving in the U.S. Navy. Commissioner Cox expressed his agreement. County Manager Shubert noted that the only additional expense is for..." the holiday itself. The same day's regular meeting passed it: "Commissioner Burse made a motion to add Veterans' Day to the list of Ware County Approved Holidays. Commissioner Cox seconded the motion. ... Roll Call Vote: Commissioner Leonard Burse-aye; Commissioner Jon Tindall-aye; Commissioner Timmy Lucas-ABSENT; Commissioner Barry Cox-aye; and Chairman Elmer Thrift-aye." The county's own holiday-closure lists carry the day - "Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, 2026" on the 2026 list. No benefit is known to have been adopted, narrowed or repealed. The county's own organizations. American Legion Post 517 meets in Waycross, per the Department of Georgia's post list. No veterans organization appears in the board's 2025-2026 files by name.