Each year, on a Sunday near July 4th, we at Isle of Hope UMC, observe "God and Country" Sunday. This year that Sunday will be July 5. America has such a rich history! Many years ago, Woodrow Wilson wrote these words, "A nation which does not remember what it was yesterday, does not know what it is today, nor what it is trying to do. We are trying to do a futile thing if we do not know where we came from or what we have been."
 
On July 5th, we will sing the patriotic hymns, pledge allegiance to the flags, pray together,  and remember  "where we came from and what we have been."  Our speaker for the 8:45 AM and 11:15 AM services of worship will be one of our own, Dr. Gene Tanner.

Many of you have known Gene Tanner for many years. Maybe you do not know some of the following things about his life and service to his country, his community,  and his God:

David Eugene Tanner was born in Sandersville, Georgia March 27,1922. After graduating from the elementary and high schools in Sandersville, he attended and graduated in 1941 from Middle Georgia Junior College at Cochran, GA. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps. From August 1942 through May 1943 he completed primary and basic training for flying aircraft, including twin engine aircraft. After several months of additional training, he was designated Aircraft Commander of a B-17 and assigned a crew. In December of 1943, he flew out of Savannah in his own plane and joined the 15th Air Force in Foggia, Italy.
 
From January to March, 1944 he flew twenty-four combat missions. On the 24th mission, he was shot down and was missing in action for 75 days. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Metal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters, a Presidential Citation, The African and Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon, and the European Campaign Ribbon. He served as a B-17 instructor pilot and assistant squadron operations officer from June 1944 until his discharge from service on September 19, 1945.
 
Gene Tanner married high school classmate Kathryn Amerson on September 1, 1945. They later had two children. They have been active members of the Isle of Hope United Methodist Church since April of 1983.
 
He attended pre-medical training at Emory University, and graduated from the Medical College of Georgia with a degree of Doctor of Medicine in June 1950. He returned to the military in 1950 to serve as an Air Force Medical Officer and served in General Practice 1951-1954. Following that in 1958 he returned to the Medical College to be certified  to practice in Radiology. He practiced Radiology at Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, GA, was in private practice in Augusta, GA, and served as Chief of the Radiology Department and Chief of Radiation Therapy for Memorial Medical Center in Savannah from 1960-1986. He also served as  the Assistant Clinical Professor of Radiology at Medical College of Georgia in Augusta 1976-1986. In 1986 he retired from the active practice of medicine.

WE WELCOME DR.GENE TANNER AS OUR SPEAKER FOR THIS SPECIAL DAY
                                                                                                             
                                                                                  Dick Reese