The Tate County Memorial Day observance is set for Monday, May 31 on the Coldwater Town Square. The 30th annual event, honoring local military troops from the past and present, begins at 11 a.m.
All veterans and active-duty service personnel are invited to attend. For thre first time ever, last year’s ceremony was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Special guests at the Memorial Day observance will include current Coldwater Mayor Dr. Jessie J. Edwards, former Coldwater Mayor and Vietnam veteran Vernon Jackson, Dr. Charles Crouther and Paul Embrey.
The guest speaker for the event is Colonel Laura L. Odom.
Colonel Odom is Director of Staff for the Mississippi Air National Guard. She serves as the primary advisor to the Commander regarding the oversight and support of the 2,500 Airmen assigned to the state’s two flying wings and combat readiness training center.
Colonel Odom directs and implements higher-headquarters policy and guidance as aligned with the commander’s intent as well as serves as the state-level Air National Guard liaison to the Mississippi Army National Guard, National Guard Bureau, State and Federal leadership and additional external agencies.
Born and raised in Maryland, Colonel Odom was commissioned through Officer’s Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB) in Alabama in December of 1996.
Subsequently, she attended Air Battle Manager training at Tyndall AFB in Florida, and then proceeded to a flying assignment as an Airborne Weapons Officer on the mission crew of the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System aircraft at Robins AFB in Georgia.
In 2000, after completing four years of active duty, Colonel Odom transitioned to the Georgia Air National Guard, becoming a Command Post Officer in the 116th Bomb Wing at Robins AFB.
With the formation for the first Total Force wing converting the 116th Bomb Wing to the 116th Air Control Wing, Colonel Odom returned to flying. In 2004, she upgraded to Sensor Management Officer (SMO) and then quickly to Instructor SMO.
In 2007, Colonel Odom moved to the Mississippi Air National Guard, where she became a Command Post Officer in the 172nd Airlift Wing at Thompson Field in Jackson.
Soon after, Odom attended Logistics Officer training, earning the title of Logistics Readiness Officer.
During her career, Colonel Odom has participated in several operational deployments including Operations Desert Focus, Allied Force, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
Prior to assuming her current position Colonel Odom was the Installation Inspector General at Thompson Field, where she reported to the wing commander on matters concerning unit effectiveness, efficiency, and military discipline.
Colonel Odom’s major awards and decorations include:
• Meritorious Service Medal
• Air Medal
• Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
• Army Commendation Medal
• Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with five oak leaf clusters
• Air Force Reserves Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
• National Defense Service Medal
• Kosovo Campaign Medal
• Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
• Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
• Humanitarian Service Medal
• Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border and oak leaf cluster
• Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon
• Air Force Longevity Service with two oak leaf clusters
• Armed Forces Reserve medal with two “M” devices
• Air Force Training Ribbon
• NATO Medal
