The Tate County Memorial Day observance is set for Monday, May 30 on the Coldwater Town Square. The 31st annual event, honoring local military troops from the past and present, begins at 11 a.m.
All local citizens, veterans and active-duty service personnel are invited to attend. The guest speaker for the event is Captain Ronnie C. King.
Captain King, a native of Coldwater, graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. After being called into the ministry, he enrolled at Southern Methodist University, Perkins School of Theology, where he obtained a Master of Theology degree in 1983. Following graduation from Perkins, Captain King was commissioned as a Chaplain in the United States Navy, March 1984, at the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade.
In April 1984, he reported to Naval Education and Training Center, Newport, Rhode Island as a student in the Chaplains School Basic Course. In May 1984, Chaplain King reported to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina where he served as Battalion Chaplain, 2nd Maintenance Battalion, 2nd Force Service Support Group and Brigade Service Support Group Six.
After being promoted to Lieutenant in May 1985, he reported to USS Raleigh (LPD-1) as the ship’s chaplain in May 1986. During this tour he deployed to the Persian Gulf during the Iranian oil conflict from August to November 1987. Afterward, he served as Education and Youth Director at the Chapel of Hope, Newport, Rhode Island from October 1988 to June 1991. Following this tour, he attended the Pastoral Residency Program from July 1991 to June 1992, Naval Hospital, Portsmouth, Virginia, and received a certificate in Clinical Pastoral Education.
In July 1992, Chaplain King was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and reported to the Naval Consolidated Brig Miramar, San Diego, California as the Brig/Prison Chaplain. Following this tour of duty he served as Regimental Chaplain, 3rd Marines Division from April to December 1995 and Battalion Chaplain, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines Division, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii from January 1995 to October 1996. Chaplain King then reported to USS MCKEE (AS-41) San Diego, California as the Command Chaplain from October 1996 to June 1999, and was promoted to Commander in December 1998. In July 1999, he assumed the duties as Deputy Director, Religious Ministries, Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Parris Island, South Carolina and held that position until May 2003.
He reported to 2d Force Service Support Group, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina in May 2003 as the Group Chaplain and deployed to Operation Iraqi and Enduring Freedom from May to September 2003. During this deployment he was promoted to Captain in September 2003. Afterward, Captain King reported to Naval Air Station Brunswick as the Command Chaplain from July 2005 to April 2007 and deployed as Director of Religious Affairs, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa from August 2006 to February 2007.
Following this tour, Captain King reported to 2d Marine Corps Air Wing, Cherry Point, North Carolina from May 2007 to July 2009. During this tour, he deployed to Iraq from January to June 2009 and afterwards was selected to attend the National War College, Class 2010 and graduated in June with a Master of Science degree in National Security Strategy. Captain King reported for duty at the United States Southern Command as the Command Chaplain in July 2010.
