Milam is Featured Speaker at McKenzie’s Memorial Day Service

McKenzie is hosting its annual Memorial Day Service on Monday, May 26, 10 a.m. in Veterans Memorial Park in Downtown McKenzie.

William Milam Jr. is a man who truly loves his community of Henry, Tennessee. He has deep roots in this small town and has built a wonderful life there with his family. But William’s impact goes far beyond Henry’s borders.

Mr. Milam joined the Military in 1984 and served for 21 years before his retirement. Mr. Milam was deployed several times over the course of his Military career and received countless awards and recognition for his service. Mr. Milam deployed to Bulgaria, Honduras, the West Indies, and he also deployed to the Middle East in 2004-2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom/Enduring Freedom.

For his remarkable service and heroism, William was awarded a Bronze Star.

Family Life
William’s love for his country and community is matched by his love for his family. He and his wife, Ella, have been married for 38 years. Together, they have raised two children and are now proud grandparents to three grandchildren. Their daughter, Tequila Willis-Hart, son-in-law, Casey Hart, and granddaughter, Cailee (age 2), live in Rogersville, Missouri. Tequila works as a medical assistant, helping people in her community stay healthy. Casey is a global construction manager, spending much time managing projects overseas. Their son, Justin Milam, daughter-in-law, Sara Milam, and grandchildren, Ayden (age 12) and Sadie (age 2), live in Ooltewah, Tenn. Justin has an important job as a nuclear medicine technologist at a local hospital. Sara is a middle school English teacher, helping young students improve their reading and writing skills.

Milam is the former commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4939, a member of the McKenzie Rotary Club, a member of the Henry County Airport Board, a foreman of West Tennessee Public Utilities, alderman for the Town of Henry, a member of the Henry County Helping Hand

Giving Back to the Community
After retiring from the Army, William returned to his hometown. He brought with him valuable skills and a strong desire to make a difference in his community. Even though William has already given so much through his military service, he and his wife Ella continue to help others. They give back to their community of Henry County as much as they can, which truly shows how much they care about the place and the people around them. William’s actions show that the spirit of service doesn’t end when a soldier comes home - it can continue to make a positive impact for years to come.