Recommended
Two Locations
Oxford Downtown Office
124 Hillsboro St.
PO Box 820
Oxford, NC 27565
Ph: 919-693-6125
South Granville Office
1598 NC Hwy 56
PO Box 205
Creedmoor, NC 27522
PH: 919-528-4994
68th Annual Banquet
GRANVILLE COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
CELEBRATING OUR 68TH ANNIVERSARY
"GIVING WHAT IT TAKES"
LIEUTENANT CLEBE McCLARY
FORMER MARINE
Presenting Program Sponsor: Progress Energy
Sponsors: BB&T Granville Health Systems
The School of Graphic Arts
The Chamber's 68th Annual Banquet will be held Monday evening, January 25, at the Civic Center on Vance-Granville Community College's Main Campus, 6:30 pm.
Rev. Harrison Simons, Chairman of the Chamber's Meetings Committee, announces that the keynote speaker will be Patrick Cleburne "Clebe" McClary.
Very rarely are most people today given the opportunity to listen to a true American hero. With the hectic pace of the world we live in, the word hero often gets lost in the headlines. Patrick Cleburne "Clebe" McClary was raised on a 10,000 acre plantation in the South Carolina Low Country. Young Clebe grew up hunting, fishing and excelling at sports.
After fulfilling his dream of becoming a college coach, Clebe had plans to marry a beautiful Southern belle. Life was very good. But only weeks before the wedding Clebe witnessed a startling event on a college campus that changed the course of his life forever – the burning of an American flag by students protesting the Vietnam conflict.
Dismayed by the lack of support for the country he loved, Clebe resigned from his coaching position and volunteered for duty in the Marine Corps. Completing Officers Training School in Quantico, Virginia, First Lt. McClary said goodbye to his bride and became platoon leader of the 1st Recon Battalion in Vietnam.
On March 3, 1968 during his 19th reconnaissance mission in Vietnam, deep in hostile territory, Clebe and his unit engaged In hand-to-hand combat with the enemy. Suffering devastating inuries, which included the loss of his left arm and left eye, Clebe continued to lead his men.
Clebe'e valiant battle with the pain and disabilities that followed is nothing short of amazing. Although he was told he would never walk again, he never lost the determination, dedication and courage to overcome his circumstances. He spent over two years in military hospitals, undergoing over 30 major surgeries and countless hours of physical therapy. Since then Clebe has used his powerful story of courage, determination and strength to motivate audiences the world over.
Clebe McClary is living proof that with the right attitude all things are possible.
Formal banquet invitations will be mailed, prior to the Christmas holidays, to all Chamber member businesses. We hope you and your business will join us the evening of January 25 for our annual banquet and the special opportunity to hear Clebe McClary.
Contact Theresa Haithcock (South Office), 528.4994 or theresa@granville-chamber.com; or Wanda Garrett (Oxford Office), 693.6125 or wanda@granville-chamber.com, for more information.
Email to: Wanda@Granville-Chamber.com