Every year since 1994, the Hattiesburg Veteran of the Year Committee has chosen a retired member of the United States Armed Forces as the Hattiesburg Veteran of the Year, an honor designed to recognize those who have served the nation and returned home to the Hub City to continue to serve their community.
This year’s inductee into that prestigious group was announced at a November 3 news conference at Veterans Memorial Park in downtown Hattiesburg, when Mayor Toby Barker and other officials gave the award to Master Sergeant Rex C. Hasty, a second-generation military veteran of the United States Air Force.
“As a veteran, we learn early on in our careers that our job is never done,” Hasty said. “I want to thank the mayor (and his administration) for doing this for me.”
Hasty enlisted in the Air Force in 1979, for which he served on active duty until July 1987. He then served in the Air Force Reserve from 1988 through 1989.
The remainder of his service, from 1989 through 2007, was spent in the Air National Guard.
Hasty was honorably discharged as a master sergeant with numerous awards and commendations for his service during his military career. He served most of his 27 and a half years at Air Force Bases in Anchorage, Alaska.
After he retired from the Air Force, Hasty worked as the maintenance manager in a gold mine in Fairbanks, Alaska. He and his wife relocated to Hattiesburg in 2013 from Fairbanks to be closer to their daughter and grandchildren.
Since moving to Hattiesburg, Hasty has served with the Masons and the Shriners, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. He also has committed much of his time to a variety of veterans organizations, including the American Legion Post 61, the Armed Forces Top Enlisted Association, the Hattiesburg Disabled Veterans Chapter 62 and VFW Post 3036.
At the VFW post, Hasty serves as the driver for the organization’s shuttle bus program. He also makes a weekly round trip visit from Hattiesburg to the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery Medical Center in Jackson in order to take Hub City veterans to their medical appointments.
“Sergeant Hasty has a servant’s heart,” said retired colonel Sheila Varnado, who is a member of the selection committee. “I know this because when I called to inform him that he was this year’s selectee, and we were coordinating the date and time of this conference, I shared with him that the mayor’s office was planning it for Monday, November 6.
“Without hesitation, he stated that he would not be available on (that date) because he was driving the (Veterans Administration) van from Hattiesburg to Jackson to take Hattiesburg-area vets to the VA hospital for their appointments. I knew then that the committee had made a great selection – a dedicated servant leader who knew how to keep his priorities straight.”
Hasty will be introduced and honored during the annual Hattiesburg Veterans Day Program at 11 a.m. November 10 at Veterans Memorial Park. That will be preceded by the city’s annual Veterans Day parade, which will begin at 10 a.m. that day at Hardy Street Baptist Church.
The parade will roll down Hardy Street and disembark at Veterans Memorial Park.
“Hattiesburg proudly stands as a military and veterans community, and we honor those amongst us who have worn the uniform,” Barker said. “We remember those whose lives were lost in defense of our (country), and we recognize individually how we have been shaped by those service men and women who came before us.
“While we, (along with other organizations), literally host thousands of events each year in Hattiesburg, there are a few I really call upon our citizens to support. One of those is (this Veterans Day event). I know the work day is busy, but I really want to lean on our citizens to come out and support this event.”
Former Hattiesburg Veterans of the Year include, but are not limited to, Frederick Varnado, Ted Tibbett, Dee Abbott, Tom King, Raylawni Branch, Clarence Roy Williams and Stan Black. For a full list of inductees and more information on the program, visit www.hattiesburgms.com/veteransday.
