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Veteran Gladys Hughes, age 99, has an enduring message for all as the nation celebrates Veterans Day this year and continues to remember all of our military veterans throughout the weekend and every day of the year.
It's about veterans and their importance to this country.
She told Fox News Digital via email, "When someone says to me, ‘Thank you for your service,’ I want to shout out to them, ‘Thank you for caring!’"
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"The men and women who have served our country are responsible for the many freedoms that we have," said Hughes, who is today based in Carriere, Mississippi.
"In some way, since I was in the military, I know what these veterans have gone through."
Gladys Hughes is honored in October 2022 in Nashville by The Charlie Daniels Journey Home Project. "When someone says to me, ‘Thank you for your service,’ I want to shout out to them, ‘Thank you for caring!’" Hughes told Fox News Digital. She served in the U.S. Coast Guard women's reserve, otherwise known as the SPARs. (Robyn McIsaac/The Charlie Daniels Journey Home Project)
"No, not the war or the fighting — but the mental, physical and emotional strength they have to have to serve our country."
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Hughes — a longtime teacher, educator, debate coach, playwright and now writer — served in the Coast Guard Women's Reserve, also known as the SPARs.
During World War II, the Coast Guard and the other services "found themselves in great need of more men at sea and more troops on foreign soil," the Coast Guard explains on its website.
"The men and women who have served our country are responsible for the many freedoms that we have."
"They acknowledged that filling U.S. shore jobs with women would allow more men to serve elsewhere and hasten the war effort."
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The "SPARs were the answer. These women were under military direction, and they were subject to assignment according to the needs of the service."
The site also explains, "The jobs they were filling could not have been done by civilians working for the Armed Forces because they were not as mobile and did not fall under military law and discipline."
In Nashville, Hughes was among those honored during an event at the City Winery in October.
Recently, on Oct. 26 in Nashville, Hughes was among those honored during an event at the City Winery, the fourth annual Charlie Daniels Patriot Awards.
The Charlie Daniels Journey Home Project (TCDJHP) — which Hughes has assisted — raised more than half a million dollars for American veterans, according to media materials shared with Fox News Digital.
The evening featured live performances by entertainer Chris Young, the War Hippies (combat warriors Scooter Brown and Donnie Reis) — as well as a surprise appearance by Lee Greenwood, who performed his iconic hit, "God Bless the USA."
Pictured in Nashville on Oct. 26, 2022, are honorees and attendees, including (from left to right) Jeff Paine, Dayna Paine, Travis Ellis, Tara Pruitt, Joel Pruitt, Donnie Reis, David Corlew, Josh Romaker, Carolyn Corlew, Jake Traseger, Storme Warren, Col. Brent Lindeman, Scooter Brown, Ret. Brigadier General Scott Brower, Lee Greenwood, Ret. Col Jay Powers and John Veltri. (Robyn McIsaac/The Charlie Daniels Journey Home Project)
The Charlie Daniels Patriot Awards this year were presented to actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise, Army combat veteran and TCDJHP Ambassador Joel Pruitt and Nashville businessman Lee Beaman.
"Once again, those who are concerned about the welfare of our returning veterans came to make a difference," said TCDJHP co-founder and Daniels' longtime manager David Corlew. "It was a wonderful evening of patriotism, support and caring."
Gladys Hughes was one of two special guests — both World War II veterans — also honored at the dinner.
Hughes felt the "call of duty" at a young age — and left college as a junior to enlist in the U.S. Coast Guard during WWII, serving as a HA1C medic.
The organization said that "she appreciates beauty at every stage and in every avenue of life, winning 2nd runner-up in the 2012 Ms. Veteran America competition, which works to promote issues of homeless female veterans."
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She was crowned Ms. Mississippi Senior America in 2003 and emphasized the importance of children's theater, TCDJHP also said, a field for which she's passionate.
Hughes told Fox News Digital, "I have never forgotten that l was in the military. Perhaps I was born patriotic. To this day I am proud to be an American and to have served in the U.S. Coast Guard SPARs."
She added, "While in the service I learned a great deal. I learned not only a lot about myself, but also about our country and my responsibility to it."
"To this day I am proud to be an American and to have served in the U.S. Coast Guard SPARs."
Said she "fulfilled" a career interest "as I worked in the sick bay. I met many people whose friendships have remained through the years. I learned discipline and the necessity of it. I learned respect."
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Hughes said that in the service, "it was instilled in me that I was there ‘to free a man to fight.’ Fighting for our country was what had to be done after Pearl Harbor."
Of our veterans and of the Veterans Day holiday every year, Hughes said, "Veterans Day is one way to honor and pay respect to all who have served."
She added, "I was so proud to be part of the Charlie Daniels Patriot Awards event. To know and understand the mission of The Journey Home Project is very important to me."
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She noted that "events and organizations like this are necessary to assist our military brothers and sisters who are hurting and/or are in need."
She said, "The one question we should ask ourselves is, ‘What can I do to help?’"
Hughes was an award-winning speech and drama teacher in Louisiana when she retired at 65 — and became involved with Final Salute Inc. The group's mission is to provide suitable housing for homeless women veterans and their children, according to her daughter Bonnie Hughes, who shared an online profile of her mother.
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The Charlie Daniels Journey Home Project (TCDJHP) is a not-for-profit organization that assists other not-for-profits in securing funds to help causes that benefit U.S. veterans. The organization was co-founded in 2014 by the late country music legend Charlie Daniels and his manager, David Corlew.
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