Lorraine Bennett • Progress Hannah Miller of Clay County Community for Students.
By Lorraine Bennett
Staff Writer
“Good men must die, but death cannot kill their name.”
This is the inscription on a marble memorial at the American Police Hall of Fame and Museum in Titusville, Fla. It is part of a framed picture given to the family of Leon Reece Penland whose name and memory were honored when the Clay County Board of Commissioners met Thursday, Nov. 7.
The board presented the framed picture of Penland’s name where he was inducted into the hall of fame and museum. Penland was a military policeman killed in a vehicle accident in 1999 while he was assisting victims of Hurricane Floyd in Brunswick County on Sept. 22, 1999. He was 21.
Clay County Sheriff Mark Buchanan and Chief Deputy Todd Wingate made the presentation. It has been 25 years since Penland lost his life. He was the son of Leon and Irene Penland of Hayesville.
During the presentation to Penland’s family, the sheriff’s office noted how Penland was serving his country in the N.C. National Guard at the time of his death.
“His death while assisting strangers hundreds of miles from home made him a national hero,” the family was told.
National Guard military police were assisting Brunswick County law enforcement with security patrols at the time of the accident.
Penland was thrown from his vehicle when it overturned after hitting a washout while he was on patrol at Caswell Beach.
In other action at Thursday evening’s meeting, the commissioners watched a video presentation by Hannah Miller of Clay County Community for Students.
CCCFS recruits, trains and manages volunteers who identify student needs on campus, including tutoring and mentoring and works to meet those needs.
The 2023-24 annual report noted more than 1,400 volunteer hours were given, including tutoring and mentoring nearly 120 students, the purchase of school supplies, clothing and meals and meeting other campus needs at the high school, middle, elementary and primary schools.
CCCFS also offers services in crisis situations.
In other action Thursday, the commissioners reappointed Tommy Moore to the ABC Board.
After a short meeting they closed the evening to the public and went into executive session.
No action was reported from the closed meeting.