Union City, Tenn.—Governor Bill Lee has declared Saturday, March 2, as a day of mourning for Lt. Richard C. “Tito” Lannom of Union City, who will finally be laid to rest tomorrow with a public funeral and visitation at Discovery Park of America.
Lannom’s family and friends have waited 51 years for this day, after Lannom’s remains were finally found. He was killed in action in the Vietnam War when he was only 27 years old and had been missing in action since March 1, 1968.
“Lt. Lannom’s final resting place will finally be home, on Tennessee soil, where he belongs,” Gov. Lee said in a press release issued by Tennessee Department of Veterans Services. “We are grateful to join the Lannom family in pausing to remember and recognize Lt. Lannom’s sacrifice for our state and country.”
Lt. Lannom was a hometown high school athlete, University of Tennessee at Martin graduate, Naval commander, friend, uncle, cousin and husband.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Discovery Park of America at 830 Everett Boulevard in Union City on Sat., March 2, with funeral services beginning at 1 p.m. Immediately following the service, a processional including city, county and state law enforcement; military support organizations such as Rolling Thunder, Patriot Guard and the American Legion Riders; dignitaries, friends and family will travel from Discovery Park to the East View Cemetery, (S. Miles Avenue and E. Church Street) for a graveside ceremony with full military honors and a military flyover.
“Union City is the only home Tito ever really knew,” said his widow Charlotte Shaw who has planned the day’s events with family members.
Shaw, eventually remarried after spending the first years post notification of Lannom’s MIA status as an advocate for his return, including helping to spearhead a letter writing campaign of nearly a half-a-million letters and personally delivering them to the North Vietnam embassy in Paris.
As a part of the day’s activities, Discovery Park has worked with Magnolia Place Assisted Living, donors of the Vietnam War Memorial stationed in the park’s Military Garden, to update the monument that lists Lannom as Obion County’s only MIA in a manner similar to updates on the nation’s Vietnam War Memorial in D.C. A brief service unveiling the change is planned for 11 a.m. during the visitation period.
Also included in the service will be photos and artifacts acknowledging the military career of the Obion County native who was assigned to Attack Squadron Three Five, USS Enterprise when his A-6A aircraft went missing during a night mission over North Vietnam. Lannom and the pilot were declared missing after a search and rescue mission failed to locate the plane.
Veterans Services Commissioner Courtney Rogers will be in attendance at the funeral and will present official tribute items on behalf of the state and the governor including a house joint resolution sponsored by area state Representative Andy Holt and Senator John Stevens and presented to the Tennessee General Assembly to honor and memorialize Lannom and his family for his service and dedication.
This is an updated schedule for Saturday:
WHAT:
Memorial Ceremony for Lt. Richard Clive (Tito) Lannom, MIA for five decades including funeral, processional with motorcycle and law enforcement escort and graveside service with full military honors and flyover
Flyover includes two EA-18G Growler aircraft, one from VAQ-129 and one from VAQ-130 stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, where Lt. Lannom flew the A6-A Intruder as bombardier/navigator.
WHEN:
Visitation, 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. March 2, 2019
Unveiling of updated Vietnam Memorial Monument, 11 a.m.
Funeral service, 1:00 p.m.
Processional immediately following the service (approximately 2:15 p.m.)
Graveside with full military honors and flyover (approximately 3:00 p.m.)
WHERE:
Discovery Park of America, 830 Everett Boulevard, Union City, Tennessee
East View Cemetery, (S. Miles Avenue and E. Church Street), Union City
WHO:
Family members – Charlotte Shaw (widow) of Melbourne, Florida; John Lannom (nephew) of Dyersburg, Tennessee; Ted Lannom (nephew) of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Alexa Brownlee (granddaughter of Charlotte Shaw) of Franklin, Tennessee
Dignitaries – TN Veterans Services Commissioner Courtney Rogers; Rear Admiral Robert Duran, U.S.Navy; State Representative Andy Holt; State Senator John Stevens
Clergy– Dr. Danny Sinquefield, pastor of Faith Baptist Church, Bartlett, Tennessee; Rev. Mark Ragsdale, native of Union City and now pastor of the Church at Viera – Viera, Florida, where the widow Charlotte Shaw is a member; Barry Keathley, minister of music, Second Baptist Church, Union City
Friends — Mike Phebus of Anniston, Alabama; Lt. Colonel John Cox, friend, Birmingham, Alabama
Photo: Charlotte and Lt. Richard “Tito” Lannom.
