February 8, 2018 Knoxville Tennessee
Air Force Council member Jesse Rivera bestowed the George Thomas Memorial award to John Merrill. Jesse recommended John because of selfless dedication to helping others through faith and God while at All Saints Catholic Church.
John Merrill is a 1980 Naval academy graduate. He is the father of five daughters and married to Margaret Merrill for 34 years.
[read more=”Click here to Read More” less=”Read Less”] He was the CEO of a multi million dollar company. More important to John then any money was his commitment to the people he did work for. He often took his children in to comfort the them in their distress. John has attended daily mass for most of his life and leads a high school young men’s retreat every year for the diocese of Knoxville. He bases this retreat on what it means to be a Godly man in today’s world. He is often seen around Lenoir City greeting people and just gettign to know them. If you work at Home Depot or just meet him in the gas station, chances are you will be blessed by his kindness. You will walk away knowing someone cares and that God is alive and working. John has been known to quietly visit the elderly that live around him, doing chores for them or running errands. He often took a disabled man around on his all terrain vehicle in the country on sunday afternoons to places the man used to walk to. John is a man that is blessed with great charisma and a gentle and kind heart.
Council and Vet to Vet Tennessee members are honored to be a part of John’s mission. Brothers and Sisters in Christ and Arms.
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