Kilgore’s annual Veterans Day Ceremony begins at 9 a.m. Wednesday morning at Harris Street Park.
Centered on the U.S. Veterans Monument at 100 Harris Street, Nov. 11 commemoration will once again feature patriotic salutes, honors to the nation’s services branches, prayers and live performances.
This year’s guest speaker is Vern Rennier, a Purple Heart recipient, U.S. Army veteran and entrepreneur.
The observance is organized and hosted by volunteers from the Kilgore War Veterans Association who, with community support, installed the black granite wall of veterans’ names alongside numerous military displays surrounding the monument as well as the oversized dog tags hanging from one of Kilgore’s signature derricks – there’s a developing effort to have the installation added to the record books as the World’s Largest Dog Tags.
Vern Rennier is the Chief Executive Officer of Oceans Healthcare in Longview where he leads both inpatient and outpatient behavioral health services with a focus on quality, access, innovation and community impact.
A U.S. Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient, Vern’s commitment to healthcare was born from his own journey of recovery after being wounded in combat. This experience instilled in him a deep understanding of the patient journey and the critical importance of compassionate, patient-centered care.
In 2024, Vern was honored with the Early Careerist Award from the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) of Louisiana, recognizing his outstanding leadership and meaningful contributions to the healthcare field. He served on the ACHE of Louisiana Board of Directors, representing Region 4, where he worked to shape the future of healthcare leadership across the state. Vern was recently awarded the Humanitarian Award through Humbly Committed for his advocacy for mental health. Vern also sits on the board for the Greater Longview United Way. Vern was accredited for overseeing the necessary steps to have the City of Longview recognized as a Veteran Friendly Community Designation opening up more opportunities for the veterans in Longview with state and federal funding for housing and job rehabilitation.
Prior to joining Oceans, Vern held key executive leadership roles at CHRISTUS Health, where he led initiatives in behavioral health transformation, telehealth expansion, and operational strategy. A graduate of the CHRISTUS Leadership and Ethics Academy, Vern is known for developing high-performing teams, producing measurable outcomes, and advancing long-term wellness initiatives.
Deeply committed to mental health advocacy, Vern uses his platform to drive systemic change, improve access for underserved populations, and lead mission-driven care with integrity and purpose.
