Ten-hut! (Hear a bugle in the background?)

Gen. Dennis L. Via, an area native who on Aug. 7 was promoted by the Army to four-star general and given oversight of the Army Materiel Command, will be honored by the Henry County Board of Supervisors and the Martinsville City Council when he returns home for a visit Tuesday.

Via is a graduate of the former Carver High School and Virginia State University. He has served in the Army for more than 30 years.

He is one of only 10 four-star Army generals, according to a resolution that the supervisors will present him during their meeting at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

The resolution describes him as a hero for his contributions to the military.

“Via’s patriotism and career achievements have garnered the confidence of the president of the United States as confirmed by the U.S. Senate in his ability to lead and mold future generations of soldiers and civilians,” states a proclamation that Mayor Kim Adkins will present him during the city council meeting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Although he is a county native, “Via has continually brought pride and recognition to the city of Martinsville,” the proclamation states.

The county’s resolution mentions that Via will take charge of a materiel command with 69,000 employees and stations in all 50 states and 144 countries. read more…