Brookland, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – December 5, 2024 – The Ed and Helen Watson home on CR 760 West of Brookland is a little brighter thanks to a promotion intended to honor a deserving veteran.

Light Up Their Hearts is the promotion sponsored by Jonesboro Radio Group radio stations KDXY (104.9 The Fox) and KJBX (Mix 106.3); Ground Crew, LLC; and Fat City Steak and Grillhouse.

Radio listeners were encouraged to submit nominations for deserving veterans. Over 80 veteran nominations were received. Ed Watson was chosen as the winner. As a result, his home was decorated by Ground Crew, LLC. He and his wife also received a $500 VISA Gift Card sponsored by Fat City.

The decorating was a surprise to the Watsons. Jonesboro Radio Group President/General Manager Trey Stafford coordinated the effort with Watson’s son, Eric Watson, and daughter, MaryDawn Marshall. Eric drove his dad and mom, Helen, to Memphis for a doctor’s appointment Wednesday. While the Watsons were out of town workers from Ground Crew decorated the Watson home.

Wednesday night a large group of family, friends and former co-workers gathered at the Watson home to surprise Ed and Helen when they returned home. In a moment similar to the “move that truck” command from the Extreme Makeover television show, the group counted down “5-4-3-2-1-Light Up Their Hearts.” That’s when Ground Crew, LLC owner Adam Sartin flipped the switch to turn on the lights.

“This was a fun one,” Sartin said. “How perfect that they had just bought lights yesterday and were trying to figure out how to get them up!” Helen had told Stafford while being told about the contest that he and his wife had just bought new Christmas lights Tuesday.

Watson was elated once the lights were turned on. ‘They’re beautiful!” he said.

Watson served in the U.S. Army from 1966-68. He was deployed to Vietnam for which he received the Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze service star, the National Defense Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Service Medal, and the Marksman (Rifle) Commendation. Watson was honorably discharged in May, 1968.

Earlier this year, U.S. Senator John Boozman recognized Ed’s service in ‘Salute to Veterans,’ a series highlighting the military service of Arkansans. As part of the honor, Boozman submitted Watson’s entire interview to the Veterans History Project, an initiative of the Library of Congress’s American Folklife Center to collect and retain the oral histories of our nation’s veterans. The YouTube video of that interview is included here.

In addition to his military service, Ed and Helen have actively worked to assist other area veterans. His community service includes many years of service in the Jonesboro Exchange Club.

Ed was part of the original staff of KHIG-FM (K-105) Paragould when it signed on the air October 4, 1971. Watson likes to brag that he hosted the “Keg Country” show every morning. He later was an advertising account executive for the station. (KHIG later became KDXY and is now the top radio station in the Jonesboro market, better known as 104.9 The Fox.)

Following his radio career Ed worked many years as an account executive at KAIT-TV where he retired in 2021.