Veterans Day commemorated across Tuscaloosa

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1 This copy is for your personal, noncommercial use only. You can order presentation-ready copies for distribution to your colleagues, clients or customers here or use the "Reprints" tool that appears above any article. Order a reprint of this article now. Veterans Day commemorated across Tuscaloosa By Jason Morton Staff Writer Published: Tuesday, November 12, 2013 at 3:30 a.m. Staff photo Dusty Compton Col. Duane Lamb, Assistant Vice President of Facilities and Grounds at the University of Alabama, addresses guests during the Walk of Champions Veterans Day program in front of Bryant-Denny Stadium at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Monday Nov. 11, From the University of Alabama to University Mall, residents and troops alike gathered Monday to commemorate Veterans Day and honor those who have served in the nation s military. More than 200 people filled Veterans Memorial Park in front of University Mall on McFarland Boulevard for the annual celebration there, but this year it was a joint program hosted by the Veterans Memorial Park Association and the Tuscaloosa Veterans Affairs Medical Center. In years past, these two groups held separate and, at times, competing programs to honor military veterans. We decided this year that we d join forces for a bigger and better program, said Maria Andrews, director of the Tuscaloosa Veterans Administration Medical Center. Those who served selflessly... deserve this and so much more. The guest speaker for the ceremony at University Mall was Willie J. Williams, a Stillman College graduate who rose to lieutenant general, one of the highest ranks within the U.S. Marine Corps, before retiring in July after almost 40 years of service. I am truly honored to return home, Williams said. During his speech, Williams said troops who are enlisted now or served in the past have direct ties to this nation s history. He praised the sacrifices made by residents who leave the citizenry and join the military.

2 Williams noted that less than 1 percent of the population now serves in the military, compared to about 9 percent who were enlisted or served in some capacity during World War II. And yet, Williams said, we as a people, we continue to enjoy the freedoms this country... (that) we have come to expect. He said the nation would overcome this deficit because the human will lives in each of us and because our troops are not committed to fighting for a person, but for an idea. We don t swear allegiance to a king or queen. We swear allegiance to a piece of paper: the U.S. Constitution, Williams said to a spontaneous round of applause. The program also included members of the Marine Corps League Howlin Mad Smith Detachment 592 performing a re-enactment of the Iwo Jima flag raising during World War II. On the University of Alabama Quad in front of the Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library, a group gathered to mark the holiday at an event sponsored by the university s Office of Veteran and Military Affairs. Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Duane Lamb, the assistant vice president for facilities and grounds at UA, said that veterans from many of the country s conflicts of the past century had walked the UA campus. Truly these are great American heroes among us, he said, noting that many of the recent veterans on campus served in Iraq and Afghanistan. UA s support and honoring of veterans was among the reasons the campus has been deemed a Purple Heart University, Lamb said. The designation is meant to show a community s support for the recipients of the medal by the same name. Lamb, commander of the Tuscaloosa Chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart organization, said he applied to the national office for UA to become just the second university nationwide to receive the designation that typically is applied to cities and counties. I feel the designation was appropriate for the University of Alabama, Lamb said. A plaque commemorating UA s designation as a Purple Heart University was presented to UA President Judy Bonner during halftime of the LSU game on Saturday. It will be installed near B.B. Comer Hall, where the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs is located.

3 Monday, the university also remembered veterans with an event at the Walk of Champions to honor the 6,740 fallen veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan wars by lighting luminarias. The event also featured a roll call of the fallen Alabama military service personnel. Retired troops said it was events like these that keep them in the hearts and minds of the people they swore to protect. I thought it was very inspirational, said retired Navy 1st Class Seaman Paul Jones, 80, who served in the Korean War but sat alone as he watched the Veterans Day ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park. An event like this is very meaningful to me because I love our country. It was meaningful to Tuscaloosa residents and friends Willie Carter, 66, and James Duncan, 68, who are both retired Army sergeants who served in the Vietnam war. But they, along with retired Army Spc. James Foster, 63, who served in the Korean War, noticed the omission of Vietnam veterans from Monday s ceremony. We d just like to be recognized like everyone else, Duncan said. We re human, also, said Foster, adding that he experienced first-hand getting spit upon and labeled a baby killer upon his return to the U.S. But retired Navy Capt. Finis H. Prendergast Jr., who assisted the Exchange Club of Tuscaloosa in handing out all 200 of the small U.S. flags brought in for the Veterans Memorial Park celebration, said these annual events are meant to honor every American soldier to wear a uniform or fight in a conflict. To me, Prendergast said, this Veterans Day is (for citizens) to show their appreciation and also (for veterans) to stand up and show they served. They protected America. Staff Writer Ed Enoch contributed to this report. Reach Jason Morton at jason.morton@tuscaloosanews.com or Copyright 2013 TuscaloosaNews.com All rights reserved. Restricted use only.

4 Tuscaloosa News Members of the Marine Corps League Howlin 'Mad' Smith Detachment, 592, perform a reenactment of the Iwo Jima Flag raising during the Veterans Day program at Veterans Memorial Park on McFarland Blvd. Monday morning, Nov. 11, staff photo Dusty Compton

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8 Tuscaloosa News Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center Director Maria Andrews speaks during the Veterans Day program at Veterans Memorial Park on McFarland Blvd. Monday morning, Nov. 11, staff photo Dusty Compton

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10 Tuscaloosa News Members of the Paul W. Bryant High School USMC JROTC Color Guard present the colors during the Veterans Day program at Veterans Memorial Park on McFarland Blvd. Monday morning, Nov. 11, staff photo Dusty Compton

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12 Tuscaloosa News Commander Mark Fields, US Navy, Ret., salutes during the National Anthem during the Veterans Day program at Veterans Memorial Park on McFarland Blvd. Monday morning, Nov. 11, staff photo Dusty Compton

13 Tuscaloosa News Tuscaloosa County American Legion Honor Guard member Paul Price, a veteran of the Korean War, salutes during the National Anthem during the Veterans Day program at Veterans Memorial Park on McFarland Blvd. Monday morning, Nov. 11, staff photo Dusty Compton

14 Tuscaloosa News Keynote speaker Lt. Gen. Willie Williams, USMC, Ret., speaks during the Veterans Day program at Veterans Memorial Park on McFarland Blvd. Monday morning, Nov. 11, staff photo Dusty Compton

15 Tuscaloosa News Members of the Marine Corps League Howlin 'Mad' Smith Detachment, 592, perform a reenactment of the Iwo Jima Flag raising during the Veterans Day program at Veterans Memorial Park on McFarland Blvd. Monday morning, Nov. 11, staff photo Dusty Compton Tuscaloosa News Former Tuscaloosa Mayor and WWII veteran Al Dupont looks on during the Veterans Day program at Veterans Memorial Park on McFarland Blvd. Monday morning, Nov. 11, staff photo Dusty Compton

16 Tuscaloosa News Keynote speaker Lt. Gen. Willie Williams, USMC, Ret., speaks during the Veterans Day program at Veterans Memorial Park on McFarland Blvd. Monday morning, Nov. 11, staff photo Dusty Compton

17 Tuscaloosa News Veterans stand to be recognized for their service as the Armed Forces Medley is performed during the Veterans Day program at Veterans Memorial Park on McFarland Blvd. Monday morning, Nov. 11, staff photo Dusty Compton

18 Tuscaloosa News Members of the Tuscaloosa County American Legion Honor Guard perform a Gun Volley Salute and Taps during the Veterans Day program at Veterans Memorial Park on McFarland Blvd. Monday morning, Nov. 11, staff photo Dusty Compton

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