Tommy Tuberville honors veterans
In recognition of Veterans Day, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville honored seven veterans from across Alabama that the Senator recognized by telling their stories of service, sacrifice, and contribution to their communities. Tuberville highlighted the service and sacrifice of seven veterans from Alabama. These are Sergeant Chris Amacker from Slapout, Officer Eric Prewitt from Havana, Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Wishik from Madison, Sergeant Janet Pray from Geneva, George Hamilton from Pleasant Grove, Sergeant Lonnie Phillips from Pell City, and Sergeant Dave Jensen from Foley. “In 1945, a World War II veteran named Raymond Weeks from Birmingham, Alabama —recognized the need for a day to honor ALL veterans,” Tuberville said. “He led the petition to then-Army Chief of Staff Dwight Eisenhower for a National Veterans Day and organized the first Veterans Day Parade in Birmingham on November 11, 1947. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill officially establishing ‘Veterans Day.’” Today Veterans Day is a state and national holiday. Banks, government offices, post offices, courthouses, most schools, and many businesses will be closed today. “It is fitting that the ‘Father of Veterans Day’ was an Alabamian – symbolizing a longstanding tradition among our residents to recognize and show appreciation for our veterans and service members,” Tuberville said. “Every year, we continue this tradition of pausing to recognize our veterans—past and present. Veterans Day reminds us that freedom is a sacred gift—and it is not free. Some endured unthinkable battles and hardships so that we can live in peace.” The Veteran’s Day Parade in Birmingham today will begin at 11:00 am. “These veterans—Chris Amacker, Eric Prewitt, Jeff Wishik, Janet Pray, George Hamilton, Lonnie Phillips, and Dave Jensen—are all heroes,” said Tuberville. “Our country is safer because of their efforts, and Alabama’s communities are better off because of their continued service. Their sacrifices— whether loss of mobility, time spent away from family, post-war trauma, or the most vibrant years of their youth— demonstrate America’s strength to the world. President Ronald Reagan summed it up best when he said, ‘Veterans know better than anyone else the price of freedom, for they’ve suffered the scars of war. We can offer them no better tribute than to protect what they have won for us.’ I hope we will remember the price of freedom and those who have paid it. To all of our veterans, thank you for your sacrifice and endeavors to ensure America remains a country of freedom and opportunity for generations to come.” “Like Sergeant Chris Amacker of Slapout, Alabama, a gun truck commander in the Army’s 465th Transportation Unit, where he moved ammo and equipment during the Iraq War,” Tuberville said. “His military service was cut short after suffering brain and spinal injuries following an explosive attack on his unit. Sergeant Amacker spent more than a year in an Arkansas rehabilitation facility, relearning how to walk and talk.” “There is no more commendable action than using skills learned in the military to help others succeed, like Officer Eric Prewitt from Havana, Alabama, does, day in and day out,” Tuberville said. “A graduate of Hale County High School, Officer Prewitt enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1992, where he served as a Yeoman Second Class. Officer Prewitt felt led to return to West Alabama after his time in the military and use his skills to assist veterans wishing to use their GI Bill benefits. In 2005, he became the Veterans Affairs Officer and Diversity Liaison at Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. When speaking about his job, Officer Prewitt shared how the military invested in him and that he wants to continue investing in our service members and veterans. His role is a huge benefit to not just West Alabama but our entire state.” “Some service members were not well-received upon their return to American soil. They fought a thankless war without feeling supported, but still fought out of devotion to their country,” Tuberville stated. “Born in Montgomery, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army through Marion Military Institute’s early commissioning program. Wishik deployed to Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division, directed to find and engage enemy forces.” “While scouting for a landing zone for a helicopter to evacuate them, Lieutenant Wishik was struck by numerous enemy attacks, including one explosion that blew him into the air, knocked him unconscious, and killed all but three in his scouting group,” Tuberville continued. “After he and the two other soldiers realized they were outnumbered and unable to turn back, they spent the night pretending to be dead to avoid being captured by the enemy. Lieutenant Wishik’s wise reminder to Americans based on his experience is that ‘You may not agree with the politics of the country, but you don’t take it out on American service members.’” “The call to serve may run in the family – where, for some veterans, the lessons and values learned in military service are worth passing on generation to generation. This is the case for Sergeant Janet Pray of Geneva, Alabama, who served in the U.S. Army from 1989-2003,” Tuberville continued. “After retiring from the Army, Sergeant Pray continued supporting the Department of Defense in various roles, including as an administrative assistant at Fort Rucker. Her love for education and empowering the next generation prompted her to become a substitute teacher and aide for the Geneva City Schools System. Her encouragement and tenacious spirit has touched the lives of countless students and teachers. Sergeant Pray says the military taught her to lead by example and be responsible for her own actions—lessons she continues to pass on. People like Sergeant Pray keep the American dream alive by inspiring others to take advantage of opportunities our country has to offer and leading by example.” “For veterans like 100-year-old George Hamilton of Pleasant Grove, the idea of ‘service’ has no age limit. The World War II Navy veteran participates in different events around Jefferson County to share his story and is active in his local congregation at Bethel Baptist Church,” Tuberville continued. “Mission work is a huge part of his life. He has been on eleven trips to Nicaragua and is planning to go again soon. Mr. Hamilton says his only regret about his
Jim Zeigler: Veterans Day started in Alabama by an Alabama vet 75 years ago
75 years ago, it all started in Birmingham, Alabama. In 1947, the first Veterans Day was celebrated only in Alabama, but the idea was so good and so needed that it spread nationally. Raymond Weeks was a Birmingham native and veteran of World War II. He came up with the idea to take “Armistice Day” – which commemorated the November 11 end of fighting in World War I – and expand it to “Veterans Day” to honor all Americans who had served their country and their people. He led a national campaign for the idea of Veterans Day with General Dwight Eisenhower, President Harry Truman, and Congress. By November 11, 1982, the idea had become so popular that President Ronald Reagan awarded the Presidential Citizenship Medal to Weeks, who lived in Alabama until his death at age 76 in 1985. The meaning of Veterans Day is sometimes confused with Memorial Day in May. While Memorial Day honors those who died in the service of their county, Veterans Day honors all who served. Many Veterans look back at their years of service as the most meaningful time of their lives. Some people live their entire lifetimes and wonder if they ever made a difference for others. Veterans don’t have that problem. Jim Zeigler has been the State Auditor of Alabama since 2015.
Long-running Veterans Day parade resumes after COVID halt
A red, white, and blue procession billed as the nation’s longest-running Veterans Day parade rolled once again Thursday despite dousing rain and gusty winds after taking a year off because of the coronavirus pandemic. Reduced to an online-only event in 2020 because of COVID-19 safety precautions, the National Veterans Day Parade stretched through downtown Birmingham in a traditional format that included military units, ROTC groups, floats, veterans organizations, high school bands, and lots of waving flags. The crowd was not huge, possibly because of the blustery weather, but Clarence Turner brought his two young grandsons and an umbrella. “I’m not a veteran. Actually, I was supposed to be at work today. I just took off to bring them down here so they can learn about the importance of the military and the veterans,” Turner said as the brothers, 8-year-old Terrence Todd and 9-year-old Lamar Todd, waved to marchers. Retired Marine Maj. Donald D. Brooks, who retired in 1977 after 40 years in the service and then taught ROTC, was happy the parade had resumed but concerned about participants. “I’m worried about my Marine color guard. They’re going to get all wet,” said Brooks, who lives in Tuscaloosa County, before the start. “I going to get in the car behind us.” More than 100 groups signed up to participate, down about 20 from most years, but Mark Ryan, president of the National Veterans Day Foundation, said organizers hoped tens of thousands will come out. “Our goal is to show our veterans our special they are to us, not only individually but collectively,” he said. Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael A. Grinston, an Alabama native, served as grand marshal, riding in a covered vehicle to stay dry. Thousands turned out for a parade in Mobile despite overcast skies, and Huntsville’s parade stepped off earlier than planned because of the chance of storms. Birmingham isn’t the only place to claim its celebration of veterans is the nation’s oldest. Leavenworth County, Kansas, dates its festivities back to the year after World War I ended, 1918, or nearly 30 years before the Birmingham event was established. And Emporia, Kansas, has been recognized as having the first Veterans Day event in 1953. But the Veterans Administration credits Birmingham with having the first celebration to use the term “Veterans Day” in its title after World War II veteran Raymond Weeks organized “National Veterans Day” in 1947. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation changing the federal holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day in 1954. The parade has been held annually, Ryan said, and organizers considered canceling it last year because of public health safety before opting for a virtual event that included video performances, salutes, and video from past parades and was watched thousands watched online, he said. “Smarter minds than mine came together and convinced me we had to have one,” said Ryan. A dinner Wednesday night honored service members who participated in the response to COVID-19, which has killed more than 755,000 people in the United States, or more than the combined number of 673,687 U.S. service members who died from combat or other causes in both world wars, Korea, Vietnam, the two Gulf wars and the global war on terror that followed the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Service members helped in the fight against COVID-19 by cleaning nursing homes, setting up testing stations, and administering vaccines. “We’re honoring all of them,” said Ryan. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Jim Zeigler: Veterans Day was started in Alabama by an Alabama veteran
It all started in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1947 – the first Veterans Day. It was celebrated only in Alabama at first, but the idea was so good and so needed that it spread nationally. Raymond Weeks was a Birmingham native and veteran of World War II. He came up with the idea to take “Armistice Day” – which commemorated the November 11 end of fighting in WWI – and expand it to “Veterans Day” to honor all Americans who had served their country and their people. He led a national campaign for the idea of Veterans Day with General Dwight Eisenhower, President Harry Truman, and Congress. By November 11, 1982, the idea had become so popular that President Ronald Reagan awarded the Presidential Citizenship Medal to Weeks, who lived in Alabama until his death at age 76 in 1985. The meaning of Veterans Day is sometimes confused with Memorial Day in May. While Memorial Day honors those who died in the service of their county, Veterans Day honors all who served. Many Veterans look back at their years of service as the most meaningful time of their lives. Some people live their entire lifetimes and wonder if they ever made a difference for others. Veterans don’t have that problem. Jim Zeigler has been the Alabama State Auditor since 2015.
