Veterans Day Activities

[Eagle101]

On November 11, 2007 we will be observing Veterans Day. This is a day to honor all of the veterans of our military services.

One program supported by local veterans organizations is the Veterans in the Classrooms. This program is for educators of history, civics, government and other classes of this type to have veterans from different era's to talk with their students. Most teachers know veterans who served. These will be the ideal people to invite to their classroom. Another suggestion is to have family members and others who was here at home, especially World War Two, on what they did to help the war effort. Items like, War Bond Drives, rationing, scrap metal collecting, unavailability of some items such as nylon stockings, etc are some suggested topics.

Other Veterans Day planned are:

Veterans Day Parade in Birmingham. This is usually one of the largest Veterans Day parades in the country. Since Veterans Day is on a Sunday (Birmingham does not issue parade permits for Sunday's) the parade will be on Monday, Noverber 12. There is no school on November 12 for Demopolis City Schools. Great opportunity to take your children to a parade.

IF, and right now it is still an IF, the dedication of an monument at the Demopolis National Guard Armory is being planned for the Sunday afternoon of November 11. The monument will honor the members of the 106th Quartermaster Regiment, 31st Infantry Division, the "Dixie Division" who served befor and during Wold War Two. This is a project of one of our VFW members (The grandfather of one of dlive members). He is waiting on approval from state NG headquarters to place the monument at the armory. More on this later if action is approved. If they disapprove he will seek a location elsewhere in Demopolis.

SFC Mike Black and his JROTC at DHS usually has a Veterans Day program. No information at this time but I will post updates on this if it is a go.

[richealle]

I think it would be really good if they did dedicate them a monument. I think it would be really special for them.

[Eagle101]

UPDATE:

Demopolis High School JROTC will be having a Veterans Day program in the gym at 9:00am on Friday, November 9th. All veterans, family members and friends are welcome to attend.

LPL's grandfather has received permission from the Alabama National Guard to place the monument in front of the armory in Demopolis. He is trying to arrange everything to have the dedication on Sunday afternoon on November 11th. He will put publicity out in the newspapers and radio if everything is a go. I will also post the info here also. Later today after I return from a VFW meeting in Thomasville the names of those listed on the monument will be posted here.

Many of you have seen a table display at the Demopolis Wal-Mart. This area is for pictures of local veterans to be posted. Take a photo of your veteran(s) to the photo center and they will make you a special free copy of the picture for you plus one to be posted on the display. Photo does not have show veteran in uniform. Please see the display and photo ceter personnel for details.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5377 will be distributing Buddy Poppies at locations in Demopolis and Linden on Saturday, November 10th. All of the funds collected during this campaign stays with the Post for local projects. Some of these projects are maintaining the flags in the cemeteries to include replacing the flagpoles in Riverside and Memorial Gardens, replacing flag the at the nursing homes in Linden and Demopolis, supporting Americanism programs in our schools, and our most important use of thes funds helping local veterans in need. Please help support this program.

[Eagle101]

I am getting the names of the veterans listed on the monument from a digital picture I took. I hope I get the names right. They are listed in the order they appear on the monument. Please let me know if you think I get any wrong:

Captain N. T. Braswell
Henry Charleston
Francis H. LeQueux
Robert T. Ellis
A. R. Patterson, Jr.
Henry E. Patterson
James E. Griffith
Talmage E. Lundy
James W. Walker
William P. Westbrook
Alfred C. Jowers
Ernest Smith
Elijah D. Morris
Edward M. Nettles
Leonce R. Wilson, Jr.
Pete Smith
Russell C. Smith
Taylor C. Archer
James E. Jowers
Robert P. Lambert
John L. Ballard
Henry C. Bley
Millard B. Ulmer
Henry C. Graves
John A. Griffith
Howard M. Glass
Crawford M. Kelly
Thomas A. Jowers
Reginald Richardson
John T. Speed
Arthur F. Parten
William F. Gilley
Harold M. Swanzy
Earle E. McAlpine
Burt A. Wilson
D. E. King
Daniel J. Baker
Thomas E. Stewart
James L. Speed
John A. Glass
Marion E. Randall
Lawrence F. Pyle
Walter F. Lee
Andrew J. Reed, Jr.
Cecil M. Mason
Olan R. Coats
James D. Wheatly, Jr.
First Sergeant Joe L. Davis
Walter M. Laird
Charles T. Vaughan
Marshall Shackelford, Jr.
Thomas E. Vaughan
Asa A. Norris
Company Clerk Harry Britton

[Eagle101]

The monument dedication at the Demopolis National Guard Armory is a go for this Sunday. The time has been moved to 3:00pm. Look for other publicity on this in the local newspapers. One or two of the surviving members of the unit being honored is scheduled to attend. Please get the word out to family members of the veterans listed if you know any.

I have ordered a special ribbon cake from Valarie for the JROTC program at DHS this Friday morning. Great opportunity to try some of her work.

[TerrieAnnTaylor]

Are you taking additional names of soldiers from World War II and other wars that are not on the Monument is so please add Marlin Taylor and Herbert McCary for World War II. I also have an Uncle from the Korean War, Clyde Hughes. Michael Taylor was from the Vietnam.

[lindenguy]

Is there going to be an event at the Court House again? Like there was several years ago. That was very good and you have the memorial.

[Eagle101]

Marlin Edward Taylor and Herbert McCary both have bricks at the monunent at the courthouse. No there is not anything planned for the monument location on Veterans day. The monument being placed at the Demopolis National Guard Armory is limited to the unit and unit members previously listed on this thread. No other names will be added. This monument was privately donated and is being placed at the armory with the permission of the NG HQ in Montgomery. The monument at the courthouse belongs to the people of Marengo County. We, the veterans organizations are just the caretakers of it to ensure that it is taken care of and maintained. If an individual, church, civic organization or other activity desires to conduct a proper ceremony at the monument they just need to let us know. We don't have many active members that are able or willing to help plan and execute these ceremonies.