By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
Our usual Monday meeting day fell this year on the literal 2021 Memorial Day, the first one after we have begun to slowly crawl out of our cultural Corona Cave and be in the same room without fear. Last year, we had to go without something that has been going on in our country since just after the Civil War, and it was so good to be back together for this time-honored gathering. Mayor Ronnie and I had agreed to meet after the Memorial Day event held at the new location of the Alabama Veterans’ Museum, and it was so encouraging to see that the place was packed. There was excellent live music provided by local high school honor bands, and an inspiring message from Major General Robert Rasch. MG Rasch is the Program Executive Officer for Missiles and Space at Redstone Arsenal, and has spoken at this ceremony before. He read the moving story of how Ardmore native James Larry Downs gave his life in Vietnam in 1970 by changing his artillery position so he could better protect his fellow soldiers, and Downs’ family as well as other Gold Star families were honored amongst the attendees. There was also the playing of Taps, and the 21-gun salute fired off by Limestone County Veterans Honor Guard.
There were seven veteran organizations and four auxiliary units represented, and the placing of floral wreaths for the fallen from all the branches of military service. There was also the roll call and striking of the brass bell for those veterans who gave their lives for us. One veteran that we lost to illness in 2020 was Jerry Barksdale, who used to read various famous poems at the ceremony, and we talked about how much we missed the sound of his voice. If he had been with us this year, this is what Jerry would have read to us:
Mayor Ronnie mentioned that he was glad that the interview he had done just moments before with WAFF was in front of the windows to the new museum. “This is a great thing for our community,” he said, and while the Memorial Day ceremony served as the soft opening, the Veterans Museum is looking forward to a Grand Opening later this summer. And, as always, Mayor Ronnie was concerned that young people grow to understand and appreciate the sacrifices that have been made for their freedom. It was my turn to thank Sgt. Marks for his service in Vietnam, and then it was time for Ronnie to roll.
By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
April 19, 2024
