To honor all veterans, two area communities hosted Veterans Day ceremonies Nov. 8.
In Daleville, the Lovely Touch Garden Club and the city welcomed guests to its third annual Veterans Day ceremony.
"Veterans no matter their branch of service, rank or MOS they serve their country with pride, dedication and sacrifice — really every day should be Veterans Day," Lela Smith, president of the LTGC, said.
During the ceremony, a cool breeze whipped through the dozens of American flags that surrounded the POW/MIA Memorial Wall.
Smith enlightened the audience on the significance of each flag and the crosses in which the flags stand.
"These flags and crosses represent some of our veterans who have served," she said. "Three of these were POWs —Leo Suiter, Austin Gatlin and Quinton Jackson."
Guest speaker for the event, Chaplain Capt. Tim Gresham of the 1st Battalion, 145th Aviation Regiment, said veterans are "golden warriors" because they sacrifice every day for their loved ones back home.
“Greater love have no man than this, than a man who would lay down his life for his friends," he said. "Veterans lay down their lives in many ways as we've already seen through death or through the sacrifice of losing golden moments."
On Fort Rucker, hundreds of veterans and community members gathered at Veterans Park to pay tribute, salute and honor the many soldiers who have answered America’s call.
During the ceremony, Maj. Gen. Kevin Mangum, USAACE and Fort Rucker commanding general, spoke of the many military conflicts soldiers have endured to preserve democracy, liberty and freedom.
"Our soldiers don't do it for the money. They don't do it for the glory. They do it because it's the right thing to do. It's their chance to make a difference in our world and what a difference they have made," he said.
Mangum asked members from each branch of service to stand up or raise their hands when he recounted a war in which they have fought.
"We are an Army and nation shaped by these historic events, united in our shared sacrifice and our spirit of our service," he said. "Our veterans have shoulder the heavy burden of adapting to the challenges of war which are unimaginable to those who have never been there."
As a tribute to all veterans both past and present, Warrant Officer Jacob Plummer played the bagpipes and Mangum and Command Sgt. Maj. James Thomson laid a wreath.
"This year let us again lend our strength and our compassion as we pay tribute as we thank those who unite in service to defend this great nation and the liberties which we hold sacred," Mangum said.
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