A light rain might have dampened Veterans Day activities in the Andalusia area on Wednesday, but not the spirits of those who heard native son Col. Jimmy Mott (Ret., USAF) - parade grand marshal and guest speaker – share his thoughts about military service.

Mott, who received a Congressional appointment to the Air Force Academy right out of high school, spent most of his 25-year career in special operations.

“I can’t tell you want an honor it is to stand here today, back in the town where I grew up, surrounded by friends, neighbors, and fellow veterans,” he said.

“When I think about my childhood in Andalusia, I can’t help but smile. We rode our bicycles all over town. We played outside from sun-up until sundown. And I don’t remember us ever having to lock our back door,” he said.

“It was a wonderful place to grow up. In fact, looking back, I’d call it a magical childhood. And like a lot of young boys, I grew up fascinated by stories of adventure.

“My uncle served in the Air Force, and I loved listening to his stories about being stationed in Alaska. Both of my grandfathers had served our country as well. One in the Navy during World War II, and the other in the Army and the Air Force. I grew up hearing their stories, admiring their service, and wondering what adventures might be waiting for me beyond the city limits of Andalusia,” he recalled.

“At 18 years old, I got my chance. I left home for the United States Air Force Academy, beginning a journey that would eventually lead to 25 years of service in Air Force Special Operations Command. And what a journey it was.

“I had the extraordinary privilege of serving alongside some of the finest men and women our nation has ever produced,” he said. “I witnessed courage, sacrifice, and devotion to duty that would forever shape the way I see the world.

“But somewhere along that journey, I began to understand something that had never really occurred to me as a little boy riding his bicycle through Andalusia.

“The childhood I had taken for granted was actually one of the greatest gifts I had ever been given,” he said.

“The freedom to roam this town without fear. The security of knowing my family was safe. The innocence of growing up in a place where the world seeming full of possibilities.

“Not every child in this world gets to experience those things. And they don’t happen by accident,” he said.

“For generations, American men and women have left towns just like Andalusia, said goodbye to the people they loved, and answered their nation’s call.

“Some served in wartime. Others served in peace,” he said. “Some returned with stories of adventure. Others carried memories they would seldom speak about. And some never returned at all. But eat of them contributed to something much larger than themselves. They helped preserve a country where children could grow up free, families could bring their futures, and communities like Andalusia could flourish. And that’s what brings us together today.

“Veterans Day isn’t about any one branch of service, any one war, or any one generation. It is about honoring every American who raised their right hand, took an oath, and was willing to put something greater than themselves first. It is about remembering that behind every uniform is a person, a family, and a hometown.

“And it’s about recognizing that the freedoms we enjoy today were protected by people who were once young men and women with dreams of their own.

“When I was 18, I left Andalusia eager to see the world,” he said. “And after 25 years of service, I came to understand that some of the most precious things in that world were the very things I’d left behind. A little boy riding his bicycle through town. Children playing until their mothers called them home for upper. A family sleeping peacefully behind an unlocked door.

“I spent 25 y ears defending the very things I was fortunate enough to take for granted as a little boy growing up in Andalusia. And I can think of no greater honor.

“To my fellow veterans, thank you. Whether you served for a few years or a lifetime, in combat or in peace, your service matters, and your country owes you a debt of gratitude. To the families who stood beside our veterans, thank you for your sacrifices, your patience, and your love,” he said.

“And to the young people here today, I hope you appreciate what a special place this is. I hope you cherish the freedoms you’ve inherited, and I hope you’ll find your own way to serve something greater than yourselves.

“I left Andalusia at 18 years old, eager to see the world. And after seeing a good bit of it, I can tell you there’s something awfully special about this little town.

“Andalusia gave me a childhood worth remembering,” he said. “America gave me a country worth defending. And our veterans helped make both possible.

“God bless our veterans, God bless Andalusia, and God bless the United States of America.”