Editor’s note: This tribute was written by John Vick. It is framed and was presented by the new Covington Veterans Foundation to hang near the painting shown here, in Andalusia City Hall.
Were they aunts, uncles, cousins, or just people you knew that day they fell – Who were they thinking of? Was it mothers? Fathers? Comrades? Sweethearts? Or whom?
They answered the alarm and said, “Send us. Our country calls.”
Without a thought, they pledged their hearts and minds, even their very souls.
Do we still care? These young people from Anywhere, USA – are they to be forgotten? While we build families and dreams – they lie on lonely hills, with no one to mourn them.
We can do better than this. Each one of us knows someone who served.
Those who returned were the lucky ones – intact, in both body and mind. But many of those young teenagers will never live out their dreams. How many doctors, inventors, teachers or other great lives were lost when they fell?
Maybe the world was saved from Fascism, Nazism or Communism – but is the world grateful? So many alive today owe their lives and freedom to those who gave that last full measure.
Let us pledge that those heroes who died on distant battlefields will never be forgotten. Those young men and women deserve our everlasting gratitude.
One day in the future, our nation will call again. Who will answer? America needs heroes. Only those who have been told about our country’s past heroes will step forward.
As the sound of “Taps” fades away, so do the memories of those brave men and women. Who will speak for them?
The gratitude of a nation can be their voice, lest they be forgotten. Remember them – be the voice for those who cannot speak.
Dedicated to all those who served in the Armed Forces of our country, but especially to those who served and never returned.
John Vick
May 27, 2019
The newly-formed Covington Veterans Foundation this week presented ‘A soldier comes home,’ a commissioned painting by Roger Powell, to Andalusia Mayor Earl Johnson for City Hall.
Shown from left are Ben Bowden, president of the foundation; Johnson; Powell; and John Vick, foundation chairman.
Bowden said the foundation will identify and document the sacrifices and service of veterans from Covington County, and to raise awareness of those contributions. The group will also initiate projects in local schools, he said.
The painting, which is based on Vick’s childhood memory of seeing the bodies of fallen World War II soldiers returning home on a train, will be on display at the Memorial Day program planned for 10 a.m. on Monday, May 27, in Andalusia City Hall auditorium.
Members of the Andalusia City Council got a sneak peak at the newly-renovated Andalusia High School auditorium Tuesday, after hearing an update on construction progress from Superintendent Ted Watson.
“They’re still working on a punch list,” Watson said. “And there will still be some things to be finished, but I think the overall effect will be well-received Friday.”
State building inspectors gave the final go-ahead for use of the building last week, meaning the high school can hold commencement exercises there Friday. It will be the first event there since the renovation of the auditorium and gym – a project that will total approximately $12 million – began last spring. In May of 2018, commencement was held in the Kiwanis Community Center.
Council members toured the new auditorium after Tuesday’s council meeting. During that meeting, the council:
- Agreed to purchase shade structures, benches and fans for Cooper Pool. The total cost is $36,000. The shade structures will not be installed before the pool opens on June 3.
- Agreed to contribute $500 for the American Legion for a June celebration of the national organization’s centennial.
- Abated nine properties for weed and grass violations.
Members of the Old Three Notch Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution recently presented flag banners to the City of Andalusia to be displayed on the city’s decorative light poles in the downtown area. The banners, which were hung this week for Memorial Day, were purchased with fundraising proceeds from the organization’s patriotic fire hydrant proceeds. Shown from left are Brenda Gouge, Shirley House, Mayor Earl Johnson, Sue Bass Wilson and Brandi Evans.
The DAR also gifted banners to the City of Florala.
Councilman Will Sconiers, Councilman Kennith Mount, Councilman Ralph Wells, Mayor Earl Johnson, City Clerk John Thompson, Councilman Terry Powell and Councilwoman Hazel Griffin are shown with the award they received this week.
The Alabama League of Municipalities (ALM) has named Andalusia a Certified Municipality, an honor awarded to cities and towns in which the mayor and all council members have earned the professional designation of Certified Municipal Official.
The designation signifies that the mayor and all council members have completed a minimum of 40 credit hours of formal training on municipal government conducted or endorsed by ALM through its Certified Municipal Official program.
City Clerk John Thompson said that each of Andalusia’s elected officials has gone a step further, and also has earned the ALM’s advanced certification.
“As mayor, I am proud that Andalusia is just one of a handful of cities to be represented in the inaugural class of certified municipalities,” Mayor Earl Johnson said. “This is representative of the hard work you have done, reading the assigned materials, and getting up to speed on the law. I know the citizens you represent appreciate what this represents.”
The awards were presented in Mobile on Tuesday, during the closing session of ALM’s annual convention.