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November 11, 2009

American Legion, VFW honor veterans in ceremony

By Melanie Patterson

The North Jefferson News



Veterans were not forgotten Wednesday in north Jefferson County.

American Legion Post 255 and VFW Post 10250 hosted the 15th annual Veterans Day ceremony Wednesday at the North Jefferson Veterans Memorial Park in Fultondale.

A crowd of about 75 veterans and other citizens looked on as members of the veterans organizations did what they do best: Honor their fellow troops, alive and deceased.

VFW member David Daniel read aloud the stories of six deceased veterans whose names were recently added to the Memorial Wall. At the reading of each name, Greg and Susan McGill released a white dove and American Legion member Gary Smith rang bell in their honor.

Those added to the wall this year were:

• Wesley B. Frazer, U.S. Navy: June 17, 1938 to Dec. 5, 2008

• James H. Hunter, U.S. Army: June 6, 1923 to June 2, 2009

• Clyde A. Smith, U.S. Army: Sept. 9, 1941 to Feb. 19, 2005

• Paul W. Townes, U.S. Navy: Dec. 11, 1926 to Aug. 13, 2009

• Gary L. Waugh, U.S. Army: Oct. 24, 1948 to July 21, 2009

• Albert E. Wideman, Army National Guard: Dec. 31, 1943 to Nov. 3, 2008

VFW member Gene Arwood placed a wreath at the Memorial Wall, followed by the VFW Honor Guard firing a 21-gun salute and playing Taps.

Wednesday’s guest speaker was Rica Lewis-Payton, director of the Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to get up every day and serve American veterans,” said Lewis-Payton. “They deserve nothing less than the best that we have to offer them.”

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