Madison, Alabama -- To kick off a week of Veterans Day activities, community members gathered to honor the service of local veterans in the 10th annual Veterans Prayer Breakfast Nov. 6.
Nearly 300 attendees comprising active duty service members and veterans from all branches, family members, and local citizens met at the Craig and Steven Hogan Family YMCA in Madison to give thanks and honor veterans.
"Today we pay tribute to our veterans and reflect on their service and many sacrifices," said Lt. Gen. David L. Mann, guest speaker and commanding general, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command. "Each November we conduct similar events like this, but I'm sure everyone understands the importance of thanking our veterans every day and not just once a year."
The Prayer Breakfast began with an invocation by Rev. William C. Slade from the Grady-Madison
African Methodist Episcopal Church in Madison and ended with a benediction by Chaplain (Col.) John W. "Jack" Shedd with USASMDC/ARSTRAT.
In addition to the more than a dozen organizations that sponsored the event, the Huntsville Fire and Rescue group Fahrenheit sang the national anthem and a tribute to veterans, and the Bob Jones High School Air Force junior ROTC presented the colors and led the Pledge of Allegiance. The Army Materiel Command band "Arsenal Brass" performed the "Armed Forces Medley" during which attendees from each branch were honored.
"Over the years as our veterans have returned home, they came back to varying degrees of being welcomed," Mann said. "Some were indeed welcomed with cheers and parades. Some came back almost unnoticed. Some came back to a nation divided. Some came back to arguments, protests and ridicule. Thankfully today, I think we all recognize the importance of recognizing the service of our veterans."
Part of that recognition came later in the event when four veterans were presented a Silver Star banner. Honored were: Cleveland King, Clifford Land, Donald Martin and Johnathan Oliver. The Silver Star banner is presented to a veteran or service member who has been wounded, suffered a serious injury, or contracted a serious illness resulting from service.
"History is replete with the sacrifices made by the few on behalf of the many," Mann said. "All of our veterans have given so much for their fellow comrades and for this great nation. Since the establishment of our nation, our warriors have made a sacred pact to serve our country wherever we are sent and to make sure we protect the interests of this country."
During the event, community member Joe Fitzgerald, civilian aide to the secretary of the Army, was honored with a Service to Veterans Award. The award, named in honor of retired Army Brig. Gen. Bob Drolet, was presented by Drolet and retired Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Max Bennett, the 2012 awardee.
Mann concluded his speech with a reminder to those attending about America's service members and veterans and their families.
"Please remember that on this Veterans Day, we still have Soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who are currently deployed or who are in the hospital recovering from wounds received during combat," he continued. "Wounds that will probably be with them the rest of their lives. We must also remember on this Veterans Day the spouses, children, siblings, parents who grieve for service members who will never return.
"Thanks to all of our veterans -- young and old and past and present -- our country will always remain free and will always remain blessed," Mann said. "God bless you, and God bless the United States of America."
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