FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- Pageant contestants from around the state entertain Soldiers and Fort Rucker community members for a second year in a row May 13.
Salute to the Troops is a free, musical revue tribute to Fort Rucker Soldiers and Families featuring regional title holders who will vie for the Miss Alabama crown currently worn by Ashley Davis, who was among last year's cast.
As Miss West Central Alabama during the group's 2010 visit, Davis said she was honored to spend time with Soldiers because she was a military child whose Army parents retired at Fort Rucker.
"(Visiting) reminds me of the sacrifices Soldiers make and the Families of our Soldiers make," she said. "This is an opportunity to thank them and let them know they're special."
Davis and 2011 Miss Alabama hopeful, Catilin Guffin, who wears the Miss Wiregrass Area crown, are among this year's cast, according to Miss Wiregrass Area Director Patricia Janasky.
In addition to the afternoon show, earlier in the day the group will visit various training facilities and have lunch with Soldiers at one of the post dining halls.
"We visit Fort Rucker so these young ladies can learn a little bit about what Soldiers do and because they are all very patriotic," Janasky said.
One of the stops on this year's tour is the Goodhand Simulator Complex. While there last year, the ladies experienced the aircraft student pilots fly by sitting in the cockpit and learning the start-up procedures of both the TH-67 Creek and CH-47F Chinook.
Witnessing the intense training students receive here hopefully will give the young women a new level of respect for Soldiers' duties, said Brett Smith, 110th Aviation Brigade deputy chief of academics and Goodhand tour guide.
"The largest percentage of the (Wiregrass) community is military," he said. "These women can see how we're contributing and experience (military) professionalism while they're here."
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