Veterans Day is not just a day, “it’s a promise that we are going to defend the nation no matter what,” retired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael “Tony” Grinston said at last week’s Veterans Dinner.
“We are going to stand there and do what’s right when nobody’s watching – every time, every day,” Grinston said at the annual celebration on Nov. 10. “Right now, we’re sitting in here, in this room, (and) there are some Soldiers out there in harm’s way. Yes, in harm’s way. We still have Soldiers in Iraq, we’ve got Soldiers in Syria, and probably some other cool places that you don’t even know about.
“So, Veterans Day is not just a day, it’s a promise that you’re going to sit here and you can enjoy this meal because those Soldiers – and some Space Force folks – are out there protecting us.”
Grinston, a Jasper native who served in the Army for 36 years and is the CEO of Army Emergency Relief, the nonprofit that serves Soldiers in times of need, was this year’s Veterans Day parade marshal, along with retired Command Sgt. Maj. John Perry.
Grinston, whose military service lasted 36 years, said he can see “the weight of the world” on the faces of some service members. “That’s what it sometimes means to be a veteran.” During Grinston’s service, he was supported by Vietnam veterans who said: “we’re going to make sure that when you go to combat and you come back, you’re going to be taken care of. We got praised; we got thanked. And this ‘thank you for your service’ did not happen for the Vietnam veterans,” Grinston said before asking for a round of applause for Vietnam veterans at the dinner.
During the evening, the North Alabama Veterans and Fraternal Organizations Coalition presented its annual awards – Redstone Sergeants Major Association, 2025 Huntsville-Madison County Veteran Organization of the Year; retired Sgt. Maj. Bobby Lee, 2025 Huntsville-Madison County Veteran of the Year; retired Maj. Gen. Paulette Risher, 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award; and retired Lt. Col. Audrey Ransom, 2025 Brig. Gen. Bob Drolet Service to Veterans Award.
Tom Kennemer and Leonard Robinson, board members of the Madison County Military Heritage Commission, inducted the latest members of the commission’s Hall of Heroes and enrolled a Purple Heart Honor Roll recipient Clayton Hinchman. Hinchman, a medically retired Army captain who served as an infantry officer, was unable to attend the dinner because of a flight cancellation.
During his career, Hinchman was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division and Special Operations Task Force 17. On May 10, 2008, during a night raid on Al Qaeda operatives in Iraq, an improvised explosive device was triggered, wounding 12 service members and seriously wounding Hinchman and two others. After being examined at a Baghdad hospital and due to the seriousness of his wounds, Hinchman was moved to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where he was treated and recovered until Dec. 24, 2009, when he received a medical discharge and retired.
Hinchman is now the chairman and CEO of Ignite in Huntsville.
Two Vietnam veterans were inducted into the 2025 Madison County Military Heritage Commission’s Hall of Heroes – John Chancellor Jr., who received the Distinguished Flying Cross and Brone Star with “V,” and Stanley Minkinow, who was inducted posthumously. Minkinow received the Distinguished Flying Cross and Army Commendation Medal with “V.”
“If we continue to recognize our heroes, remember their sacrifices and educate our children about the cost of freedom then, by God’s grace, we will sow the seeds that will yield a harvest of liberty for generations to come,” retired Navy Cmdr. Clay Davis, the commission’s president, said. “This right here tonight is why we do what we do.”
Army veteran John Brashears, who’s 101 years old, was recognized with a standing ovation for his multiple eras of service – in World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars.
Liz Hurley, an emcee of the dinner at the Von Braun Center Saturn Ballroom, said Brashears joined the Army in October 1943 at age 17. He received numerous awards during his military service including the Korean Service Medal, three Bronze Stars, the European- African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.
Three former Veterans Week chairs were recognized – Joe Fitzgerald, CASA emeritus, who served from 2007-12; Max Bennett, retired chief warrant officer 4, who served 2013-20; and retired Navy Capt. Bill Marriott, who served 2021-22.
KC Bertling, president of the North Alabama Veterans and Fraternal Organizations Coalition for the last six years, announced that Audrey Ransom, the coalition’s executive vice president, will be the next president in January 2026.
Editor’s note: Features on this year’s Hall of Heroes inductees and award winners are available in this year’s Veterans Day Special section on our website, theredstonerocket.com.
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