Veterans Memorial Park in Tuscaloosa filled with hundreds of veterans, family members and community leaders Wednesday morning for the city’s annual Veterans Day program. The ceremony took place on the historic ground that once housed the chapel of Northington General Hospital, one of the world’s largest military hospitals during World II.
Brian Butler, chairman of the Tuscaloosa Veterans Memorial Park Association, emceed the event. Chaplain Jacqueline Long, acting chief of chaplain services at the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center, offered the invocation, and the University of Alabama Army ROTC Color Guard presented the colors. Yvonne Wells led the Pledge of Allegiance, and the Stephens family sang the national anthem.
Shalonda Clark, interim associate director of the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center, reminded attendees that the chapel once served soldiers and their families seeking healing and hope. “During World II, a chapel stood right here,” Clark said, noting that many who recovered went on to help build modern Tuscaloosa. She urged veterans to use the VA’s services, emphasizing, “The care you earned is not charity. You earned it.”
The program’s guest of honor was retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Charles H. Gailes Jr., a Tuscaloosa native who commissioned in 1984. Gailes asked everyone who had served to raise a hand, then invited families to do the same, highlighting the breadth of service in the county. He stressed the importance of “tail” troops—mechanics, cooks, doctors, logistics experts—stating, “You’ve got a lot more tail than you have tooth, but if you forget the tail, you can’t use the tooth.” Gailes also defended the VA workforce, noting that hardworking employees strive daily to serve veterans.
Mayor Walt Maddox, who attended the ceremony, recalled the critical role of the Alabama National Guard after the April 27, 2011 tornado that destroyed about 12 % of the city’s infrastructure. “The 300 plus National Guard members that came right after the tornado were critical to us being successful in responding and ultimately recovering,” Maddox said.
Marsha Moore, DNP, interim executive medical center director of the Tuscaloosa VA, praised the Guard’s response, adding, “The storms. The trying times. Nobody had to ask. You stepped up.” Army veteran William Loggins, who served three years in the regular Army and more than 20 years in the Alabama National Guard, echoed that sentiment, saying, “I served my country and did it to the best of my ability and I spent 23 years in the National Guard and I didn’t have to, so.”
The program featured a medley of military songs for each service branch, followed by remarks from Gailes on the logistical challenges faced by the Navy and other forces. He highlighted his leadership of Task Force Guardian after Hurricane Katrina and the 2011 tornado, underscoring the ongoing need for veteran health care, housing and community connection.
According to WBRC, the event also recognized the contributions of veterans from nearly every branch of the military, reinforcing Tuscaloosa’s commitment to honoring those who have served.
Sources: tuscaloosathread.com, wbrc.com, wbrc.com, wbrc.com
