MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. --
This year, Memorial Day falls on May 30. Since city, state and federal government offices and many businesses are closed that day, many Americans will use this three-day weekend to gather with neighbors, friends and family for backyard barbecues. Others will use the time off for a long weekend vacation or to attend weekend sports events starting the 101 critical days of summer.
However, Memorial Day is far more than a day off. It is a special day for Americans to remember the more than 1.3 million American servicemen and women who have died given their lives defending freedom since 1774, the start of the American Revolution.
To help celebrate Memorial Day in the Alabama River Region, members of the Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA) are set to provide two opportunities for the local community to participate in Memorial Day events.
On Saturday, May 28, a carpool is scheduled to depart from the 42nd Air Base Wing headquarters building on Maxwell at 7:30 a.m. to take community members to the Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo, Alabama. The program includes opening statements about Memorial Day and the placement of more than 3,400 miniature flags on gravesites of the veterans buried there. The carpool will leave to return to Maxwell at noon.
The attire for the Alabama National Cemetery event is Airman battle uniform for military and casual clothes for civilians. For more information or to participate, contact A1C Zackary Bird at 863-450-0101.
“It is important for us to reflect on the achievements and sacrifices of those who died in the service of our nation,” said Master Sgt. Eric D. Günter, president of the Maxwell/GunterAFSA chapter. “Placing American flags on the gravesites of our fallen comrades in arms demonstrates our commitment to them and their families that the Air Force and the nation will never forget the sacrifices of those who came before us.”
On Memorial Day itself, a carpool will depart Gunter Annex Building 832 at 7:45 a.m. to take participants to the Bill Nichols Veterans Administration Home in Alexander City, Alabama. They will escort approximately 100 veterans, along with their family members, to a ceremony in the courtyard. Immediately following the ceremony, AFSA will sponsor an ice cream social, where participants will be able to serve and mingle with these veterans. The carpool returns to Gunter at noon.
The attire for the Bill Nichols Veterans Home is service dress for military and casual clothes for civilians. For more information or to participate, contact Master Sergeant Timothy Fuller at 334-953-1815.
“The Maxwell-Gunter Chapter of the Air Force Sergeants Association has supported our veterans at the VA Home in Alexander City for many years, and this event allows us to do something special for those that came before us,” Günter said. “Some of the veterans at the home do not have family members to visit them so our support shows that we care about their sacrifices to the American people.”
Both events are open to the entire Maxwell-Gunter community on a first-come, first-serve basis.