Lee High School - Huntsville Alabama Alumni

Jim Myrick and Tommy Towery - Veterans Day 2010

Huntsville Veterans Day 2010

by Tommy Towery

Class of '64

The evening before I left for Huntsville to participate in the parade, I got an email from the organizers telling me where to go to find out where our group would be lined up in the parade. This was after I had already cancelled all my plans to get a group together because I had never hear back about my registration. I was told that I should have gotten some acknowledgement, but they did not always send them out. Apparently this year they did not!

Anyway, I showed up early and stood around the registration desk to see if anyone else showed up and did not recognize anyone, so I elected to fly solo. I found a trailer loaded with "generic" veterans that was sponsored by the Madison County Veterans Memorial Foundation and was allowed to join them for the parade. For those not familiar with this group, they are the ones who are sponsoring the Huntsville Veterans Park.

From their website: The Madison County Veterans Memorial Board is chartered to develop, fund, facilitate, build and maintain a suitable memorial to honor the veterans who have served the United States by giving their time and, some ultimately, their lives in military service of their country. This Memorial will hold before present and future generations the principle that freedom is not free and that free people must always be prepared to defend that freedom at whatever cost. The design will:

If you would like to purchase a paver brick to honor a veteran, then click on this link:

http://www.madisoncountyveteransmemorial.org/res/brickform.pdf

Although we did not do the parade together, I did meet up with Jim Myrick before it. I went looking for him after receiving this email:

Subject:Veterans Day

Jim Myrick

Class of '66

Just wanted to give you a hearty thanks for the salute on Veterans Day. I will look for you at the parade. I will be riding with the Patriot Guard Riders. Again thanks for the effort you put forth each week and a special thanks for the continued recognition of all our vets.

Here is the information on the Patriot Guard Riders that I found on the web.

Patriot Guard Riders Mission Statement

The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse amalgamation of riders from across the nation. We have one thing in common besides motorcycles. We have an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America’s freedom and security. If you share this respect, please join us.

We don’t care what you ride or if you ride, what your political views are, or whether you’re a hawk or a dove. It is not a requirement that you be a veteran. It doesn't matter where you’re from or what your income is; you don’t even have to ride. The only prerequisite is Respect.

Our main mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family. Each mission we undertake has two basic objectives:

Show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities.

Shield the mourning family and their friends from interruptions created by any protestor or group of protestors.

We accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means.

To those of you who are currently serving and fighting for the freedoms of others, at home and abroad, please know that we are backing you. We honor and support you with every mission we carry out, and we are praying for a safe return home for all.

___________________________________

Baby Boomer's Guide

I was excited to get a copy of the Old Huntsville magazine while I was in town and find the ad above on the back page. My thanks go out to all of you who have purchased a book from Shaver's.

While in town I was also successful in finding a new outlet for it at The Coffee Tree Books and Brew at 7900 Baily Cove Road, for those who find that more convenient.

By the way, I visited The Coffee Tree on Wednesday night and was entertained by a group of musicians who meet there for an open mic night, and thoroughly enjoyed the songs they performed. I highly recommend the event to any of you who might be able to go some Wednesday evening.

I've been getting a lot of orders from my web site by folks buying my book for friends. I have set up a special from now until Christmas and I will gift wrap and mail the book for you and enclose a gift card if you are looking to give one as a gift. Just go to my website at www.ttowery.com for the order form.

I have had no success in finding a Christmas craft fair that I could afford. There was a big one at the civic center, but they wanted $600 for a booth. That's way out of my price range.

Keep telling your friends - I have a whole garage full of boxes of books that I need to sell.

_________________________

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Specialist Fourth Class Stanley Reed Lewter (ASN: RA-12936774), United States Army, for gallantry in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force. Specialist Fourth Class Lewter distinguished himself while serving as Crew Chief aboard a UH-1D transport helicopter of the 118th Assault Helicopter Company, 1st Aviation Brigade, involved in a combat assault mission. The aircraft in which he was flying was leading a formation of helicopters. As the flight neared the landing zone the order was given to open fire, and Specialist Fourth Class Lewter began to put a large volume of accurate fire upon the enemy. As the flight began the final approach, Specialist Lewter notified the Aircraft Commander that they were receiving heavy enemy fire from his side of the landing zone, and that one of the Vietnamese soldiers had been wounded in the throat. In an attempt to save the life of the soldier he gallantly pulled the wounded man into his compartment, and while still putting down a hail of defensive fire with one hand, he attempted to stop the bleeding from the wound of the Vietnamese soldier with the other, and at the same time informing the Aircraft Commander of the exact location of the enemy. As the aircraft touched down into the landing zone, Specialist Lewter was hit and knocked away from his gun. With complete disregard for his wound he continued to protect the lives of his crew by the vast volume of fire which he continued to fire at the enemy. He was directly responsible for the success of this mission. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, 1st Aviation Brigade, General Orders No. 1509 (March 17, 1968)

Action Date: 1-Mar-68

Service: Army

Rank: Specialist Fourth Class

Company: 118th Assault Helicopter Company

Regiment: 1st Aviation Brigade

_____________________________