It has become an annual tradition at Museum of Pell City each November as it seeks to honor, preserve and promote its military history in Salute to Veterans Nov. 7.
Now in its third year, the museum is redesigning and expanding its military exhibit space, increasing its focus on more modern-day wars and conflicts and adding an impressive interactive display – a fighter jet simulator. It will open Nov. 7, kicking off with a special reception at 10 a.m. in the banquet room of the Municipal Complex below the museum.
Existing military displays getting redesign
Headlining the event will be St. Clair County District Attorney Lyle Harmon, a veteran helicopter pilot in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“Much of our exhibit space to this point has been on earlier wars – World War I and II, Korean and Vietnam,” said President Carol Pappas. “What we wanted to do is provide a more comprehensive picture of our military history – bringing in more photographs and artifacts from the Persian Gulf War and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. We have so many veterans from those conflicts in our community, and we wanted a way to preserve and share their stories.”
One of the centerpieces of the new exhibit will be photos and artifacts from the estate of Admiral Dennis Brooks, who served as Commander of the Joint Forces in the Persian Gulf. His long and storied career includes a visit aboard his ship from then President Ronald Reagan. His flight jacket as a fighter jet pilot in earlier days is on display among many other artifacts.
“We’ll have oral histories from his son, Mark Brooks, who also served as a fighter jet pilot and rose to the rank of …, who relates his father’s stories of achievement, sacrifice and the principles that guided him. We have other veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, who share their own story, all of which will be presented in our own documentary,” Pappas said.
Challenge coin memento given to veterans at inaugural salute
“An examination of this era must also include the painful transition of coming home, and we will feature on film the story of a mother whose son took his own life, an all too familiar account, and her fight to help other veterans.”
Excitement is building as museum designer Jeremy Gossett and pilot consultant Donnie Todd put together the fighter jet simulator exhibit. “I won’t spoil the unveiling, but I can promise that it will be an attraction for all ages,” Pappas said.
This project could not have been possible without community support. “In an effort led by our treasurer, Zachary Gentile, and Museum Coordinator Erica Grieve, we were able to raise nearly $7,000 to bring this plan to fruition. We thank donors Glenda Harris, Paula Hereford, Inpac, St. Clair County Airport Authority, Dream Home Inspections, David Smith, Alan and Sandra Furr and Donnie and Ellen Todd. They stepped forward in a big way to make this project happen.”
As is the museum’s custom, a reception honoring all veterans with a keynote talk by Harmon will be held at 11 a.m., followed by the exhibit opening, tour and film showings.
“We invite everyone to this special tribute,” Pappas said. “It is truly a community event, and we are honored to present it.”
Under a blazing St. Clair County summer sun, Mallory Walls worked at her art, transforming a blank exterior wall at Small Town Blanks – a T-shirt shop – into an 11-foot brick canvas of patriotism, pride, military service and memory.
As Walls painted the work of art at the intersection of Cogswell Avenue and 20th Street North, motorists honked their horns or called out words of encouragement. Pedestrians came with ice cold lemonade or brownies. As she toiled on the orange scaffold, art became life in a small town.
Mallory at work
Some veterans stopped to say thanks. Others wept.
A country was celebrated.
Veterans were honored.
And with a single letter and two numbers, a local boy was remembered.
This story is about more than Pell City’s first downtown mural
The mural was commissioned by Michelle and Craig Tumlin to honor veterans, men and women close to their hearts. Their story is well known.
Their son, Houston Lee Tumlin served honorably in the United States Army. He was known to the wider world for his role as Walker Bobby in the Will Ferrell film, Talladega Nights: The Legend of Ricky Bobby. But to folks in Pell City, he was just Houston, a kid who “lit up a room,” his mother said.
But after his military service, Houston, plagued by CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy), depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, Houston sadly became a heartbreaking statistic – one of the 22 veterans who each day take their own lives.
A decorated veteran, he died on March 23, 2021. He was 28.
Even as they walked through the valley of the shadow of grief, the Tumlins created Houston Project, a charity working to help veterans and their families.
Mallory Walls’ creation, funded by money raised at Houston Project’s recent gala, is just another way to honor veterans and their service and sacrifice.
The Artist and Her Art
Mallory Walls can’t remember a time when she wasn’t painting. She began art lessons in kindergarten. Her mother, Rachel Gilbreath, was also an artist who crafted murals.
Mallory got her first commission at 14. Her first mural, a casino-themed portrait for a Nashville, Tennessee, bed and breakfast came at 19. She’s painted more than 100 murals in her career.
“Ever since my first commissioned piece, I’ve painted a lot. I decided to go full time with art in 2024.”
Mallory signing her work
As for the Houston Project commission, Walls is a longtime friend of Craig and Michelle Tumlin and their family, attending Victory Christian School with their daughter, Hayden. As well as Pell City’s Victory Church.
“I got to know them through a small-group Zumba class at church,” she said of the Tumlins. “They commissioned a couple of pieces from me before, watercolor paintings.”
The process for the downtown mural began two years ago, to create a piece that honored vets. From the time she began painting, it took five days – 10 to 12 hours a day – to finish the 11 feet tall by 18 feet wide work of art. She completed it during one of the hottest weeks of the year, through rain and shine and off-the-charts humidity.
She had an umbrella to fend off the sun and rain and also got a helping hand from her cousin, Mia Holland, who helped her fill out the red and white stripes of Old Glory.
“I wouldn’t have been able to finish it in five days without her help. We really had to work to get in between the bricks coated. It paid off to be deliberate with it.”
The goal for the piece?
“We wanted to create a piece that was very timeless,” Walls said. “We wanted something that people could enjoy not just now, but for years to come. The message behind it was to honor our veterans who had done so much and the families of veterans. Most everybody knows a veteran or is related to a veteran. We wanted to let veterans know that they are seen and honored and that we are so thankful for them.”
More broadly, there is a deeper meaning. In the painting, a male and female soldier stand facing the Stars and Stripes with a smart salute, their backs to the viewer. It’s not known if the soldiers are Black, white, brown, yellow or red, Catholic or Protestant, Republican or Democrat. They are simply American soldiers.
“You can’t see their age. You can’t see their race. Everyone who knows or is a veteran can relate to it and be impacted by it on some level,” Walls said.
As she worked, townsfolk stopped to ask questions, or offer words of encouragement.
“Of all the murals I’ve done, I’d have to say this was the most community involved,” I got to meet so many people. I grew up around Pell City, but I met so many people and got to experience Pell City in a whole new way. Strangers were so kind, bringing me lemonade and brownies to keep me going. It was just amazing to see the community response. It was very special in that way.”
She added, “That’s one of the things I love about doing an outdoor mural is the community response. I love it … Even in the early days when it was in its ugly stage, people would come up, and I’d say, ‘You have to come see it when it’s done.’”
What does she hope townsfolk and visitors to Pell City take from the mural?
“I hope it tells veterans that we see them, we honor them, and we thank God for them.”
A Mom and H44
Michelle Tumlin has received a flood of messages – phone calls and social media posts –even the wife of a veteran who was moved to tears by the mural.
But she is quick to give thanks, to donors at the Houston Project gala, to Joanna Hagan and her son, Wayne, who own the building that’s home to the mural, to city officials like City Manager Brian Munger.
And she’s thankful for Mallory Walls, the artist.
Michelle Tumlin reflects for a moment at mural
“She’s very talented,” Tumlin said. “She’s done work for us over the years, and I knew there was no better artist to do this.”
The idea for the mural was an extension of the work of Houston Project.
“We’re a non-profit that helps veterans, but we also honor our son,” Tumlin said. “I’ve been brainstorming. I called Mallory and told her, ‘I see a flag. I see a male and female soldier saluting,’ and she made it happen.” Captioning the image were two words: “Never Forgotten.”
“It could not be more perfect,” Tumlin said. “I wanted it to be a mural that all veterans’ family members could go, think of their loved ones and have ‘that moment’ (of remembrance), you know. I think it has done that. Just the reaction of this town was … I felt like we were part of a patriotic Hallmark movie.”
Fittingly, the mural gives the Tumlins “that moment,” too. As Michelle remembers Houston, tears flow. And tucked in a spot on the mural are dog tags bearing a letter and a number. For the Tumlin family, every time the number comes up, it’s a message from their beloved son.
The letter on the dog tag is H for Houston. The number is 44, the number he wore on sports teams growing up.
“My heart is just beaming,” Tumlin said. “And I know Houston Tumlin is just smiling down from heaven. When I see that mural, I see my son.”
All through the night, clouds took turns sobbing over Hopewell Cemetery’s tombstones, cedar trees, and leafless dogwoods, and dawn broke dank and damp. In stark contrast in the older section, the recently cleaned tombstones of Jacob Green, Robert Hood, Sarah Hood and John Hood stood white against the gloom, and a new gray granite marker at Jacob Green’s grave glistened from the rain.
The marker drew members of the Broken Arrow Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) to New Hopewell Baptist Church Fellowship Hall on a Saturday morning in January to honor the tribute.
Event preparation began in 2024 when Washington’s DAR National Headquarters announced available grants of $500 to local chapters to celebrate the Semiquincentennial (250th) celebration of the United States. The grant guidelines stipulated that not only must the Revolutionary War veteran’s grave be in the cemetery, but that some of his descendants must also be entombed there, for the marker is in memory of the veteran’s descendants in the same cemetery.
Broken Arrow member Ann Coupland suggested Jacob Green because she knew he was buried at Hopewell Cemetery, and that the Gadsden DAR chapter had placed a tombstone at his grave in 1937. Further, Ann also knew that his name and John Hood’s were not on the Revolutionary War Veterans marker behind the Inzer House.
Joseph and Miranda Wyatt
Choosing John Hood was almost serendipitous. One day, Mindy Manners, Regent of Broken Arrow Chapter, was walking in Hopewell Cemetery near Jacob Green’s resting place. Just a few graves away from Green’s, she saw the tombstone for Robert Hood, “Born April 1793, Died April 12, 1858.” The 1793 date caused her to think Robert had Revolutionary War connections. Back home, she researched Robert’s ancestry and found his father, John Hood, and his service record.
Buried next to Robert is his wife, Sarah (1792-1855); and next to her is their son, Rev. John Hood (1820-1851); however, there’s no stone for John Hood there. Where is he buried?
John Hood lies in an unmarked grave which some writers and researchers have speculated is in the Ashville Cemetery. However, Hopewell Cemetery is more likely for three reasons. First, his son, daughter-in-law, and grandson are interred there. Second, Daniel Hood in his paper titled, “The Noah Hood Family,” states, “The Hood family has been associated with the Hopewell Baptist Church since its construction (organization) in July 1830. Five Hoods were charter members.
Indeed, in the Hopewell Cemetery, Hoods account for some of the earliest residents.” Third, from 19th century obituaries that the community of Hood’s existed, for it is recorded as place of residence, as in Roland Hood’s obituary, Aug. 29, 1889, in The Southern Aegis. “Died on Aug. 25, 1889, at his residence near Hood’s this county, Roland Hood, age 71 years. He had lived in the neighborhood where he breathed his last all his life, except for two years.” So, there exists a strong connection with the Hood family, the church, the cemetery and the community.
Broken Arrow members were busy in the Fellowship Hall, where some decorated tables with patriotic colors, miniature stars and stripes, and flower arrangements, while others set out refreshments. One of those members is especially noteworthy, Emma Scott Milam. She is the only surviving charter member of the Broken Arrow Chapter which was established a little over 70 years ago. As soon as she turned 18, her aunt had her sign the papers to come in as a charter member.
Members of the Green and Hood families and other visitors gradually filled the room as the Fellowship Hall program hour arrived.
Following the opening prayer by Chaplain Emma Milam, the Alabama Society of the Sons of American Revolution Color Guard, in 18th Century military attire, brought the flag to the front for the Pledge of Allegiance, then they placed the flag in its holder.
Next, the assembly read in unison The American’s Creed. Mindy introduced special guests: Rev. Johnny Wilson, host and pastor of New Hopewell; Joe Barker, commander of the SAR Color Guard; Kristi Averette, The Flag of the United States American State Committee Chair, Alabama Society Daughters of the American Revolution; and attending journalist.
Regent Manners related interesting facts about Alabama and St. Clair County Revolutionary War veterans, many of whom moved their families here, and records indicate that more than 700 are buried in Alabama.
Many of the grave markers have been weathered away or destroyed by the passing years, and it is believed that the last veteran to die was William Speer, who lived to be 101. He died in 1859 and is buried in Bivens Chapel Cemetery in Jefferson County.
After the Regent’s remarks, members of Jacob Green’s family were recognized and 8th generation Josiah Jacob Evans, eight years old, read Jacob’s brief history written by his Aunt Beth Evans-Smith.
Jacob Green’s history resonates with America’s and St. Clair County’s early history. He was born in North Carolina in 1767 and was only nine years old when the Declaration of Independence was signed July 4, 1776. Official records show that an 18-year-old Private Jacob Green was “…paid with interest, on 21 June 1785 for duty done in the Militia in 1782.”
In 1787, 20-year-old Jacob married Frances “Fannie” Baker in North Carolina. Over the years, 10 children blessed their home.
Family records state that Jacob also fought in the War of 1812, and that at the end of the war, perhaps around 1815, Jacob and other men journeyed to Alabama to explore land along the Coosa River. Then in 1818, Jacob and Fannie, now living in South Carolina, resigned their membership in the Buffalo Baptist Church and began the tedious trek to Alabama.
Although the date they arrived in St. Clair County with their six younger children is unclear, Green family researchers believe the family arrived here between 1818 and 1820. The 1820 census records show that Jacob Green owned land in St. Clair County and that he formerly resided in South Carolina.
Jacob built the family’s first home on today’s Greensport Road, a little south of Canoe Creek where U.S. 411 crosses into Etowah County. This spacious home also served for many years as a stop on the Montevallo stagecoach route.
Mary Ellen Sparks wrote in an article, Stagecoach Stop, published Aug. 7, 2019, in the St. Clair Times, “Springer and Pollard Stagecoach Lines ran between Pulaski, Tenn., and Montevallo for a total of 133 miles. The mail was delivered semi-weekly at $25 per trip. There were 13 mail stops along this route. It traveled through six Alabama counties. The stagecoach would leave Ashville at 4 a.m. and arrive in Montevallo the next day at 9 a.m. It was a 29-hour ride amidst wild animals, inclement weather and probably hostile Indians and Outlaws.”
By the 1830s, there was a need for a ferryboat on the Coosa River to connect St. Clair County with Calhoun County. When the federal government approached Jacob about operating the ferry, he accepted the challenge. Therefore, he left the Stagecoach house and built another spacious house by the river at what came to be called Greensport.
Jacob successfully operated the ferry for some years as age crept up on him. The 1840 census records list a man about Jacob’s age living with Jacob’s daughter, Nannie Green Dill, and her husband. Jacob’s wife, Fannie, must have predeceased him. His name does not appear in the 1850 census.
When Alabama Power constructed Neeley Henry` Dam and Lake, the house was torn down and lake waters soon flooded over where it once stood. Today on Jacob Green’s Coosa River land is the Greensport RV Park and Campground, and the Greensport Marina, a beautiful and peaceful St. Clair County recreational center on Lake Neely Henry, operated by Jacob’s descendants.
John Hood
When the John Hood family was recognized, Anthony Hood read John’s brief history.
His birth date remains a mystery, but researchers think it occurred in the area of 1745 to 1750. He was the eldest son of Tunis and Elizabeth Harrison Hood of Frederick County, Virginia, now a part of Berkeley County, West Verginia.
The Hood families seemed restless, for in 1772 John was in Burk County, North Carolina, then c1775 they moved to Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Tunis Hood, John’s father, and other members of the family relocated to Mecklenburg County around 1775, as well.
John’s American Revolution service was with the North Carolina Militia, Salisbury district, made up from Mecklenburg and other counties. Records also show that Tunis Hood gave material aid to Revolutionary forces. John’s brothers, Tunis Jr., Solomon and Robert, served with Mecklenburg County forces as well.
After the war, John moved his family to Greene County, Georgia, around 1792 and stayed there about 24 years before migrating to Alabama c1816. Hood descendants believe John died in 1835 and Sarah in 1837.
John married Sarah “Sallie” Austin in 1777, and they were parents to eight children: Austin, James, Amos, Isaac, Robert, William, Osborn and daughter Lovina. Robert is buried at Hopewell Cemetery.
There is a possible John Hood and Abraham Lincon connection as recorded by Anthony Hood. “John Hood’s mother was Elizabeth Harrison, daughter of John Harrison and granddaughter of Isaiah and Elizabeth Wright Harrison. Elizabeth Wright Harrison died soon after the birth of their fifth child. Isaiah married second to Abigail Smith, and they had three children, with Abigail Harrison being [their] daughter who married Alexander Herring. Abigail Harrison Herring is strongly speculated to be the great-grandmother of Abraham Lincoln, making John Hood a distant cousin to Abraham Lincoln.”
Of special note on other family ties, Elvis Presley is a direct descendant of John Hood. Elvis’s grandmother, Minnie Mae Hood Presley, is John Hood’s great-great-granddaughter. At the Tunis Hood plantation site at Hood’s Crossroads in Mint Hill, North Carolina, there is a plaque commemorating the Elvis connection. Minnie Mae Hood Presley is buried at Graceland.
Tombstones of Robert Hood, Sarah Hood, and Rev. John Hood
When the biographical sketches ended, the DAR ladies served finger foods, hot chocolate and coffee, after which the group reassembled at Jacob Green’s gravesite for the dedication of the memorial:
“COMMEMORATING THE SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL OF / THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / WE HONOR THE REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS WHO LIVED IN / ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ALABAMA / AND WHOSE DESCENDANTS ARE BURIED HERE / IN HOPEWELL CEMETERY / JOHN HOOD / JACOB GREEN / MARKER PLACED BY BROKEN ARROW CHAPTER NSDAR / 18 JANUARY 2025.”
Regent Manners dedicatory remarks were thought provoking. “It is fitting that we praise especially here today no famous men. We come instead to honor those who fought and died without recognition.
“Their names and deeds are known only to those who were their comrades, families, and of course, known to God… These ordinary soldiers best symbolize such acts of quiet courage by ordinary people whose reward is that their nation and their freedoms remain secure for future generations.”
She ended her remarks with these words from General George Washington, who knew war and its conquests of exposure, wounds and death: “To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.”
Chaplain Milam prayed the dedicatory prayer, followed by the SAR Color Guard firing three rounds with their muskets, much to the delight of the children in attendance.
As the musket smoke wafted away, Rev. Johnny Wilson read the lyrics of Taps, of which the poignant last stanza was a fitting end to the ceremony.
All is well… Fare thee well Day has gone, night is on. Thanks and praise, for our days, ‘Neath the sun, ‘Neath the stars, ‘Neath the sky, As we go, this we know, God is nigh.
As folk began drifting back to the Fellowship Hall or the parking lot, clouds drifted apart enough to reveal bits of blue sky above the gray, and feeble sunrays touched the tops of tombstones old and new.
And there in the silent quietness, one might think he heard from far away, the notes of Taps, echoing through the years, “All is well. All is well.”
As Veterans Day approaches, St. Clair County is preparing to honor those who have served in the United States Armed Forces.
Across St. Clair County, flags flying, special tributes, events and exhibits will express gratitude to the veterans who have sacrificed so much to protect the country’s freedoms.
This year, the Museum of Pell City will host its annual Salute to Service event. “Salute to Service promises to be a heartfelt and meaningful experience for all who attend,” said Museum President Carol Pappas.
The event, set for Nov. 8, had its beginnings in 2023 with an expanded military exhibit at the museum, approximately three times the size of the regular exhibit. This special tribute highlighted the history and contributions of veterans, and the museum premiered a short film it produced, War and Remembrance, which featured local veterans of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War.
“It was our very first outreach project, and over 100 attended the first day followed by others throughout the month of November.
This year, Salute to Service will include a reception and special presentations to honor the veterans in attendance, says Pappas. Each veteran will receive a special challenge coin as a token of appreciation for their service.
Expanded exhibits include more in-depth looks at some of Pell City’s “hometown heroes” and photographs, artifacts and other items of interest.
The museum is open Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is always free.
St. Clair County Extension Veterans Outreach will host its Veterans Program is slated on Saturday, Nov. 9, at Springville Methodist Church from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
St. Clair County Extension Outreach Veterans program at Springville Methodist Church
This program will feature tributes in honor of all who served. Highlights include a proclamation from Dave Thomas, mayor of Springville; a Veterans’ Appreciation speech by Greg Bailey, U.S. Air Force Veteran; musical performances by the Something Else Trio and Springville High School Tiger Chorale; and the 13 Folds Ceremony.
It also will include the Run for the Wall Presentation by Chuck Wright, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and the Missing Man Table Presentation by Wayne Johnson, U.S. Air Force veteran.
Greg Bailey, administrator of Outreach Programs for the St. Clair County office of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, is partnering with the Josiah Brunson Chapter, National Society Daughter of the American Revolution, for the Springville event.
“This program is the least we can do for our servicemen who have done so much for us,” Bailey says. “Our office is focused on ensuring veterans are aware of the resources available to them. “
In addition to the Veterans Day program, Bailey and his team are also partnering with local schools and community organizations to honor and celebrate veterans across the county.
Throughout the month of November, cities and towns across St. Clair County will also honor veterans in various ways. Flags will be flying high in public spaces, special banners will be displayed along main streets, and communities will participate in events that pay tribute to those who have served. These collective efforts create a powerful visual reminder of the respect and gratitude the county holds for its veterans.
All of these events are open to the public and free to attend, but registration is required. Those interested in attending the Salute to Service reception event may register on the Museum of Pell City’s website, museumofpellcity.org.
The event at Springville Methodist Church is free as well, but attendees are asked to RVSP by calling the St. Clair County Alabama Cooperative Extension System at (205) 338-9416.
“Veterans form the very foundation of all of our communities across our country,” Pappas said. “Their history is what our history is built upon, and we truly thank them for their service.”
In the heart of Moody, a touching tribute to military veterans has taken root.
The Veterans Banner Program, which began in 2023, is a community-driven initiative to honor those who have served in the armed forces. Spearheaded by city officials and embraced by residents, this program is more than just a display of banners; it’s a testament to the city’s deep respect and gratitude for its local military service members, past and present.
The idea for the Moody Veterans Banner Program was inspired by similar efforts in nearby cities like Jasper and Montevallo. City Councilman Ellis Key, after visiting these towns, was enthusiastic about bringing a similar tribute to Moody. Mayor Joe Lee and Mayor Pro Tem Linda Crowe had been advocating for a way to honor local veterans, and after three years of planning and discussions, the program finally launched.
In August of 2023, the city began selling banners to families who wanted to honor their loved ones who have served the country. By Veterans Day, the first nine banners were proudly displayed. The program’s popularity grew quickly, with additional banners added for Memorial Day and Patriots Day. In the first year of the program, the city displayed 14 banners.
Each banner tells a unique story. One banner honors a West Point graduate and decorated Vietnam War veteran, while another recognizes a Vietnam War veteran who received both a Bronze and Silver Star. Three of the banners displayed honor a father who fought in WWII and his two sons, one of whom fought in Vietnam.
Banners around the Moody Library
Moody resident Jimmy Banks surprised his mother with a banner honoring his father and her father. Additionally, there is a banner dedicated to a WWII soldier who was killed in Luxembourg.
Program organizers are hopeful that the Veterans Banner program will continue to inspire future generations.
Moody’s Mayor Assistant Melissa Fraser says the community’s response has been overwhelmingly positive. Residents frequently inquire about the cost and eligibility criteria for the banners. Fraser emphasized that the banners are not limited to veterans. They can honor anyone currently serving or who has served in the past.
Longtime Moody resident Kathy Lunsford shared her excitement about the Moody Veterans Banner Program. She recently purchased banners for herself and her husband, William. Both Kathy and William are Air Force veterans who met during their service. Kathy was inspired to participate after seeing the banners displayed while leaving the library. Lunsford said, “As a veteran, I am proud of the time I served in the military. It is an honor to have served my country. I’m looking forward to my and my husband’s banners being displayed soon. I can’t wait to show our children and our family.”
The banner program has received an overwhelmingly positive response from honorees and the community. “One particularly memorable reaction came from a woman who surprised her husband with a banner. Responses like these show the pride families feel in recognizing their loved ones’ service,” shared Fraser.
Starting the program wasn’t without its challenges. Initially, finding appropriate locations to display the banners was a concern. Currently, the banners are displayed near the Civic Center at 200 Civic Center Drive in Moody. This location has been well-received by the public.
Additionally, maintaining the banners, which are subject to weather wear and tear, requires careful logistics. The city’s Public Works Department plays a crucial role in displaying the banners during patriotic holidays.
Gilreath Printing and Signs, LLC, a Pell City business, has been instrumental in creating high-quality banners. The Gilreaths have consistently produced banners that families and the community are proud of. “Even when families submit older photos that are worn and faded, Mr. and Mrs. Gilreath, along with their graphic designer, Dani Chistopherson, have made the banners look fantastic,” Fraser added.
The program is not designed to be a money-making venture. The $200 fee for each banner covers the costs of production and their picture being featured in an exhibit at the Moody Museum. This exhibit will have a dedicated room where the veterans’ legacies will be preserved for future generations.
As the program grows, there are plans to expand the banner displays to Moody Crossroads and eventually along Highway 411.
Fraser believes that other cities could benefit from starting similar programs. Her advice is straightforward: “It’s a deeply rewarding program that brings communities together and honors those who have served.” The cooperation and dedication of city partners and local businesses have been key to the program’s success.
For those interested in purchasing a banner, Fraser advises contacting her at least a month before one of the key patriotic holidays for the displays that are expected to continue to grow.
And rightly so, say city officials. The program stands as a beacon of gratitude and community spirit, honoring the brave men and women who have dedicated their lives to serving their country.
Banners can be purchased for $200 each, which guarantees three years of display. Additionally, the honoree’s picture will be featured at the City of Moody Museum and on the city’s website. l
Editor’s note:If you have any questions or if you would like to purchase a banner for a service member, contact Melissa Fraser at the City of Moody at (205) 640-0307 or mfraser@moodyalabama.gov.
In its first community outreach program since opening in March, Museum of Pell City presented Salute to Service Nov. 2, hosting a crowd of over 80 veterans and community and governmental leaders.
The event included lunch, speaker, a state senate resolution, a special presentation to veterans, a new military service exhibit and premier of a short film produced by the museum.
A section of the expanded Salute to Service exhibits at the museum
“We chose this as our very first community outreach program for a reason – veterans form the very foundation of all of our communities across our country,” Museum President Carol Pappas said in opening remarks. “Their history is what our history is built upon, and we truly thank them for their service.”
Salute to Service hosted a group of veterans and staff from Col. Robert L. Howard State Veterans Home as special guests, and veterans throughout the audience were recognized for their service. The museum presented each with a special memento – a commemorative challenge coin thanking them for their service.
The museum presented its coin with a specially designed card saying: “Historically, military commanders presented challenge coins to members of their units in recognition of special achievements. Today, we respectfully present it to you for the ultimate achievement – your service and sacrifice in defense of our country, our freedoms and our way of life.”
Museum First Vice President Deanna Lawley directed the day’s program, noting her own roots in a military family. “Veterans are men and women who have put others before self to guarantee the security of our community and country. The sacrifices were also made by your families who often had an empty chair at the head of the table. I know this because for the first 15 years of my life, I watched my mother move four daughters from the dust blown plains of Ft. Sill Field Artillery School, Oklahoma, to Newnan, Georgia, where family took us in as Daddy was deployed to join Patton’s 3rd Army.”
She detailed the family’s moves during her father’s service after World War II – Panama Canal and Boston. Then, he was called to Korea. When the war ended, she and her sisters thought he would be home soon, but duty called again. “He remained to negotiate prisoner of war exchanges and saw the harsh sacrifices made by those who had been captured.”
He was home for a time, then orders sent him with family in tow to Verona, Italy, where he’d work to establish SETAF relationships and find a home for us on the Italian economy,” she said, noting that she went to school in a converted shoe factory with a potbelly stove for heat.
“Military families learned to be resilient and independent. I don’t know the length of service each of you gave, but I know it involved many sacrifices from you and your loved ones. My father will always be my hero, Col. Neil Nolen of Alexander City, Alabama, just as you surely are to your family. Freedom is never free, and we thank each veteran here today for all you gave.”
Salute to Service Program
“This event was made possible through the efforts of so many,” Pappas said, noting the work of the board of directors, the museum docents and volunteers. Union State Bank sponsored the lunch. Pell City Flower and Gifts donated centerpieces for each table. Metro Bank, through a five-year financial commitment, is making special programs like this and traveling exhibits possible.
“Col. Robert L. Howard Veterans Home and Director Hiliary Hardwick were instrumental in the success of this event, loaning many of the artifacts, uniforms and photographs we have on display, greatly expanding the exhibit we were able to create. Jeremy Gossett, who designed the museum, created our new exhibit, which triples the size of the military portion of the museum’s “For Their Service” displays.
“Jeremy’s talent in bringing this together in such a special way shows the pride in which we all take in saluting our veterans and their sacrifice,” Pappas said.
Docent Annette Manning presents veteran Jay Jenkins with challenge coin
“We thank Dr. Marty Olliff, professor, author and historian for his presentation on Alabama’s role in World War I,” she added. “His talk reminds us of how our own story fits into the bigger picture of Alabama and U.S. history.”
The living history studio where oral histories are videoed was turned into a screening room for the event and throughout the rest of the year, where they are showing the museum produced-film, War and Remembrance. The video features local veterans and others from the state veterans home, who represent World War II, Korea and Vietnam, who share their own experiences of conflict.
“This is a powerfully moving video, helping us better understand the sacrifices of war,” Pappas said. The video is the first in a series of such videos made possible through grants from Alabama Humanities Alliance and the Greater Pell City Rotary Community Foundation.
She commended videographers Ed Tyler and David Smith, volunteers who filmed these interviews, and Larry Krantz, who put it all together as video editor. “They did a tremendous job in bringing the battlefield home to us so that we have an even deeper appreciation for our veterans.”
State Sen. Lance Bell presented a resolution proclaiming the month of November as Veterans Month at the Museum, underscoring that “Veterans have earned and deserve such recognition and deep gratitude for their service and sacrifice.”
The exhibit and film are featured through the end of the year. The museum is open Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. but will be closed for holidays Dec. 22 and 23.
Any veteran visiting will receive the special challenge coin and card as a special gift from the museum. Admission is always free.
