Demopolis honors veterans

Before a small crowd of family, community leaders and hospital employees, some two dozen local veterans received the city’s thanks at a Veterans’ Day ceremony Monday in front of Whitfield Regional Hospital.

All five of the U.S. Armed Services were represented as the men and women stood when the loudspeaker played the hymn representing their branch.

The service opened with the presentation of the flag by the Demopolis High School JROTC. Billy Drake, commander of VFW Post 5377, served as master of ceremonies, and Tori Horne sang The National Anthem.

Three members of the crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Wedge lowered the flag from the pole in front of the hospital. After exchanging the old flag for a new one with Boy Scout Troop 41, the Coast Guardsmen raised it along with a black and white banner calling attention to MIA and POW servicemen.

“I cannot say how humbled I am to put on this uniform every day,” said Senior Chief Kyle Norman, commander of the Wedge, who was the featured speaker.

Norman gave a brief history of Veterans Day. He said there are 22.2 million living veterans and “countless others who have crossed the bar.”