RED BAY – For the past three years, Cypress Cove Farm has looked like a military camp during late October and early November complete with tents, Jeeps , Army trucks and a Humvee.
The encampment is not for typical military training purposes. Instead, it’s for helping area students learn some of the sacrifices veterans have made to preserve the freedoms enjoyed by Americans.
“The freedom that we enjoy is not free, “Dexter Bostick, a U.S. Army and Alabama National Guard veteran from Red Bay, said to group of students from Colbert County. “Freedom costs. Our freedom cost the lives of many men and women…”
Bostick was one of several veterans from American Legion Post 120 in Red Bay and Post 31 in Tuscumbia participating in this year’s Freedom is Not Free Project at the farm owned by State Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow.
Numerous veterans talk to the students from Colbert and Franklin counties about the different branches of the military and teach them skills such as marching and flag etiquette. The students ride in the military vehicles. At the end of the event, the students thanked each of the veterans for their service.
Frankie Smith, Commander of American Legion Post 120, said the intent of the program is to help students develop a greater appreciation for America’s veterans.
“We have a Veterans Day event at Red Bay High School where they introduce us to the students. Before we started this program, the students only knew the veterans as some guys who stand under the basketball goal during the assembly,” Smith said. “Now when we are introduced, they know what veterans have done for our country.”
Noah Sanderson, a 5th grader at New Bethel Elementary School, enjoyed hearing the veterans share their military experiences. “I think it’s really nice to hear all the different stories.”
His mother, Jessica Sanderson, said the program provides an excellent learning experience for the students. “It’s so important for the children to learn about history and to get to know our veterans.”
Gage Nearn, a 5th grader at Cherokee Elementary School, said he enjoyed meeting the veterans and hearing their stories at the Freedom is Not Free program . “It was awesome and epic.”
Mattie Johnson, a 6th grader at Colbert Heights Elementary School, said the program gave her a better understanding of the hardships veterans have endured while protecting freedom.
Morrow would like to see programs throughout the state to help students develop a greater appreciation of veterans. “This can happen in anywhere in Alabama. All you need is people willing to spend time with the children and talk to them about freedom. I am challenging every American Legion Post in Alabama to do what Post 31 and Post 120 have done.”
