Florence, Alabama – The University of North Alabama (UNA) held their Veterans Day celebration on Monday, November 12, 2012 to honor all past and present servicemen and women. Originally scheduled to be held at the UNA Amphitheater, the event had to be moved indoors to the GUC Performance Center because of inclement weather.
The Veterans Day event is co-sponsored each year by the UNA Student Government Association and the UNA Military and Veterans Alliance to honor student, alumni, faculty, staff and community veterans from all branches of the military and uniformed services.
LTC(Ret.) Wayne P. Bergeron opened the ceremony and introduced SGA President William F. Riley, UNA President Dr. William G. Cale, Jr., and then the guest speaker newly elected Florence Mayor Mickey Haddock.
Mayor Haddock, who is retired from the Alabama National Guard with 34 years of service, spoke with great passion about the sacrifices the many veterans of Northwest Alabama have made. He spoke in detail about the heroism of the Medal of Honor winners from Lauderdale County and how the ultimate price paid by these true heroes help keep our country free and strong.
Mayor Haddock concluded his message by saying that it was his desire to see all of the citizens of the Shoals area and the United States in general, to come together to work toward a better tomorrow.
The ceremony included recognizing the veterans present from each branch of the armed services as the UNA Pride of Dixie Band played each branch’s anthem. The ceremony then concluded with a moment of silence and the playing of Taps to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and those that still stand in harm’s way defending and protecting the United States of America.
All photos by Dave Reasons, Sr.
