The City of Andalusia and the Covington Veterans Foundation are partnering to host the Global War on Terror Wall of Remembrance during Veterans Day week, and have several special events planned.
The Wall of Remembrance strives to honor and remember the sacrifices made by military personnel and civilians during the Global War on Terror, from 1983 to the present day. The memorial’s mission is to ensure that their stories are remembered, and their memories, especially those linked to September 11, 2001, live on forever.
The memorial, which is 120-feet long and 7 feet high, features a timeline of all major events in the Global War on Terrorism dated from the 1983 bombings in Beirut to the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2022. On the opposite side, it lists the names of military personnel and civilians who died during the events of that 39-year time period.
The wall will be escorted into Andalusia at 10 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 10. The escort will be staged from the property near the animal shelter on Devereaux Hill.
It will be erected near the Covington Veterans Memorial behind Andalusia City Hall, and will remain open until Friday afternoon, Nov. 15.
The current traveling memorial was established in May of 2016. It is based in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and is escorted by U.S. Marine Brian Romans and the Romans Warrior Foundation. The Foundation assists veterans, Gold and Blue Star families, first responders and their families.
During this time, the Covington Veterans Foundation also will have a museum-quality exhibit related to the Global War on Terror inside Andalusia City Hall Auditorium. The exhibit will be open during business hours Monday through Friday, November 10- 15, and immediately following the veterans day parade and program.
The exhibit includes stories of local veterans who served during this period.
Other planned activities include:
• Celebration of Heroes – CVF will present this patriotic tribute to veterans at 2 p.m. on Sunday., Nov. 9, in the Andalusia High School auditorium. The focus will be on veterans of the Global War on Terror, with Mike Edwards, a distinguished military veteran and security expert with a career spanning elite U.S. Army units, including the 75th Ranger Regiment and the Regimental Reconnaissance Company. He earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart, and is the founder of Project Exodus Relief.
The Lower Alabama Community Chorus, Andalusia Elementary School Show Choir, Andalusia Ballet, and Scott Rogers and Phillip McClung also will perform. Admission is free.
• Veterans Day Parade – The Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Veterans Day Parade at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11. The parade rolls from First Baptist Church.
• Veterans Day program – The City of Andalusia will host its annual Veterans Day program following the parade. Lt. Col. Rip Coleman (Ret.) will be the guest speaker. Coleman served in a variety of units around the world during his military career, and he was directly involved during combat operations in Iraq and Somalia. All are invited to a reception inside City Hall after the program.