GALLERY — A Night of Remembrance: Andalusia celebrates arrival of Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall, Lee Greenwood
Published 1:30 pm Friday, July 29, 2022
LEFT: Lee Greenwood performed his plethora of his hits, including “God Bless the U.S.A.,” for a huge crowd on the lawn of Springdale Estate Thursday night. RIGHT: Citizens view the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Hall display at the Covington Veterans Memorial behind Andalusia City Hall. (PHOTOS BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
Members of the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall, along with City of Andalusia employees and community volunteers, began working on erecting the replica of the Washington D.C. Vietnam Memorial Wall at the Covington Veterans Memorial behind City Hall Wednesday. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
A few of the Patriot Guard Riders who participated in Wednesday’s escort. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
The City of Andalusia's Bryan Barnes places the foundation for the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall to be erected Wednesday afternoon. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
Robert Evers of the Covington Veterans Foundation designed these two displays at the entrance of the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
Covington County's fallen Vietnam War veterans are displayed at the entrance of the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall. (PHOTO BY MICHELE GERLACH)
City of Andalusia Mayor Earl Johnson makes remarks at the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall Opening Ceremonies alongside AMVETS Post 23 who began the ceremony with the Presentation of Colors. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)
Vietnam War veterans and their Gold Star families were recognized at the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall Opening Ceremony on Thursday. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
“Taps” is performed by Johnny Brewer behind the Memorial Wall to conclude the opening ceremony held Thursday. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
A three-gun salute was conducted by the Vietnam Veterans of America Post 607. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
Tim Worley, a CVF volunteer, assists Myrinez Sasser, a native of Opp who now lives in Crenshaw County, copy from the Memorial Wall the name of her brother-in-law, McKenley Matlock of Barbourville, Kentucky. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
Phillip McClung and his band Three Notch Ramblers were the opening act at July Jamz at Springdale Thursday night. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
Three Notch Ramblers band members perform a song at July Jamz Thursday night. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
Phillip McClung, right, and the Three Notch Ramblers delight the July Jamz crowd Thursday night. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
Children received candy from July Jamz title sponsor CCB Community Bank on Thursday, July 28. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
Two girls play with sidewalk chalk at July Jamz on Thursday. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce board members volunteered at the final July Jamz event of the summer and sold memorabila. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
AACC Director of Membership Services Maggie Holmes, left, and AACC Executive Director Laura Wells address the crowd Thursday night at July Jamz. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
A record crowd was in attendance for the July Jamz event on Thursday, July 28 with the Three Notch Ramblers serving as the opening act and country music sensation Lee Greenwood headlining the event. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
McDonald's sponsored a Hula-hoop contest for children at the intermission. The champion takes her picture with the Hamburglar and Grimace. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
Participants from the Hula-hoop contest enjoyed showing their skills to the crowd. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
Country music sensation Lee Greenwood speaks to the crowd at Thursday's July Jamz event. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
Lee Greenwood performs one of his songs Thursday night. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
Lee Greenwood was a big hit with the crowd for Thursday night's July Jamz event. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
Lee Greenwood shares a story with the record crowd Thursday night. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
Lee Greenwood closed the evening with his iconic hit "God Bless the USA." (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
Lee Greenwood performs one of his songs and plays the saxophone. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)
The crowd waves their cell phone flashlights at the request of Lee Greenwood during one of his songs. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
The crowd watches the firework display following the conclusion of Thursday night's July Jamz events. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
Fans take a selfie with Lee Greenwood following the conclusion of Thursday's concert. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
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The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall arrived in Andalusia Wednesday, leading into a week of remembrance, highlighted by an opening ceremony and Lee Greenwood concert Thursday night.
The traveling wall initially arrived at the Covington County Track Facility where it met with the Andalusia Police Department, the Wiregrass Patriot Guard Riders, and a helicopter provided by the Friends of Army Aviation in Ozark to be escorted to its final destination at the Covington Veterans Memorial behind Andalusia City Hall.
Once on the grounds, those involved with the wall received help from employees with the City of Andalusia and other community volunteers to begin erecting the structure, which was completed Wednesday afternoon.
John “Top” Kammerer, a Desert Storm veteran and Wiregrass Patriot Guard Riders Captain, said it was an honor to provide the escort for the memorial, which included at least 50 bikes.
“A mission request came in to us last week, asking if we would provide a motorcycle escort. We have riders from across the state and northwest Florida here. Today’s is what we call a ‘HOTH’ mission — Help on the Homefront,” Kammerer said.
The Riders are primarily focused on escorts for funerals for fallen warriors and first responders. “This is different from many of our missions because it is a happy time. So many other times it is more of a solemn experience.”
Kammerer said helping escort the wall into Andalusia has a special meaning for many in the group, who themselves are Vietnam veterans.
“It is a step in healing for so many of them. Every day, 22 of our brothers and sisters are killing themselves in this country because they can’t get the help they need,” he said.
The Patriot Guard Riders are based out of Enterprise.
Also participating in the escort was a helicopter escort provided by the Friends of Army Aviation. On Saturday, the group will offer 8-10 minute rides in a Vietnam-era UH-1H “Huey” helicopter. There is a cost of $70 per rider and will be located at Cooper Park’s Packer Field at 404 Snowden Drive.
On Thursday, the wall was officially opened with a ceremony on the grounds of the Covington Veterans Park. Master of Ceremony was USMC Master Gunnery Sgt. Brian Foshee (ret.). Prayer was provided by CVF Chaplain Terry Powell with remarks by Andalusia Mayor Earl Johnson.
Foshee read the names of Covington County’s fallen Vietnam veterans, allowing their Gold Star families to stand and be recognized.
The colors were presented by AMVETS Post 23.
The ceremony concluded with a three-gun salute provided by the Vietnam Veterans of America Post 607 and the playing of “Taps” by Johnny Brewer.
The action then moved to the lawn of Springdale Estate for the final night of July Jamz. The Three Notch Ramblers performed as the opening act before Lee Greenwood took the stage to perform his many hits, including “God Bless the U.S.A.”
Greenwood’s performance was free to the public and was sponsored by CCB Bank.
The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall is sponsored by the Covington Veterans Foundation and the City of Andalusia.
The Memorial Wall will be open 24 hours a day through Sunday at 5 p.m.
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