Today, November 11, is Veterans Day. It is a day set aside to honor of those who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States of America. The day was originally known as Armistice Day and proclaimed by President Woodrow Wilson to celebrate the end of World War I. The name of this special day was officially changed to Veterans Day in 1954 at the request of President Dwight D. Eisenhower who had led American forces to victory on D-Day a decade earlier. This column has the space to recognize only a few of the men and women who have honorably worn the uniform of their country in peace or war.

Feb. 25, 1943—Fred Summerford of the Round Top community is now stationed at Anniston’s Fort McClellan.

Jan. 5, 1944–R. Q. Rollins graduated from the U.S. Army Air Corps Advanced Training Field at Randolph Field, Texas, today and was simultaneously commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He formerly was a teacher and coach at Morgan County High School.

Jan. 6, 1944 –Reported as missing in the fall of Java two years ago, Capt. Ike Parker, former star quarterback and alternate football captain at Auburn, has only last week been heard from. He is in a Japanese internment camp at Moulmein No. 5, Burma. Capt. Parker is a former high school football coach at Morgan County High School for the year 1937-38.

Jan. 10, 1944–John Henry Bodley left today for Ft. McClellan for his final physical examination preparatory to entering military service.

Jan. 14, 1944–Maj. J. E. Freeman has returned to Miami, Fla., after spending his furlough here with Mrs. Freeman and sons and his mother, Mrs. J. E. Freeman.

Jan. 20, 1944–Pfc. Fatty Young of the U.S. Army has returned to Orlando, Fla., where he is stationed after spending his furlough here with his mother, Mrs. Annie Young.

Jan 25, 1945—Tech. Sgt. Fred Sherrill is back home after a tour of wartime duty in the Atlantic.

Jan. 11, 1946–First Sgt. Charles C. Oden has arrived back at home after being honorably discharged from the U.S. Army Engineers following two years of active service in the Pacific theatre of war.

Jan. 24, 1946–Jimmie Stewart Bennett, seaman first class, is returning to San Diego, Calif., aboard the minesweeper U.S.S. Shelter, after helping sweep 2,100 mines in one month from the Korean Straits.

Feb. 7, 1946–Grady J. Long, who has been in service for the past five years, has just reopened his law office. He is now located over Kuhn’s store.

Jan. 30, 1953–Lt. Hugh Pattillo has been awarded the silver star for bravery in action in Korea.

Jan. 14, 1954–It’s off again into the wild blue yonder for Hartselle’s popular young city councilman, Buddy Rodgers, who has been called back into active service with the Army Air Force.

Jan 28, 1954–J. P. Cain, recently discharged from the Army, has taken a job with the new Worthington Manufacturing Company in Decatur.

Jan. 28, 1954–Lt. and Mrs. Harold McClanahan, who have been stationed in San Antonio, Tex., for some time, were transferred yesterday to Denver, Colo., where they will spend the next eight months.

Jan. 12, 1958–Frank Stewart has left for Ft. Knox, Ky., where he will spend the next six months on a tour of Army duty.

March 22, 1984—Col. Dee Proctor is planning to retire soon from the National Guard after many years of distinguished service.