Speech mirrors thoughts of soldier’s father

By Staff
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
A Hartselle father’s response to the likelihood that his son will ultimately be called on to serve in Iraq or Afghanistan was mirrored in a speech given by Senator Jeff Sessions, R-Alabama, on the floor of the Senate last week.
The father is Ferrell Vest, a retired Army colonel who is now serving as general manager of Hartselle Utilities. His son is 2nd Lt. Tyler Vest, a 2006 graduate of the University of Alabama who is now undergoing officer leadership training at Fort Benning, Ga.
Session’s was voicing his support of President Bush’s policy in Iraq when he made
reference to a conversation he and Vest had outside the Senate chamber the same day.
He said he was thanked for opposing the “negative” resolution by an Alabama man whose son is a second lieutenant in the Army at Fort Benning.
Vest was in Washington as a member of a Hartselle delegation lobbying representatives and senators for federal funding assistance on needed local capital improvement projects.
Lieutenant Vest is a 2002 graduate of Hartselle High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a lieutenant’s commission at the University of Alabama. He is attached to the 25th Infantry Division, 2nd Brigade, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. After completing basic officers training, he will undergo airborne and ranger training.