DOTHAN, Ala. – A daylong celebration in honor of the men and women of all branches of the military kicked off at 8 a.m. on the campus of Troy University in Dothan Saturday, May 15.
The Friends of Army Aviation and TU cohosted the inaugural Armed Forces Day event that drew hundreds to the university campus for activities that included recognition of all branches of the military, military displays, the Friends of Army Aviation’s Traveling Aviation Museum, Vietnam Era re-enactors, the Southeast Alabama Community Band, rides on a UH-1H Huey helicopter, a Round Canopy Parachute Team jump and food vendors.
“The preservation of this delicate thing called democracy will require leaders with integrity, ability and vision and warriors that are willing to go into harm’s way to insure that freedom is preserved,” said TUD Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins, quoting the third President of the United States Thomas Jefferson as he welcomed those attending the event to the campus. “The essence of today’s event—and if I say nothing else—is that freedom is not free.
“The most underutilized words in the English language are ‘thank you’ and I would not let today go by without thanking you for the sacrifices that have been made by the men and women of all branches of the military,” said Hawkins, himself a Marine Corps combat veteran.
“Truly a man of all seasons,” is how FOAA Board President retired Maj. Gen. Lou Hennies described Hawkins who has been TU chancellor since 1989.
“To all you combat veterans out there, he’s one of us,” Hennies said about the TSU chancellor who served as an infantry infantry platoon leader during the Vietnam War and is recipient of the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
“History has taught us that a strong well funded, well led, well equipped and well trained standing military is a national imperative to protect our citizens,” Hennies told those attending the opening ceremonies at the inaugural event. “So today we honor these service members of the military branches all over the world, including our National Guard and Reserve, all of whom have stepped forward to take a solemn oath to support the constitution of the United States against all enemies both foreign and domestic and for that we should be eternally grateful.
“Over the past 71 years, our military— as a conscripted and volunteer force— has fought in hot wars against communism throughout the world all the while deterring Soviet and Warsaw Pact aggression in Western Europe during an era called the Cold War,” Hennies said. “After the Vietnam War, a large number of national debates took place regarding our military forces and their use and eventually evolved into the creation of an all-volunteer force.
“An all volunteer force was needed because I can tell you personally, in 1974, the wheels were coming off the United States Army and it was not a good sight to see,” Hennies recalled. “Since 9-11 today’s all volunteer military has been at war longer than any period in our history in hundreds of locations around the world and the world is more dangerous than ever.”
Based in Ozark, the Friends of Army Aviation is a non-profit public education organization dedicated to presenting the Army Aviation story through static displays of legacy Army aircraft and an associated ride program. Plans are for the FOAA to continue to cosponsor the Armed Forces Day Celebration with Troy University Dothan, Hennies said.
The ceremony kicked off with the trooping of the colors by the Daleville High School JROTC, under the direction of retired Col. Teresa Townsend, and the National Anthem by the Southeast Alabama Community Band, under the direction of Ray Smith.
Among the military displays was that of a living history group from Florida. Their purpose is to portray and educate the public about their unit in the Vietnam War, A Troop,1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division.
Retired Lt. Col. Retired Bill Markham, president of the Round Canvas Parachute Team, jumped 5,000 feet from an aircraft circling the opening ceremony carrying the United States flag. “As Bill likes to say, ‘It’s more than just a jump,” said the master of ceremonies as Markham descended from the cloudless sky. “It’s about healing and it’s about respecting our service members.”
