Just before Lee Greenwood took the stage at July JAMZ in Andalusia Thursday night, he met with a man who was instrumental in his appearance here.

John Vick is the founder of the Covington Veterans Foundation and the board chairman and CEO of Southern National Corp., parent company of CCB Community Bank.

Vick founded the Covington Veterans Foundation, which partnered with the City of Andalusia to bring the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall to Andalusia, and convinced CCB Community Bank to sponsor Greenwood’s appearance as part of that four-day event.

A Navy veteran, Vick always says that his interest in veterans has its genesis in his childhood, when he and his family lived in Red Level, just across the tracks from the railroad depot. He can remember seeing the coffins of World War II soldiers on the train.

Shortly after he began the veterans foundation, he commissioned local artist RogerPowell to paint that memory for him. The resulting painting hangs in Andalusia City Hall. Last week, he presented a framed print of that image to Greenwood.

Vick, who writes a weekly column about veterans for The Andalusia Star-News, wrote about that early memory, and had Circuit Judge Ben Bowden, who is president of the Covington Veterans Foundation, read “A Hero Comes Home.”

The text follows:

“After WW II, my family moved to Red Level, Alabama, in 1946. We lived in a large frame house on a service road, just across the tracks from the Louisville and Nashville [L & N] Railroad depot. I had not started school yet and enjoyed sitting on the front porch watching the trains go by. Sometimes, the passenger train would stop at the depot to load or unload passengers. Occasionally, the train carried an extra car that was marked “Railway Express” and it carried a special cargo. That railway car had its doors wide open on both sides, allowing you to see all the way through. In the middle of the open area rested a casket, draped with an American flag and guarded by a soldier in full dress uniform. 

“That image of that railroad car with its precious cargo has remained burned into my mind these many years later. My parents told me that beneath that flag, rested the body of an American soldier, killed overseas during the war which was being returned home for burial. The Louisville and Nashville railroad line ran through Andalusia, Opp, Geneva all the way to Graceville, in northwest Florida. They told me that somewhere along that line, the soldier would be returned to his family for burial. Each one of those soldiers had a family awaiting his return home.

“In 2019, I asked a friend, Roger Powell, who is a gifted watercolor artist, to paint that scene that I could still see in my mind’s eye. I searched the internet for photos of a similar scene but was unable to find any, so using my rough sketch, Roger was able to produce the wonderful picture that I titled, “A Hero Comes Home.” That same year, a group of friends joined with me to form the Covington Veterans Foundation, a non-profit, 501 [c] 3 foundation, whose purpose is to honor veterans from our area. “Roger Powell donated his beautiful work of art to our foundation and we paid for the rights to reproduce it.”

Powell also was on hand for the presentation. 

“Whenever I create a painting, usually one of an architectural subject, my thoughts are not only focused on the drawing and painting processes, but also on my connection to the subject,” he saidl “If it’s someone’s home, I am almost always thinking of my relationship to the family or the house, or imagining who might have lived there. And so it was when I painted ‘A Hero Comes Home’ for John Vick and the Covington Veterans Foundation; reconstructing a memory of loss and sacrifice and freedom all the while thinking on what that means to you and me, to stand on the shoulders of the fallen.

”It is such an honor to have the original hanging in the Andalusia City Hall, to have been included in the presentation of a print to Lee Greenwood, and to reflect this weekend on what freedom means for us all,” Powell said this week.  

Greenwood was most gracious in his acceptance of the framed print and said he would cherish it.

Also on hand were Mayor Earl Johnson and CCB Community Bank CEO Michael Andrews.

The inscription on the print reads: "Presented to a great American patriot, Lee Greenwood, on the occasion of his visit to Andalusia, Alabama, this 28th of July, 2022 by the Covington Veterans Foundation."

The City of Andalusia increased its net position for the seventh consecutive year, auditors told the Andalusia City Council on Tuesday. 

Missy Pierce, CPA, and Gail Hayes, CPA, from Rabren, Odom, Pierce and Hayes, P.C. presented a draft of the city’s audited financials for fiscal year 2021 Tuesday night. The auditors reported no findings.

Pierce said the City of Andalusia increased its net position by $4.3 million, as compared to FY 2020, partially because a strong economy produced a 7 percent increase in sales tax revenues.

“The city is in the strongest financial position it has ever been in,” Mayor Earl Johnson said. “This is over-the-top good news for the city, and it is because of the guidance of the council and the contributions of everyone who works for the city.”

Other highlights of the audit included:

• The City had a combined ending fund balance of $17.9 million, and increase of $3.2 million from the previous year.

• The City had a $3.2 million increase in the cash balance, more than half of which is unrestricted.

• The City financed $1.1 million in capital assets and construction, including an excavator, garbage truck, and work on the Covington Casket building in the industrial park. The company is purchasing the building from the city.

• The City made payments of just more than $2M on its long-term debt. 

• The City’s program expenses increased by 8.4 percent over the previous year, a number that was artificially inflated by pandemic furloughs during the 2020 fiscal year.

The City’s sales taxes have shown a 26 percent increase over the past five years. 

 “This is the first time I recall not a single finding of any kind on our audit,” the mayor said. “I think that’s worthwhile to talk about and to let people know.”

In recent years, the only finding has been relevant to a relatively new federal standard. The finding was addressed with additional training for employees in the city’s finance department. 

“The mayor, city administrator, and council have taken action to address that finding, which was the result of very recent federal guideline that had come down. We have addressed that, and no longer have that finding.”

“Our opinion is ‘Unmodified,’ which is the best we can give,” Hayes said. “The internal control report has no opinion and no deficiencies.”

John Thompson, city administrator, said the audit reflects a months-long process that began in January.

“They really dig into every aspect of the city’s finances,” he said. “If the council approves a development agreement, the auditors want to sit down and have us explain it. It’s significant that this audit was completed without a finding, a citation or anything irregular going on in this $20 million annual business.” 

The Council is expected to approve the financial statements at the July 19^th meeting. 

Officers in the Andalusia Police Department spent a long day Tuesday participating in ALERRT training at Andalusia High School.

ALERRT, or Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training, was developed by Texas State University in 2002 as a partnership between Texas State University, the San Marcos, Texas, Police Department and the Hays County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office to address the need for active shooter response training for first responders.  In 2013, the FBI named ALERRT at Texas State the national standard for active shooter response training. Utilizing the train-the-trainer model, the ALERRT curriculum has been adopted by numerous states and agencies as their standard active shooter training. 

Andalusia Police Chief Paul Hudson said two of his officers, Tyler Patterson and Al McGraw, participated in a week-long train-the-trainer workshop earlier this summer. Other APD officers, including Chief Hudson and Capt. Paul Dean, previously have completed the training. 

“With the situations we’ve seen of active shooters and mass shooters, we want to make sure we get our officers trained, “ Hudson said. “Everybody is trained in this when they go to the Police Academy. This serves as a refresher. We hope we never deal with this kind of situation, but we know that the more we practice, the better chance we have of handling a bad situation as efficiently as possible.”

Hudson explained that with ALERRT, officers train with simulated weapons that only shoot soap bullets.

“The (simulated weapons) feel like the weapons officers carry,” Hudson said. “The soap ammunition leaves a mark that washes out.”

Opp Police Chief Kevin Chance and Lt. Josh Hudson assisted with Tuesday’s training in Andalusia. Chief Paul Hudson said the APD has offered to work with the Opp Police Department and the Covington County Sherriff’s Office on the training, and also is available to work with other departments.  Chief Hudson expressed his appreciation to Chief Chance for allowing Lt. Hudson to assist with the training.

It’s important, he said, for all area departments to participate in the training so that in the event of a large emergency, all responding officers would be similarly trained. 

Earlier this summer, the APD’s two school resource officers, Jackie Woods and Tessa Crowell, along with several administrators in the Andalusia School System, participated in TAASRO active shooter training (The Alabama Association of School Resource Officers). 

Officers participating in Tuesday’s training included Lt. Roger Cender, Sgt. Don Jordan, Officer John Stoneback, School Resource Officer Jackie Woods, Sgt. Greg Wetzel, and Officer Ludger Boswell.

Col. Ben Bowden, who also is a circuit judge in Covington County, delivered remarks about Sgt. Rodney J. Evans Monday during a Memorial Day ceremony at the Covington Veterans Monument on the campus of the Andalusia City Hall. 

The text of his speech follows: 

"I am humbled to part of this program today to honor Sgt Evans as well as all of those who have died in the service of this great nation.  

"As most of you are aware, two highway signs were unveiled this morning designating Hwy 55 from Andalusia to Florala as the Sgt Rodney Evans Memorial Highway.  This was the culmination of an effort begun over two years ago by the City of Florala, the City of Andalusia, and the Covington Veterans Foundation.  We also want to thank Rep Mike Jones and Chairman Greg White of the Covington County Commission for their assistance in accomplishing the mission.  The Covington Veterans Foundation has a motto that drives most of what we do.  That is, “a soldier never dies unless he is forgotten.”  Memorializing Hwy 55 in Sgt Evans name is a lasting tribute to one of our own—may we never forget his love of his fellow man and country.    

"I also would like to recognize Pam Stewart, Sgt Evans’ niece, who is with us today.  She is the daughter of Sgt Evans’ twin brother.  Please help me recognize Ms. Stewart with a warm round of applause.  [Brought the Medal of Honor with her today].

"Sergeant Rodney John Evans was a soldier in the U.S. Army's 1st Battalion of the 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. Evans was killed in action in Tay Ninh Province during the Vietnam War. He died protecting other members of his unit from a concealed land mine using his body as a shield. For his heroic action he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

"Rodney John Evans was born on 17 July 1948, in Chelsea, MA. He was the adopted son of the Evans family of Florala, AL. His parents owned a dry cleaning business. After joining the U.S. Army, Rodney Evans married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Geohagan. Rodney was then sent to Vietnam and successfully completed a full tour of duty.

"Upon his return to the U.S. he was stationed at Fort Rucker, AL, not far from where he grew up. Due to financial constraints his wife lived with her parents and would drive up to Fort Rucker on weekends to pick him up and take him home.

"On Thursday, 5 September 1968, Barbara Evans was killed in a car accident after the accelerator on her car became stuck while traveling to Fort Rucker. Her death was devastating to Sgt Evans.  He re-enlisted, and volunteered for another tour in Vietnam.

"Once back in Vietnam, Evans gained a reputation for taking great risks in order to protect the men under his command.

"On July 18, 1969, one day after his 21^st birthday, Sgt Evans and his unit were on patrol in Tay Ninh Province, South Vietnam. Sgt Evans was serving as a squad leader in a reconnaissance sweep through heavy vegetation to reconnoiter a strong enemy position. As the force approached a well-defined trail, the platoon scout warned that the trail was booby-trapped. 

Sgt. Evans led his squad on a route parallel to the trail. The force had started to move forward when a nearby squad was hit by the blast of a concealed mine. Looking to his right, Sgt. Evans saw a second enemy device. With complete disregard for his safety, he shouted a warning to his men, dived to the ground and crawled toward the mine. Just as he reached it, an enemy soldier detonated the explosive and Sgt. Evans absorbed the full impact with his body. His selfless action saved his comrades from probable death or injury and served as an inspiration to his entire unit. 

"War and its tragic consequences have a way of touching us all.  My brother-in-law, Mike Welch, grew up in Florala a block over from the Evans family.  He told me how he was riding his bike by the Evans house one day and saw a sedan pull up to the Evans house and two men in formal military uniforms approach the house.  Even at age 11, he knew what had happened.  That day, as it is for many, is etched in Mike’s consciousness.  

"In 2019, a ceremony was held in Florala to commemorate the 50^th Anniversary of Sgt Evans’ death. We were so fortunate that day to have two members of his patrol that were with Sgt Evans the day he died and who credit his sacrifice with saving their lives.  We had so hoped to have them with us today, but neither are able to travel at this time.  We did secure their thoughts about today’s ceremony.   I am a poor substitute for these men, but I would like for you listen closely to the their words about Sgt Evans.   

RODNEY J. EVANS by Basil Clark

"As long as we live in someone’s memories we are still alive.

"This honor being bestowed upon Rodney today is keeping him alive, and hopefully some travelers of this stretch of road will look up RODNEY J. EVANS and discover who he was and why he is held in such high respect and realize that Rodney is a hero who gave the ultimate sacrifice, in the immortal words of President Abraham Lincoln, “that last full measure of devotion.”

"Rodney purposely threw himself on an enemy mine to save the lives of other brothers in arms. A provocative thought: Under the given circumstances of July 18th, 1969, had Rodney NOT jumped on the mine, most likely he would have died anyway, but so ALSO would have Gary DeRigne and some others. It was Rodney’s heroic actions that blessed our Brother Gary with another fifty three years of life.

"Did Rodney have a Premonition? While fixing what turned out to be the last C-Ration he ate, Pork Slices, which he liked, Rodney said, “A man should enjoy his last meal”.

"Rodney’s favorite song due to the loss of his wife Barbara in a car accident early in their marriage was HONEY by Bobby Goldsboro. I think of the song frequently, and I think of Rodney every time I see a helicopter fly overhead, and I miss you Rodney and you truly live on in our hearts and minds. May this stretch of road be a constant reminder of the ultimate price many have paid in service to our country.

"Thank you, and may God bless America, and all those who serve her in a wide variety of ways.

"The following thoughts are those of Army Staff Sergeant Gary DeRigne, who was with Sgt Evans when he was killed.  

“I deeply regret that I’m unable to be here today in person, but at seventy-five, and having been wounded in Vietnam and suffering several other war-related maladies, I’m encountering mobility issues that are keeping me home.  My sincere apologies.

"I knew Rod Evans very well, and our friendship had the closeness that I believe can only be developed in combat.  We shared many life stories from before the war, and I know that Rod was very proud of his home town, Florala, Alabama.

"Rod died on the morning of July 18, 1969, the day after his 21^st birthday, when he willingly sacrificed his life to save mine, and those of other soldiers in our infantry squad. Rod was the Squad Leader of the First Squad, Third Platoon, Delta Company, 1^st Battalion, 12^thCavalry Regiment, 1^st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), and was serving his second deployment to Vietnam, for which he had volunteered.

"We had been in a firefight with elements of the North Vietnamese Army the afternoon before, suffering several wounded ourselves, and killing and wounding an unknown number of North Vietnamese soldiers.  We had remained at the site of the firefight through the night, placing listening posts between our company perimeter and the North Vietnamese.   These listening posts clearly heard enemy activity during the night, and we engaged them many times overnight with hand grenades and Claymore anti-personnel mines.

"Despite a shortage of ammunition, food, and water, and knowing full well that there were many North Vietnamese defending the bunkers, our company was nevertheless ordered to further reconnoiter the complex the next morning.   There was no “prepping” of the enemy position by artillery fire before we moved into the bunkers, as everyone in our squad believed there should have been.  

"It was our squad’s turn to walk point, to be one of two lead elements for the company as we moved toward the enemy.  Normally when our squad was walking company point, my buddy Mitchell Hamabata and I were the point element, with one of us walking in the lead, and the other backing him up from close behind.  That morning, knowing full well that we were very likely walking into an ambush, Rod took the point himself, ordering Mitchell and me to fall back and walk behind him. He did that, I believe, because he was an excellent leader, and because he had over eighteen months of combat experience, while Mitchell and I had only been in Vietnam for a short time. 

"We had only moved a few yards when the North Vietnamese began to fire command-detonated anti-personnel mines at our lead elements.  After the first barrage Rod saw an undetonated mine directly to his front, and threw himself onto it.  The enemy blew the mine just as Rod fell on it, and he took the full blast in his face, neck, and upper chest.  He died there on the jungle floor, painfully struggling through his last desperate breath.  Neither Mitchell, nor I, nor anyone else in our squad was hit, because Rod had absorbed the full blast with his body.

"Rod was a fine young man who had already suffered great sadness in his life from the death of his wife in a car accident only months before he died. 

"I clearly owe the last fifty-three years of my life to Rod’s heroic sacrifice in 1969, and even now, not a day goes by that I don’t think about him, and give thanks for what he did.  I am very grateful that Rod is being honored here today with the dedication of this section of highway, so close to his beloved home town of Florala, Alabama.”

"We certainly want to thank Basil Clark and Gary DeRigne for sharing their thoughts about SSgt Evans.  We also thank them for their service and dedication to our Nation.  

"Gen Douglas MacArthur is one of America’s greatest war-time generals.  He is most famous for successfully waging War against the Japanese in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, ultimately bringing that conflict to the doorstep of the Japanese homeland.  You may not know that that as a younger officer in WW I he was the Chief of Staff for the Commander of the 42^nd Division, which was nicknamed the “Rainbow Division” because it was made up a cross-section of men from across the nation, include the 167^th Regiment from Alabama.  Then Lt Col MacArthur is reported to have said this about the boys from Alabama: “The 167^th Alabama assisted by the left flank of the 168^th Iowa had stormed and captured the Croix Rouge Farm in a manner which for its gallantry I do not believe has been surpassed in military history.” Gen MacArthur also said this:  “No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.”  Let us leave this place today, resolving once again to be vigilant in the preservation of freedom for the future generations of America.  

"I would like to close by reading the official citation that accompanies Sgt Evans’ Medal of Honor.  It is a custom in the military to stand when a citation to accompany a medal is read, so at this time, I would ask that those who are able to please stand:

Attention to Orders:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Evans distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism while serving as a squad leader in a reconnaissance sweep through heavy vegetation to reconnoiter a strong enemy position. As the force approached a well-defined trail, the platoon scout warned that the trail was booby-trapped. Sgt. Evans led his squad on a route parallel to the trail. The force had started to move forward when a nearby squad was hit by the blast of a concealed mine. Looking to his right Sgt. Evans saw a second enemy device. With complete disregard for his safety he shouted a warning to his men, dived to the ground, and crawled toward the mine. Just as he reached it an enemy soldier detonated the explosive and Sgt. Evans absorbed the full impact with his body. His gallant and selfless action saved his comrades from probable death or injury and served as an inspiration to his entire unit. Sgt. Evans' gallantry in action at the cost of his life was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army."

[Gen Douglas MacArthur is one of America’s greatest war-time generals.  He is most famous for successfully waging War against the Japanese in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, ultimately bringing that conflict to the doorstep of the Japanese homeland.  You may not know that that as a younger officer in WW I he was the Chief of Staff for the Commander of the 42^nd Division, which was nicknamed the “Rainbow Division” because it was made up a cross-section of men from across the nation, include the 167^th Regiment from Alabama.  Then Lt Col MacArthur is reported to have said this about the boys from Alabama: “The 167^th Alabama assisted by the left flank of the 168^th Iowa had stormed and captured the Croix Rouge Farm in a manner which for its gallantry I do not believe has been surpassed in military history.” Gen MacArthur also said this:  “No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.”  Let us leave this place today, resolving once again to be vigilant in the preservation of freedom for the future generations of America. 

"May God Bless each of you and may God Bless the United States of America."

Veterans Service Officer Brian Fosheee served as master of ceremonies. Hannah Cross sang the national anthem; Mayor Earl Johnson introduced Col. Bowden; AHS student Carter Sasser played "Taps;" and Sammy Glover closed the service with a prayer.