City to host Memorial Day service

By John Underwood / john@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 5/24/17

ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — The City of Robertsdale will host its annual Memorial Day program beginning at 9 a.m. Monday, May 29 at Gordon Coley Park on Alabama 59, Mayor Charles Murphy announced during …

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City to host Memorial Day service

Posted

ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — The City of Robertsdale will host its annual Memorial Day program beginning at 9 a.m. Monday, May 29 at Gordon Coley Park on Alabama 59, Mayor Charles Murphy announced during the council’s regular meeting on Monday, May 15.

The program will begin with the raising of the flag and taps played by Robertsdale Elementary School music director Suzie Vivar, with the Presentation of Colors by the Robertsdale High School Naval JROTC color guard.

Bibles will be presented to 14 veterans, along with the guest speaker, Collins Wynn, retired lieutenant colonel, who served in the U.S. Army.

Also receiving Bibles will be veterans Jim Duff, Wayne Gwaltney, Todd Cason, Cody Robertson, Austin Matthew Schulze, John Matthew Loeffler, Jerry W. Stivener, John Burgess, Timothy E. Brown, Jonathan N. Brown, Terry L. Waters, Blake Harrison, Eric D. Raven and John Ralph Norgard.

The program will conclude with a closing prayer by the Rev. Sean Peters of Robertsdale United Methodist Church.

Begun in 1993, the program’s first honoree was Mable Frey, auxiliary president for the local VFW and a veteran of World War II, the program was expanded to include several veterans about 15 years ago as a way to honor local veterans, said Mayor Charles Murphy.

“This is something we wanted to do, not only to honor those who have died in military service, but to show our appreciation to all of our veterans,” Murphy said.

Originated as Decoration Day after the Civil War in 1868, the term Memorial Day was first used in 1882. In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation naming Waterloo, New York, as the birthplace of Memorial Day and was declared the official name by Federal law in 1967.

In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which moved four holidays, including Memorial Day, from their traditional dates to a specified Monday, moving Memorial day from its traditional May 30 date to the last Monday in May. The law took effect at the federal level in 1971.

A Memorial Day program will also be held Monday at the William F. Green Veterans Home in Bay Minette, followed by a cookout hosted by the Boyington family.

In other business May 15 the council:

Donated $500 to the Robertsdale High School dance team.

Approved the city’s insurance renewal with Alabama Municipal Insurance Corp. and Blackmon Insurance, a three-year premium at a cost of $131,440 per year.

Purchased advertising in Gulf Coast Media’s annual Big Beautiful Baldwin section at a cost of $475.

Awarded a bid for a diesel powered sewer pump at a cost of $85,500.

Heard an update on the sidewalk project on College Avenue and Fairground Road.

Heard a presentation from Robertsdale city employee Steve Williams asking for retirees to be including on the city’s health insurance plan.