Bay Minette hosts Veterans Day events

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BAY MINETTE — The annual Veterans Day parade rolled through the downtown streets of Bay Minette on Thursday, Nov. 11 and even rain could not dampen the spirit of the event.

Following the rainy parade, the skies cleared up in time for a special ceremony at the Eternal Flame on Courthouse Square. Sgt. Rob Kranz served as the Grand Mashal of the parade and spoke at the ceremony, which included a performance of taps played by a member of the Baldwin County High School JROTC.

This was followed by a ceremony at the Korean War Memorial on the front lawn of the Bay Minette Public Library. Members of the B Battery of the 711th AAA Gun Battalion conducted the ceremony which honored the lives of the 138 Battalion members who served during the Korean War. Today, nine are still living and five of those men participated in the Veterans Day activities.

The BCHS JROTC also participating in the lowering and raising of an American Flag at the monument.

A roll call of troops was conducted, and a bell was rung for each deceased member of the battalion. Flags were also presented to the families of battalion members who had died within the past year. A laying of wreath was performed at the monument and the serviced closed out with a performance of taps.

Earlier in the morning, a Veterans Day breakfast was held to honor all the men and women who have served our country. The breakfast was sponsored by the Baldwin County High School National Honor Society. The speaker was retired U.S. Army Maj. Stephen Sexton.