Ahead of Memorial Day weekend, City of Daphne honored veterans advocate Dr. Barry Booth during its city council meeting on Monday, May 18, presenting him with a proclamation and a key to the city.

Booth, 85, was a longtime dentist in Spanish Fort but is widely known for his dedication to veterans advocacy and philanthropy, having helped develop the Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spanish Fort by donating the land to make it possible. On Saturday, flags will be distributed among the graves at the Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery ahead of Memorial Day services on Monday.

Daphne Mayor Robin LeJeune described Booth as “one of the greatest men of this area and in this country.”

“There’s so many great things we can say about Dr. Booth,” LeJeune said. “His touch on our city, his touch on this area, his touch on this country, for our veterans, is unmatched.”

In return, Booth presented Daphne with an original letter written by Gen. Carl E. Mundy Jr., dated 1993. At the time, Mundy Jr. was the commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps and was in Daphne to dedicate the Daphne Veterans Memorial, a 21-foot bronze statue depicting a hand grasping an American flag. The memorial currently stands along U.S. 98 and is one of several art pieces commissioned by Booth during his lifetime. Mayor LeJeune said the letter will be added to the city’s archives.

During the ceremony, Booth was joined by several of his Honor Flight South Alabama team that helped in coordinating and operating nine missions from Mobile to Washington, D.C., between 2008 and 2013, carrying more than 950 World War II veterans to the war memorials located at the nation’s capital.

Although Booth believes these World War II veterans who accompanied him on those flights are all gone now, he reflected by saying “Oh, what a joy they brought to us.”

Booth also recognized those who accompanied him during those flights, including another veterans advocate, Margaret Coley, Navy veteran Pete Riehm, retired Army Col. Pat Downing, and Aaron Daniels.

“Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for coming out tonight and remembering the veterans,” Booth said. Daphne is the second city along the Eastern Shore to recognize and honor Booth.

On Nov. 3, 2025, Booth was awarded the inaugural “Spirit of Spanish Fort” award by Spanish Fort under newly elected Mayor Brad Bass, who also proclaimed that day as Barry Booth Day.