Hundreds attend Tuscaloosa Veterans Day program, mayor recalls National Guard response after 2011 tornado

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WBRC) - Hundreds of people attended the annual Veterans Day program at Veterans Memorial Park in Tuscaloosa. Veterans from nearly every branch of the military were there.

Organizers also recognized the Alabama National Guardsmen who helped the city after the April 27, 2011, tornado.

The tornado destroyed about 12% of the city’s infrastructure. The state sent 300 Alabama National Guardsmen to help the city recover.

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox was among those who attended.

“Let me tell you; the 300 plus national guardsmen that came right after the tornado were critical to us being successful in responding and ultimately recovering,” Maddox said.

Marsha Moore, DNP, interim executive medical center director of the Tuscaloosa VA, spoke at the program.

“The storms. The trying times. Nobody had to ask. You stepped up,” Moore said.

Army veteran William Loggins was drafted in 1965 at age 19. He served 3 years in the regular Army and more than 20 years in the Alabama National Guard.

“I served my country and did it to the best of my ability and I spent 23 years in the national guard and I didn’t have to, so,” Loggins said.

The program included the National Anthem and a medley of military songs for each branch.

Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Charles Gailes said veterans who work behind the scenes to make sure equipment works should not be forgotten.

“In the Navy we look at our ships and their long deployments and there’s a complex of logistics they have to deal with,” Gailes said.

Gailes led a Task Force Guardian team after Hurricane Katrina and in Tuscaloosa after the 2011 tornado.

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