BAY MINETTE, Alabama — The annual Veterans Day Parade rolled through the downtown streets of Bay Minette on Wednesday, Nov. 11.
Members of the B Battery of the 711th AAA Gun Battalion served as the Grand Marshals of the parade.
Seventy years ago this year, 138 young residents – the B Battery of 711th AAA Gun Battalion – marched through the streets of Bay Minette before boarding a train that would begin their journey toward Korea’s far away shores. Only one did not make it home: Bruce Beveridge. Today, 13 are still living and 10 of those men participated in the activities.
Following the procession, a special memorial ceremony was held at the Korean War Memorial on the front lawn of the Bay Minette Public Library. Included in this program were the presentation of retired flags to the families of John C. Long, James E. Pipkin and Bobby G. Thompson.
The Baldwin County Jr. ROTC also participated 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. A laying of wreath was performed at the monument and the serviced closed out with a performance of Taps.
