Robertsdale to honor veterans but cancels Memorial Day program

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ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — The City of Robertsdale will once again honor veterans as part of its annual Memorial Day remembrance but there won’t be a traditional program at Coley Park as in past years.

At the Robertsdale City Council meeting held May 4, officials said Bibles will be delivered to seven veterans during Memorial Day week, which begins on May 25.

There was some discussion on whether or not to move the program to Veterans Day, which is Nov. 11, but in the end, because of the governor’s declaration on gathering numbers, it was decided not to hold the program this year.

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 17 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.

More than 150 Bibles have been given out since the program began, Murphy said. Bibles will be presented this year to Andy Raybon, Charles Buck, Ronald Chamberlin, Casey Edward Feller, Wayne Smith, Bruce Brockmeier and Bobby L. Jackson.

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.

In other business May 4 the council:

•Discussed the placement of a memorial in Honeybee Park to longtime resident Rex Aldridge, who died last July at age 98. A former city utilities employee, Aldridge was a well-known beekeeper, founding member and past president of the Baldwin County Beekeepers Association, which traditionally meets once a month in Robertsdale.

•Approved the placement of two benches on city property, one at Garrett Park and the other in Honeybee Park, donated by the Robertsdale Noon Rotary Club. Rotary Club President Cheryl Russell addressed the council during the May 4 work session.

•Approved a construction, right of way and franchise agreement with C-Spire.

•Approved a franchise agreement and pole contract with Mediacom.

•Reappointed June Kennedy and Amanda Brill to the Park & Street Tree Committee.

•Approved a bid from JLS International LLC in the amount of $169,000 for improvements to the PZK Hall.

•Approved the renewal of a half-page ad for Gulf Coast Media’s annual graduation section for The Onlooker in the amount of $440.

•Approved the purchase of a half-page ad for Gulf Coast Media’s annual Big Beautiful Baldwin magazine in the amount of $575.

•Approved a grant application for the Alabama Department of Transportation’s Transportation FY 2021 Alternatives Set-Aside Program for the construction of sidewalks. If approved the grant would fund a total $800,000 project which would require a 20 percent match ($160,000).

•Reviewed and approved the Municipal Water Pollution Prevention Program report presented by city engineer Greg Smith. The annual report is required by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.

•Moved forward with a condemnation and removal on property located on Brewton Street.