STATE OF ALABAMA

Office of the Governor


BOB RILEY
Governor
 

Press Office
 

November 10, 2008

Governor Riley Remembers and Honors Nation’s Veterans

MONTGOMERY - Governor Bob Riley signed a proclamation honoring America’s veterans and visited a school with an Alabama National Guard soldier today to focus attention on remembering and thanking our veterans.

“I hope everyone will thank the men and women of our military for safeguarding our country and for preserving our freedom,” said Governor Riley. “We continue to live in freedom because of the contributions and sacrifices made by those who serve.”

The Governor started his morning with a visit to a fifth grade class at MacMillan International Academy in Montgomery. He was joined by Alabama Army National Guard Lt. Col. Leah Compton, who served in Iraq for 12 months with the 231st Military Police Battalion based in Prattville. She is also the Director of the Military Duty Management Branch at the State Military Department.

The two spoke to students about the importance of remembering our veterans and Lt. Col. Compton told them about her experiences while serving in Iraq. Students also asked the Governor and Lt. Col. Compton questions.

Governor Riley returned to the Capitol where he was joined by representatives from the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs and from veteran service organizations to sign a proclamation officially declaring November 11 as Veterans Day in Alabama. The proclamation notes that there are more than 447,000 veterans living in Alabama and that “their continued devotion to the highest ideals of citizenship constitutes a foundation of both the strength and progress of this state.”