Malia Riggs
Elmore Autauga News
The American Legion post 122 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1349 as well as members of the community gathered on the 11th month, 11th day at the 11th hour in the rain Saturday morning to honor veterans of Autauga County for a wreath laying ceremony. The ceremony was held at the Autauga County courthouse.
Due to inclement weather the event was canceled. However, the brave men of post 122 and post 1349 and many members of the Prattville community stood tall, and some even in regimental uniforms, between scattered rain showers that fell over Prattville Saturday morning.
But even with the rain falling a prayer was said and ‘America the Beautiful’ was sung by all who attended.
The 11th month, 11th day at the 11th hour is significant in American History. In 1918 a peace treaty was signed to eventually end World War I. This significance would later become Veterans Day or Remembrance Day by 1926, when the holiday was recognized by congress and enacted as a national holiday.
“We wouldn’t have freedom today if we didn’t have veterans,” Mike Windsted of the John Elmore Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution said. “Everybody gave, and some gave all. Freedom is not free. We need to remember that and protect it,” Windsted said.
Following the “canceled” ceremony the American Legion hosted a lunch at noon for the community at the American Legion in Prattville.
