Latest news with #MilitaryService
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Alabama Gold Star wife discusses late husband on Memorial Day
TRUSSVILLE, Ala. (WIAT) — As we honor and remember the U.S. service members who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country, we also keep their families in our thoughts and prayers. The loved ones fallen service members leave behind are known as Gold Star families. Ashley Stegall from Trussville lost her husband, U.S. Army Sgt. Jason Stegall, in December 2009. Stegall said they were high school sweethearts who married in their 20s. She said Memorial Day has a much different meaning to her and her family now than it did 15 years ago. 'He was always helping people if he could,' Ashley Stegall said. 'He loved the military. He was going to be career military. He was a paratrooper. He loved to jump out of airplanes for fun for some reason, but he did. He loved it, and he loved his soldiers, and he loved what he did.' Ashley Stegall said her husband served a 15-month tour in Iraq, where he was shot twice. He returned home and received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star Medal with a 'V' device for valor. 'He would've gone back five more times,' Ashley Stegall said. 'He just loved what he did.' Alabama family remembers Marine killed in 2010 Ashley Stegall said through her husband, she learned how dedicated soldiers are to serving their country and how rewarding it is to support a soldier as a wife and family member. 'It makes me proud,' Ashley Stegall said. 'I enjoy getting to show my son how awesome his dad was. It's special. It's hard. It was hard for a long time, and it still is.' Jason Stegall died when his son, Landon Stegall, was 10 months old. Ashley Stegall said even though Landon was just a baby, he still looks to his dad as his hero. 'He, still at 16 years old — that's what he wants to do,' Ashley Stegall said. 'He loves to talk about it, and it was super special to see him put on [Jason Stegall's] little beret, his paratrooper beret, and he still to this day will try it on and stuff like that.' On days like Memorial Day amid all the parades and ceremonies, Ashley Stegall said it means the world to Gold Star families to see others teaching their kids about the sacrifices the U.S. military makes and honoring the lives of fallen heroes. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
A different type of honor on this Memorial Day
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Not far from the world's most extensive naval base, symbols of gratitude were offered in memory of those lost while serving this country. Don McAlister, 81, who served in the Vietnam War, comes from a long line of McAlisters who served the United States of America. 'I grew up military, so I've had relatives who died in the war and everything,' said the former Navy corpsman. 'To me, this is a day, not a celebration, but today's a day of, I guess, wishing and hoping that they were here. But they are here. They're here with us somewhere. Somewhere, they're with us.' Del. Michael Feggans is proud of the years he serviced with the United States Air Force. 'As someone who served for 20 years, I know exactly how many veterans feel,' Feggans said. 'No matter if you serve for four years or 40 years, today really is about remembering everyone's service, remembering those that have passed away. No matter if you died in a foreign country, if you passed away in a training accident or like many of our veterans, that died , that die from the battlefield of the mind.' He's also proud of a new law that rights a wrong on how the state has treated the families of service members who committed suicide. 'Those individuals did not receive the state benefits as others, so I fought for that,' Feggans said. 'That was a bipartisan bill that Gov. Youngkin signed, and starting this summer, those families will now receive the same real property tax benefits that others have received over the past years.' For those who served and others, help is available 24 hours a day. Just call the suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Local veteran honored with Quilt of Valor
The Ioni Creek 4-H held a special ceremony Thursday night at the Anderson County Courthouse Annex to present Veteran Robert Mike Richbourg with a Quilt of Valor. Richbourg served in the U.S. Army from 1993 to 2011, serving as an infantryman and combat medic. He was stationed in Texas, Georgia and Germany and was deployed on several humanitarian missions. He is a combat veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was honorably discharged in 2011. During the special ceremony, Ioni Creek 4-H leader Amy Jones gave Richbourg a special certificate from Rep. Cody Harris. Jones also shared with those in attendance the meaning of a Quilt of Valor. According to Jones, the quilt has a three-part message of honor, freedom and comfort. 'First we honor you for your service to our country in the United States Army. We honor you for leaving all you hold dear to stand in harm's way in a time of crisis, protecting us from the effects of war. 'Next we know that freedom is not free. The cost of our freedom is the dedication of lives of men and women like you, and this quilt is meant to say 'thank you' for your sacrifice. 'And finally, this quilt is meant to offer comfort to you, and to remind you that although your family and friends cannot be with you at all times, you are forever in all our thoughts and hearts,' Jones said. The 4-H members who helped make the quilt then surrounded Richbourg and wrapped him up with the quilt, much like a hug. Jones said the Quilt of Valor is described as the civilian equivalent of a Purple Heart. 'The quilt says thank you for your service, sacrifice and valor in serving our nation,' she said. 'I want to say thank you for that quilt,' Richbourg said. 'I guarantee I'll sleep with it every night. I do have a Teddy bear I sleep with, but the quilt is gonna take its place. We all need comfort at times, we really do. Thank you to everybody that showed up. It was my pleasure and my honor to serve my country, and the people, and I will continue to do my part as an American. I appreciate it, thank you all.' At the conclusion of the ceremony, those in attendance enjoyed cookies, cupcakes and other treats provided by Ouida Mathis, Susie Wolf, Jessica Moore, Betty Pierce and Amy Jones.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Veterans Appreciation Service for Mower County veterans to be hosted by Grace Lutheran
May 9—The Grace Lutheran Church Veterans Appreciation Sunday Service will be held at 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 18 at Grace Lutheran Church in Austin located 2001 6th Ave SE, Austin. This year's service marks the 22nd year that Grace Lutheran has held this service. The speaker this year is Craig Johnson, captain, armor, in the United States Army Reserve. Johnson is a retired attorney from Austin. The idea of this service came from Richard and Lavona Johnson. Richard was a veteran of the US Navy during World War II. During this service, each branch of the military has their flag displayed and as the congregation sings that branch's veterans of that branch are asked to come forward to be recognized. "It is a very moving service" said Randy Mickelson, organizer of this year's service. "As a veteran, I take pride in standing with the other men and women that have honorably served our country." For many veterans of the Viet Nam conflict, this service was the first time that they had been thanked for their service. Everyone is invited to attend. All veterans, their families and friends are encouraged to join us. A light lunch will be served following the service, courtesy of Grace Lutheran WELCA.
