Anniston AL Anniston, Alabama –Memorial Day Ceremony scheduled in Fort McClellan will be May 29th at 10 am. Everyone is welcome and invited to join in this ceremony.
Host Speaker: Colonel Jason Benefield (Retired):Colonel Benefield is from Hopewell, Alabama, in Cleburne County. He graduated with a BA and special honors in political Science as well as the title Distinguished Academic graduate of Jacksonville State University in 1992. He was commissioned as an Infantry Officer, and was transferred into the Military Intelligence Corps in 1996 and then the Electronic Warfare Career Field in 2015. He was an Information Warfare Director for the Forces Command G39 Information Warfare Director during his last assignment. Colonel. (RET) Benefield deployed six times to the Middle East: four times as an Deputy Mission Crew Commander for the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System He also served as the Deputy Country Chief for Iraq with the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, and one time as the Cyber-Electronic Activity Chief of XVIII Airborne Corps and CJTF-OIR. He ended his career in March 2022 following 32 years of service. Colonel (RET) Benefield’s military honors are: Legion of Merit, National Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious service Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Senior Parachutist Badge and Air Assault Badge.
This is the agenda listed below:
The music of the prelude
Kentucky 1800
Cheaha Winds Community Band
Jared Ross, Director
Hello introduction to HTML0:
Master of Ceremonies: American Legion Preston Hale
Judge Advocate Post 111
Special Song
America the Beautiful ……. Amy Minter
The introduction of special guests
Herman Watkins
(Administrative Officer)
(Alabama National Cemetery)
National Cemetery Remarks
Stephan Frank
(Southeast District Executive Director)
Invocation:
Chaplain Jon Clark Post 111
Special Music
Cheaha Winds
(McClellan Veterans/American Legion)
Colour Presentation:
Color Guard Post 111
National Anthem
Cheaha Winds Community Band
Raise Of Colours (flag at half of staff)
Pledge in Allegiance
Boy Scout Troops 6, 9, and 10, and
Girl Scout Service Unit 231
The Introduction to the the Guest speaker:
Col. Jason Benefield (retired)
Special Song
God Bless America …… Amy Minter
Placing of wreaths
Post 111 Veteran’s Angela Orr and Connie Hale
Special Song
Amazing Grace……Amy Minter
Amazing Grace….Instrumental
Cheaha Winds Community Band
Flags are to be positioned on grave sites
(Open to the public and family members)
Benediction
Chaplain Jon Clark Post 111
Taps
Annie Ingram…Bugles Across America
Acknowledgements
Alabama National Cemetery Complex Director wishes to acknowledge members of the American Legion Post 111 at Oxford, AL, for their outstanding dedication and commitment to assist in assisting the National Cemetery Administration in planning and executing this Memorial Day ceremony to commemorate Fort McClellan Post Cemetery.
Special Singer
Amy MinterAmy hails from Alabama’s Heflin, which is located in Cleburne County. She received a minor degree in music at Southern Union State Community College and graduated in 2001 with an undergraduate degree of Elementary Education at Jacksonville State University. Amy was granted a full scholarships at Southern Union State Community College and was a part of the Southern Union Sound where she was invited to perform onstage at Carnegie Hall on two separate occasions. Amy has taught middle school for the last 20 years. She also sings in the Heflin
Baptist Church Choir. They are married, and have four children: Abby, Ryan, Madilyn and Kendall. Her son-in-law is a detective with the Cleburne County Sheriff’s Office. Amy is also the mother of a daughter called Indie Ann.
Cheaha Winds Community Band
Director Jared Ross:Cheaha Winds Community Band is composed of members living in central and eastern Alabama. The music selections and arrangements are now popular in a variety of local venues mainly because of Director Jared Ross and the many talented musicians in the group.
