TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter From The Editor ..........................................5 Serving: Abroad And At Home .............................44 Word From The Mayors ........................................8 A Fair‘Lee’ Good Time.........................................51 Hungry But Humble ............................................13 A Family Connection ...........................................55 Finding Comfort In The Harbor ..........................19
Serving More Than Cookies ..................................61
More Than A Name ..............................................26 More Than Rosie The Riveter ...............................66 New Online Tools Help Alabama Veterans .........30 Stew & Submarines .............................................73 A Home For Heroes ..............................................32 Honoring Our Heroes .........................................78 JCANDO ..............................................................38 Advertiser Index ..................................................82
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Letter from the Editor
n last year’s veterans issue of LIVE Lee, I wrote about my grandfather, Tom Lester, who served in the Korean War as a mechanic on B29 bombers. Unfortunately, we lost him in August. He was 90 and lived a long life, but we will miss him very much. My brother, however, got to share something very special
My brother, Thomas Lester, reading his Bible in the Smoky Mountains.
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with him before he passed — my brother signed with the Navy and left for basic training on Oct. 26. Thomas Lester, my brother, and my grandfather, not only shared a name but a commitment to service for their country. I am extremely proud of my brother for this commitment he made for God and for his country. And one day, I will call him a veteran. He will give up a lot for this commitment. He will leave home, he will leave Auburn, he will leave his friends, his family and his church to serve our country. And knowing Thomas, he will do so with pride. But, there will be challenges. I’d wager he will get homesick, he will give up a lot of the comforts he’s come to know and he will endure trials and tribulation. I want to believe that one day he’ll be stopped in the grocery store and thanked for his service and that he’ll be appreciated. This type of appreciation for our military personnel and our veterans starts with us. We need to remember and pray for our veterans every day. Because they gave up a lot. Some gave up their time. Some gave up their mental or physical health and live with the ramifications of this every day. Others gave up memories with their families. This may be the first Christmas I don’t spend with my brother. And I think our veterans deserve a thank you. Today, on Veterans Day, and every day.
