—The Alabama National Cemetery—
The Alabama National Cemetery, located in Montevallo, Alabama, is one of the nicest cemeteries I’ve visited.
It sits on 479 beautiful acres and should have enough burial space to serve Veterans for 50 years.
With so many Veterans buried there, you might think that it would be hard to find the grave of the person(s) you’re coming to visit. It isn’t.
There is a Kiosk you can use at the main building to look up the burial plot of the person(s) you’re visiting. After looking the person up, a map gets printed out, giving you directions to the burial plot.
You can also lookup the location using the VA Website.
There are a few nice ponds on the property that are well maintained.
The grass gets cut, and everything gets kept trimmed.
American Flags are proudly waving in the wind throughout the Cemetery.
It’s tranquil.
During the COVID Pandemic, a close family member passed away while he was in the hospital with COVID.
We were in quarantine ourselves and could not go to the Funeral.
On this trip, Dad and I were able to visit his grave.
Dad said a few words to him while we were there, and I’d like to take this moment to say a few words about him myself.
His name was John Thomas. His nickname was “Big Daddy.”
And Big Daddy was a beautiful Human Being.
He had a big heart.
He was kind and funny and would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it.
I grew up with John and his family in my life. We were always around one another.
While John and his Wife were playing cards with my Mom and Dad, my brothers and I played Chase and Hide-N-Go-Seek with their Children.
John served in Vietnam, and there is a story that has been told in our family ever since John returned home from Vietnam, and I know John wouldn’t mind me telling the story to you.
It was in Vietnam. John was pulling Guard Duty.
It was nighttime, and the moon was out.
It was quiet this night—very quiet.
I’ve heard that sometimes the scariest part of war is when it gets quiet.
I can’t imagine what John might have been thinking about while pulling guard duty in Vietnam. He was just out of High School, and now he was in the middle of a war in another country. It had to be hard on him during this time in his life.
Sometimes I can’t find the words. But I think the Soldiers were experiencing hell on earth.
As I said, it was quiet out that night.
John lit a cigarette and took several draws. He was feeling a little calmer.
He took another draw off his cigarette when a bullet whizzed past his head.
John took cover immediately and put his cigarette out.
It seems the orange light given off by the cigarette was enough light for an enemy soldier to see. The enemy soldier took aim and pulled the trigger.
John never smoked outside again during his tour of duty in Vietnam.
He was Honorably Discharged from the Military after his tour. He never forgot Vietnam, though.
He was loved by many and will be missed greatly.
As I said earlier, after finding John’s burial plot, Dad said a few kind words to him, and I hope you didn’t mind me taking the time to say a few words about him as well.
At the Alabama National Cemetery, the Wife and Husband get buried together. One on top of the other. That means John’s wife will get buried in the same burial spot on top of him.
Many Husbands and Wives are buried together like that at the Cemetery.
While we were there, a Funeral was going on.
It turns out that the Funeral taking place was the Cousin of my Aunt on her side of the family.
We have many family members who served in the Military. Many Served and Fought in wars.
If you get the chance, try and visit The Alabama National Cemetery.
Even if you don’t have family buried there, try to visit.
The Men and Women buried there did a lot for you and me. Many didn’t come home alive.
They were All they could be so you and I could be all we can be.
Love you,
–Lynn
