Click here for updates on this story
MOBILE, AL (WALA ) — It was perfect fall weather for a “Day of Caring” at Historic Oaklawn Cemetery.
Retiring the old and raising a new. Congressman Bradley Byrne was on hand to honor the hundreds of veterans buried in Oaklawn Cemetery — giving an American flag that flew above the U.S. Capitol Building back in September.
“And it’s appropriate we honor them by having a flag from the Capitol here — and further honor them with all of these volunteers to try and clean up the grave sites,” said Rep. Byrne.
Mobile native Col. Roosevelt Lewis Junior also brought a fitting gift to pay tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen who are buried there — like Captain Leon Roberts killed in World War II.
According to Lewis, tradition holds that Tuskegee Airmen take soil from historic Moton Field, where they’re trained, for added protection.
“And they put it in their flight suit in the leg of their flight suit and they carry it on missions, especially tough missions,” explained Lewis.
In remembrance of the brave, Col. Lewis scattered the hallowed soil around the flag pole.
Meanwhile, the cemetery has extra meaning for Lewis. His father, also a veteran, and other family members are buried there. He’s thankful for the volunteers who are taking time to clean up the cemetery.
“I’m very pleased to see there is an interest now in keeping it up. And I wouuld ask the Mobile public to support the groups that are doing this to honor those who have given the last full measure of their being for this nation,” said Lewis.
Again, the Veterans Memorial Recovery Team is always looking for volunteers. If you would like to volunteer email photographybyfran@gmail.com.
Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.
Regulators authorized AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine for use in adults throughout the European Union on Friday, amid criticism the bloc is not moving fast enough to vaccinate its population.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A former FBI lawyer was sentenced to probation for altering an email that the Justice Department relied on during its surveillance of an aide to President Donald Trump during the Russia investigation.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Tony Evers lashed out Friday at rival Republicans who tried to repeal his statewide mask mandate, saying killing the order would be a ridiculous move comparable to abolishing speed limits.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — As some conservatives in South Carolina celebrated getting a bill that would ban almost all abortions in the state past a legislative barrier and likely becoming law, they said they are not finished trying to end all abortions.
A Moscow court on Friday put the brother and several allies of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny under house arrest for two months as authorities sought to stymie more protests over the jailing of the top Kremlin foe.