Anniston, AL – The Memorial Day Ceremony to be held at Fort McClellan will be May 29th at 10:00 am. The public is welcome and invited to attend this event.
Guest Speaker – Colonel Jason Benefield (Retired): Colonel Benefield is from Hopewell, Alabama, in Cleburne County. He earned a BA with Special Honors in Political Science and the title Distinguished Military graduate from Jacksonville State University in 1992. He commissioned as an Infantry Officer, transferring to the Military Intelligence Corps in 1996, then to the Electronic Warfare Career Field in 2015. He served as the Forces Command G39 Information Warfare Director in his last assignment. COL. (RET) Benefield deployed six times to the Middle East: four times as a Deputy Mission Crew Commander on the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System, once as a Deputy Country Chief of Iraq for the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, and once as the Cyber-Electronic Activities Chief for XVIII Airborne Corps and CJTF-OIR. He retired in March 2022, after 32 years of total service. COL (RET) Benefield’s military awards include: 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.
The agenda is below:
Prelude music
Kentucky 1800
Cheaha Winds Community Band
Jared Ross, Director
Welcome introduction:
Master of Ceremonies: American Legion Preston Hale
Judge Advocate Post 111
Special Song
America the Beautiful……. Amy Minter
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)
Presentation of Colors:
Color Guard Post 111
National Anthem
Cheaha Winds Community Band
Raising of Colors (flag to half staff)
Pledge of Allegiance
Boy Scout Troops 6, 9, and 10 and
Girl Scout Service Unit 231
Introduction of Guest Speaker:
Col. Jason Benefield (retired)
Special Song
God Bless America…… Amy Minter
Placement 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 to be distributed on gravesites
(Open to family and public)
Benediction
Chaplain Jon Clark Post 111
Taps
Annie Ingram…Bugles Across America
Acknowledgements
Alabama National Cemetery Complex Director wants to thank the American Legion Post 111 at Oxford, AL, for their excellent dedication and commitment to assisting the National Cemetery Administration in planning and organizing this Memorial Day Ceremony for Fort McClellan Post Cemetery.
Special Singer
Amy Minter: Amy is from Heflin Alabama in Cleburne County. She earned a minor in music from Southern Union State Community College and graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Jacksonville State University. Amy was awarded a full vocal scholarship to Southern Union State Community College and was part of the Southern Union Sound where she had the opportunity to sing at Carnegie Hall on two separate occasions. Amy has been a middle school teacher for the past 20 years and she also is a singer in the Heflin
Baptist Church Choir. She is married and has four daughters; Abby, Ryan, Madilyn and Kendall. Her son-in law is a detective for the Cleburne County Sheriff’s Office. Amy also has a granddaughter named Indie Ann.
Cheaha Winds Community Band
Director Jared Ross: Cheaha Winds Community Band is comprised of members who reside in eastern and central Alabama. Music selections and arrangements have become popular in many local venues mostly due to the director Jared Ross and the many talented individuals in the band.
