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Decatur honors its veterans with emotional parade

By Bobby Shuttleworth - bio | email
Posted by Dana Franks - email

DECATUR, AL (WAFF) - Small towns may not get the recognition of big towns when it comes to parades, but that doesn't diminish the patriotism felt and seen in Decatur on Veterans Day.

Alfred Cordle said he wants to instill pride for his country and veterans into his grandson.

"I think from today he will know that this is a day for those who died for us to protect our country," Cordle said. "And this is a special day for everybody, not just one person."

Betty Hill said she wants to pay homage to her uncle, Bert Lewis Knight. He carried a wounded buddy to safety even though he had himself lost his kneecap.

"He was my mother's brother and he raised me," Hill said. "And he was a daddy figure to me and I just loved him very much."

And the feelings of pride are not lost on the veterans. Some who did not get a hero's homecoming when they returned home from battle still carry vivid memories with them.

German-born Harald Bellete served in Vietnam as a medic.

"Whenever I think about it, it keeps you sleepless at night," Bellete said. "When you fly 'dustoff' you see many injuries and treatments. It's a pretty tough."

Earl Rigsby remembered fallen friends.

"I lost about 12 good friends," Rigsby said. "The first time I lost one, the second tour I lost two, and on the last tour I lost 23. And every time I go to Washington D.C. just to touch the wall [at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial], it brings back memories and I feel so close to them."

Roger Hayes also remembered lost comrades.

"Every now and then it comes back on you pretty heavy," Hayes said. "I'm just proud to serve."

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