July 2014 Vol. 4 Issue No. 6

Honoring our Honoring our veteransveterans

Archives offers unique Archives offers unique tribute to veteranstribute to veterans

A local man’s story of A local man’s story of befriending a POW in WWIIbefriending a POW in WWII

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20A fitting tribute

Archives offers unique tribute to the county’s veterans

25 Enemies to comrades

A local man’s story of how he befriended a POW in WWII

36Committed to service

Local American Legion and VFW groups still serving

8 What To Do

13Armed Forces Day

Airport holds special events to celebrate the holidayAc

16 Wellness

18 What’s Hot

30 Cooking with Sam

33 Classifieds

40 Looking Back

42 Parting Shot

5FRANKLIN LIVING

P.O. Box 1088 • Russellville, AL 35653256-332-1881 • fax: 256-332-1883

www.franklincountytimes.com

General Manager Nicole PellManaging Editor Kellie Singleton Sales Peggy HydeCirculation Geraldine BondsPhotography Kellie Singleton Bart Moss

Franklin Living is published monthly by Franklin County Newspapers, Inc. Copyright 2011 by Franklin County

Newspapers, Inc.

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aving recently celebrated Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day, and with the Fourth of July just around the corner, we thought this would be the perfect time to honor our vet-erans – those men and women who have given of them-selves and sacrificed more than most of us can fathom so

that we can enjoy the freedoms and liberties that we have today.In my family, the patriotic and veterans-oriented holidays have

always been a cause for celebration because, not only are we very proud to live in this great nation, but we have many members of our family who have fought and served in the various branches of the armed forces.

One of these family members who is particularly special to me in my uncle, Lee Page, who lives in Halltown. My Uncle Lee was drafted into the U.S. Army in April 1970 and served in Vietnam.

His time of service isn’t something that he talks about freely, which I imagine is the case for many Vietnam veterans. These men didn’t receive a hero’s welcome when they came home after pro-testing and a negative public opinion of the war left a bitter taste in the mouths of many Americans. But these soldiers answered a call, just like many others who were drafted in previous wars, and served their country bravely and valiantly.

Several years ago, I sat down with my Uncle Lee and my Aunt Jan and, for the first time, Uncle Lee told me his story of his time in Vietnam from beginning to end, and he and Aunt Jan talked about how their relationship had survived that brutal time of fear and uncertainty.

I had always had a great deal of respect for my Uncle Lee. My brother and I spent many days and nights spending the night with him and Aunt Jan when we were growing up, and their home in the “boonies” in Halltown became one of my favorite places on earth.

But as I watched him tell this story of being drafted, trained, and sent overseas, thousands and thousands of miles away from everything and everyone he had ever known, my respect for him grew immensely. I don’t know that I will ever fully understand what these soldiers and all the others who came before him and after him went through and are still going through today, but I know that I am so thankful and proud that people like my Uncle Lee exist. Our veterans deserve our utmost respect and thanks, not just on special holidays and occasions, but every single day of the year.

In this issue of Franklin Living, there are feature stories on the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars – two local groups who are dedicated to serving our community and serving fellow veterans.

There is an account of the special service held at the Russellville Municipal Airport in honor of Armed Forces Day, and a feature on some of the special tributes to veterans located at the Franklin County Archives.

There is also a story that is near and dear to my heart about local businessman Cecil Batchelor and how he befriended a POW in World War II who went on to become a great American citizen and a dear friend for many years.

We hope this issue of Franklin Living causes each of you to pause and reflect on the veterans in your life and how each one of them has played a vital role in shaping our country into the land of the free and the home of the brave.

FCNI managing editor Kellie Singleton with her husband, David, and their dog, Phoebe.

HFROM THE EDITOR

WHAT TO DORockin’ at the RoxyJune 14The Franklin County Arts and Humanities Council hosts the Rockin’ at the Roxy concert series the second Saturday each month featuring the KGB and special guests.

Flag Day June 14

Father’s Day June 15

Summer reading pro-gramJune 18Russellville Public Library’s sum-mer reading program will kick off June 18. If you are interested in signing up your school-age child, call 256-332-1535 or stop by the library at 110 East Lawrence St., Russellville, AL 35653.

FCCDC meetingJune 20The next meeting of the Franklin County Community Development Commission will be held on Friday, June 20, 2014, at 8:30 a.m. at the Franklin County Commission Annex Office, Russellville, to consider grants for the month of June 2014. All grants must be turned into

Brad

Bolton at P.O. Box 449, Red Bay, 35582 or via fax at 256-356-5655 or email at bbolton@ com-munityspiritbank.com for disbursement to other members by Monday, June 16, 2014.

PC Hoedown FestivalJune 20-21The Phil Campbell Park and Recreation Board will present the 13th annu-al Phil

Campbell Hoedown

Festival on June 20-21, 2014 in downtown Phil Campbell. There will be entertain-ment from 5 – 10 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. Saturday. Vendors will be open Friday at 5 p.m. There

will also be a car show, kids games and rides, and several con-tests. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the fun.

Rock Bridge Canyon RodeoJune 20-21Rock Bridge Canyon Equestrian Park will present the Rock Bridge Canyon Rodeo on June 20-21, 7:30 p.m. each night. For tickets or more information call 205-935-3499.

Jam on Sloss LakeJuly 4One of North Alabama’s larg-est fireworks displays takes place right here in Franklin County on the Fourth of July at Sloss Lake on Alabama 24 in Russellville. An afternoon filled with music, games, and fun is highlighted by a spectacular fireworks show once the sun goes down. Bring the whole family and celebrate Independence Day with the city of Russellville.

Rockin’ at the RoxyJune 14The Franklin County Arts and Humanities Council hosts the Rockin’ at the Roxy concert series the second Saturday each month featuring the KGB and special guests.

Flag Day June 14

Father’s Day June 15

Summer reading pro-gramJune 18Russellville Public Library’s sum-mer reading program will kick off June 18. If you are interested in signing up your school-age child, call 256-332-1535 or stop by the library at 110 East Lawrence St., Russellville, AL 35653.

FCCDC meetingJune 20The next meeting of the FranklinCounty Community Development Commission will be held on Friday, June 20, 2014, at 8:30 a.m. at the Franklin CountyCommission Annex Office, Russellville, to consider grants for the month of June 2014. Allgrants must be turned into

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Bolton at P.O. Box 449, Red Bay,35582 or via fax at 256-356-5655or email at bbolton@ com-munityspiritbank.comfor disbursement to other members byMonday, June 16,2014.

PC HoedownFestivalJunnne 20-221The Phil CCCampbell Park andndndnnRecreationBoard will present the 13th annu-al Phil

CaCaCaCC mpmpm bebbbbbbb ll HoHHHHH edededowowwwn nn

Festivalll oooooon n Junee20-21, 22014 in downtown Phil Campbell. There willbebbbbbbb entertain-ment ffrom5 – 10 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. Saturday. Vendors will be open Friday at 5 p.m. There

will alsll o be a car show, kidsgames and rides, and several con-tests. BBring your lawn chairs and enjoy the fun.

Rock Bridge CanyonRodeoJune 20-21RoRoRoRRRRR ck Bridge Canyon Equestrian Park will present the Rock Bridge CaCCC nyon Rodeo on June 20-21, 7:30 p.m. each night. For ticketsor more information call 2055-935-3499.

Jam on Sloss LakeJully 4One of Northhh AAAAAlabama’s larg-est fireworkss didididiiiiiispss lays takes place right here in Franklin County onnnn the Fourth of July at Sloss LaL ke on Alabama 24 in Russellville.An afternoon filled with music, games, and fun is highlightedby a spectacular fireworks show once the sun goes down. Bring the whole family and celebrate Independence Day with the city of Russellville.

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OUT & ABOUT

Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow and Sen. Roger Bedford present checks to Jonathan Odom for sound system upgrades at Tharptown High School.

Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow and Sen. Roger Bedford present checks to Franklin County Extension 4-H agent Kathy Borden for the 4-H regional competition.

Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow and Sen. Roger Bedford present checks to Dr. Susan Hargett with Franklin County Community Education for the 8th grade Teen Day and the 6th grade Drug Story presenta-tion.

Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow and Sen. Roger Bedford present checks to Dr. Susan Hargett with Franklin County Community Education for the 8th grade Teen Day and the 6th grade Drug Story presentation.

Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow and Sen. Roger Bedford present checks to Rhett Bradford with the Russellville Fire Department for computer pur-chases.

The following groups were recently awarded grants through the Franklin County Community Development Commission, which is an entity set up through the efforts of Sen. Roger Bedford, Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow, and other members of the Tennessee Valley caucus who worked to make sure TVA in-lieu of tax funds were being re-distrib-uted in the counties where the money was generat-ed. The committee consists of two appointed mem-bers, Brad Bolton and Kathy Hall, and a chairman, which rotates between the mayors of Russellville and Red Bay every two years. Currently Red Bay Mayor David Tiffin serves as the chairman. Funds are used to promote economic development, edu-cation, and recreation in the area.

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Salute to the Armed ForcesI

STORY BY BART MOSS

PHOTOS BY BART MOSS

n the midst of more prominent patriotic holidays like the Fourth of July, Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day, the less-popularized Armed Forces Day often takes a backseat when it comes to celebrating those who have dedicated

their lives in service to their country.But Harry Mattox, Blue Diamond Aviation and Russellville

Airport manager, is hoping to change that, at least for this area anyway.

The Russellville Airport Authority and Blue Diamond Aviation held their second annual celebration in honor of Armed Forces Day on May 17.

The celebration included airplane rides, barbeque, a rifle salute and the playing of Taps by the Sheffield American Legion Color Guard.

“I thought it was a good day, especially considering the bad weather we had earlier in the day,” Mattox said.

“It is always special to honor the men and women of our armed services. Whether they are serving overseas in a military zone or here at home, they deserve our respect and praise for their sacrifice.”

“We have men and women serving our country all over the world,” attendee Mike O’Brien said.

“They are putting their lives on hold to serve the United States

14 FRANKLIN LIVING

and protect us. We need to always keep them in our prayers.”The featured speaker for the event was Air Force historian

Warren Trest, who is the author of over 50 military histories. He is also a Purple Heart and Bronze Start recipient for his

work in combat as a journalist and historian.Trest spoke about the story behind one of his books, Wings

of Denial. The book retraces the secret history and covert role of the Alabama Air National Guard in the ill-fated Bay of Pigs

invasion of Cuba in 1961.As Trest told the story, in 1960, during Dwight D.

Eisenhower’s last year in office, a high-level operative of the Central Intelligence Agency approached Alabama governor John Patterson about top-secret plans to topple Cuban dic-tator Fidel Castro.

The agent was requesting Patterson’s approval to use the Alabama Air National Guard to train Cuban exiles in Guatemala and Nicaragua to fly B-26 bombers in support of invasion forces.

According to Trest, Gov. Patterson wanted two assurances: 1) That the President was fully aware of the operation, and 2) that no Alabamians would be put in harm’s way during the training. The CIA operative assured the governor on both counts and Gov. Patterson agreed.

The Central Intelligence Agency recruited 80 volunteers from the 117th wing of the Air National Guard to work the mission. They were sworn to secrecy.

In the meantime, according to Trest, the election of 1960 between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy was winding down. Patterson traveled to New York City and met privately with Kennedy at the Waldorf-Astoria and informed him of the plans. Patterson stated that Kennedy didn’t seem “fired up” about the plan.

After Kennedy took office, Trest said, he was adamant that the U.S. troops not be part of this mission and no mission was to be launched from U.S. soil. Kennedy wanted plausible deniability.

According to Trest, the CIA broke their promise and eight members of the Alabama Air National Guard flew into the Bay of Pigs invasion, and four of them were killed.

The body of one of the airmen, Pete Ray of Birmingham, was frozen and put on display by Castro to prove the United States was behind the invasion.

After decades of denial, according to Trest, the CIA finally admitted to the Alabamians involvement in the mission and awarded them with stars on the Wall of Honor at CIA head-quarters in Langley, Virginia. Ray’s body was returned to his daughter for proper burial.

“These people are why we celebrate days like Armed Forces Day, Veterans Day, and Memorial Day,” Trest said.

“They are true, unsung heroes in every sense of the word.”

15FRANKLIN LIVING

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WELLNESS

he lesser known benefits of cardiovascular exercise Active people tend to have varying views on cardio-vascular exercise, or cardio. Often done at the end of a workout, cardio rarely evokes a staid response from fit-ness afficionados asked to share their thoughts on this valuable type of exercise. Fans of cardio will admit they

love the feeling they get during and after a rigorous round of this type of exercise, which includes activities like running, cycling and walking. But those men and women who dread their time on the treadmill, elliptical machine or stationary bike are likely to catego-rize cardio as a boring and uninspiring activity. But regardless of a person’s opinion on cardio, there’s no denying it offers numerous benefits, many of which even avid athletes might be unaware.

* Cardio boosts brain power. Perhaps the least known benefit of cardio is its positive impact on the brain. During cardiovascular exercise, the brain is being flooded with chemicals that improve decision making, memory and problem solving. Cardio can also help preserve memory and improve its ability to learn. So while the physical benefits of exercise are widely known and noticeable to the naked eye, cardiovascular exercise can be just as effective at improving cognitive function.

* Cardio can improve your appearance. Improving physical appear-ance is a motivating factor for many physically active men and women, and cardio can go a long way toward improving physical appearance because it increases lean body tissue while reducing fat. Cardiovascular exercise is a healthy way to burn calories, and burning calories is a healthy means to losing weight.

* Cardio can help reduce the severity of preexisting conditions.

Arthritis sufferers have long looked to cardiovascular exercise as a healthy means to relieving the pain caused by their condition. Water exercises like swimming make for great cardiovascular exer-cises, especially for those looking to relieve arthritis pain. That’s because an exercise such as swimming keeps joints moving while strengthening muscles surrounding those joints. Studies have shown that cardiovascular exercise also can lower blood pressure.

* Cardio can improve mood. Cardiovascular exercise can benefit men and women suffering from depression or those who are sim-ply having a bad day. That’s because the mood-boosting chemi-cal serotonin is released to the brain during cardio, helping to improve mood and alleviate symptoms of depression or fatigue.

* Cardio can make tomorrow’s workout easier. Recovery time is important to athletes, many of whom want to ensure their bodies are ready for tomorrow’s workout even before they finish today’s. Cardiovascular exercise helps to deliver more oxygen-rich blood to muscle tissue, aiding in tissue repair and recovery. The quicker your body can rebound from today’s workout, the more effective tomorrow’s workout will be. So even if you don’t enjoy that pit stop at the treadmill before you head home, it’s paying more divi-dends than you might know.

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The lesser The lesser knownknownbenefits of benefits of cardiovascular cardiovascular exercise exercise

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WHAT’S HOT

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ost people in Franklin County probably realize the Franklin County Archives is a place you can go to look up the history of the county’s cities, communities and citizens, but many people are com-pletely unaware that the

Archives is also a place where people can go to honor our county’s veter-ans.

Situated on the grassy hill near the Archives’ building is the Franklin County Veterans Park – a plot of land dedicated to the local men and women who put their lives on hold when their country needed them the most.

A brick pathway featuring the names of many heroes leads visitors past monuments dedicated to the 115th Signal Battalion, whose members served valiantly in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the park’s newest monu-ment – a large granite structure dedicated last Memorial Day by the Greater Shoals Area chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart in honor of those who were wounded or lost their lives in service.

The brick pathway leads to a monument that features the “Soldier’s Prayer” and two granite benches, one of which bears the very sobering words “Freedom is not free”.

Off to the right, visitors will notice a row of unique monu-ments dedicated to those who served in all the wars and

conflicts Franklin County citizens have been a part of through the years – the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

“The Veterans Park is something we started in October 2004,” Archives director Chris Ozbirn said.

“Skip Nichols came to me with the idea because he had a brother and a nephew who were serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and he thought it would be a good idea to have a monument put up honoring the 115th Signal Battalion.

“I went to the county commission and they granted approval for us to establish a park dedicated to the coun-ty’s veterans, so we got to work.”

The first monument placed in the park is the large gran-ite monument dedicated to the 115th. Ozbirn said the rest of the park began to come together soon after that.

“I had seen a brick pathway similar to the one we have now where people can buy bricks in honor or in memory of someone,” Ozbirn said. “I thought that would look nice in our park and be a good way for us to raise some money for the park, and Skip came up with the Soldier’s Prayer to put at the end of the pathway.”

From there, Ozbirn said they began to map out exactly what should be done with the rest of the park, and she began to work on the different monuments recognizing each war and conflict.

“I didn’t want every monument to be just a big rect-

M

A fitting tribute

STORY BY KELLIE SINGLETON

PHOTOS BY KELLIE SINGLETON

22 FRANKLIN LIVING2222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222 FFRFRFRFRFRFRFFRFFRFRRFRFRFFRRFFFFRFRFRFFFFRFRFRFRFRRFRFRFRFRRFFRRFFFRRFRRRRFRFRFFFFFFRFFFFF ANANAANANANANANANANANNANANNANANANNANANANANNANANANANAANANNANNANNNNANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNANNNANANNAANKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKKKLKLKLKLKKLLKLKLKLLKLKKKLKLKKKKLKLLLKLLLLLLKLKLLLLLLKKLLKLLLLLLKLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLINNINNNINININININNINNNNININININNNININININIINNNINNNININNININNNNNNNNNNNNNNIN LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLIVIVIVIVIVVIVIVIVIVIVVIVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVIVVVVVVVVVVINININININNININININNININNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNINNNNNINNNNNNNNINNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

angle,” she said. “I wanted them to be unique and different – something that would spark interest.”

In addition to the war monuments, there is also one other unique piece of history included in the park.

“Near the beginning of the brick pathway is a monument shaped like an open book on a stand,” Ozbirn said.

“This monument is very special because not only does it serve to dedicate the park, but it doubles as a time capsule. It’s something that Grant Atkins found and thought would work great in the park, and I came up with the idea to put items in the hollow, open chamber of the monument to make it a time capsule. We put in a Franklin County Times some coins from that year, some pictures and other items.”

But if visitors to the Archives think the outside park is the only tribute to our veterans, they would miss out on something equally as special by not venturing inside.

To the right as you walk in the front door of the Archives building is the Franklin County Hall of Honor featuring the photos of nearly 300 men and women who have served in the military from the Civil War through the Vietnam War.

“When we first moved the Archives into this

building, I knew from the very beginning that I wanted this front hallway to be a hall of honor – a tribute to our veterans,” Ozbirn said.

“Once we got settled in the building, we began asking people to bring in photographs of their family members from Franklin County who served and we have ended up with approximately 300 photographs.

“The ones from the Civil War are interesting and the ones of the women are interesting, too. Many people forget about the women who served, especially the ones who served many years ago as nurses or secretaries or in other positions.”

Ozbirn said anyone who is a Franklin County citizen who served in a war or conflict from the Civil War through the Vietnam War can have their picture hung in the Hall of Honor.

“We’re always glad to have more pictures,” Ozbirn said.

“And I encourage people to come out and see these two separate areas that have been dedi-cated to our veterans.

“One of the greatest honors in the position I serve in as director of the Archives is overseeing this hall and overseeing the Veterans Park.

“If not for these men and women, we wouldn’t have any of the things we have today.”

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From enemies to comrades

ecil Batchelor and Bridget Hovater smile and laugh as they sift through a stack of old photographs and reminisce about the faces staring back at them.

“Look, this is a picture of my mom and dad on the day they were married,” Hovater said as she touched the faded edge of one photo-

graph.“And here’s one of my dad in his military uniform.”“I know that face well,” Batchelor replies, with a far off look

in his eyes. “He was such a good friend.”Hovater’s father, Georg Giersberg, and Batchelor, a promi-

nent businessman in the community, became friends when they were soldiers involved in World War II.

But their camaraderie wasn’t born as they fought along-side one another in a foxhole or as they stormed the beaches of Normandy in pursuit of the same goal.

Their camaraderie is quite unique considering the circumstances both of these WWII veterans found themselves in nearly 70 years ago, especially since they were fighting on opposite sides of the war.

CSTORY BY

KELLIE SINGLETON

PHOTOS BY KELLIE SINGLETON

& CONTRIBUTED

26 FRANKLIN LIVING

And if you ask Batchelor about this friendship, he will be more than glad to tell you how he befriended a Nazi sol-dier who went on to become a great American and raise a family, along with his wife, Gerda, who also became great Americans.

“I know most people have heard many things about World War II,” Batchelor said, “but everyone should know there is a humanistic side to every war that’s ever been fought or ever will be fought.

“There are real people behind those stories and you should never condemn the residents of a country just because their leader did something bad.”

Batchelor said he learned this truth early on in life when he was just a young man, fresh out of high school, and newly recruited to the United States Navy in the midst of World War II.

“At that time, every able-bodied male in the country was in the service,” he said. “I had a brother-in-law in the Navy and after his prompting, that was the branch I chose.”

Batchelor embarked on 12 weeks of basic military train-ing and at the conclusion, he was added to the list of sol-diers who were available to be called into active service.

ABOVE: Cecil Batchelor and Bridget Hovater pose with a jewelry box hand-carved by Bridget’s father while he was a POW in WWII. The jewelry box was a wedding gift for Batchelor’s wife, Olivia.

ABOVE: Old pictures and postcards of the Giersberg family.RIGHT: Gerda and Georg Giersberg on their wedding day.

27FRANKLIN LIVING

“At that time, I was assigned to my ship’s company locally,” he said. “We patrolled out of Williamsburg, Va., looking for submarines and when I was assigned to the local company, I thought I wouldn’t be part of those drafted to go into the war.”

Batchelor said he was soon told by a ranking officer that he would remain in the draft, but when it came time to select names, Batchelor said his name had been deleted from the list and he was able to serve locally.

“I do believe there was a power much higher than I who made that possible,” Batchelor said, “because two days later, the ship I would have been placed on was torpedoed and sank.”

Little did Batchelor know at that time, but his pur-pose in the war was soon to be revealed.

He said the local Naval soldiers were each assigned a German prisoner of war – soldiers who had been captured in battle.

“They were supposed to help us with jobs and tasks, but we weren’t supposed to communi-cate with them beyond telling them what to do,” Batchelor said.

“I just found that hard to do with the soldier who had been assigned to me.”

Georg Giersberg was a young German soldier who had been captured and assigned to Batchelor’s care.

Both were interested in communicating so Batchelor helped Giersberg learn some simple English and in turn, Giersberg helped Batchelor learn basic German phrases.

“I was awed by Georg’s intelligence, and despite our orders, I began to get to know him and found out he really was a good person,” he said. “I cared about what happened to him and he became a close friend.”

Batchelor said they talked about many things – their hopes for the end of the war, their dreams for the future and what they planned to do once they were able to return to their homes.

“Georg knew that I was engaged to be married but we had decided to wait to get married until after the war was over,” he said. “I didn’t want to leave her a young widow in case something were to happen.”

Later on, following their conversation about Batchelor’s bride-to-be, Giersberg presented Batchelor with a hand-carved, wooden jewelry box that he had made while in his cell at night.

“Georg spent many night making me this jewelry box,” Batchelor said. “It is something that has meant a great deal to me and something my wife, Olivia, still uses to this day.”

Batchelor said he and Giersberg continued their conversations while they worked, and he soon learned that Giersberg’s greatest hope was to come back to America once the war was over and live his life as an American.

Once the war was over and the German prisoners were being sent back overseas, Batchelor vowed he would make that happen.

ABOVE: Georg Giersberg as a young German soldier.BELOW: Cecil Batchelor in his U.S. Navy uniform.

28 FRANKLIN LIVING

“Georg took my address and I told him to keep in touch,” he said. “I wanted to help him any way that I could.”

Batchelor soon was released from service and returned home to marry his wife, Olivia, and soon began going to school.

“Before long, I got a letter from Georg who was working in England at a small college,” he said.

“We kept in contact, but when I moved to Russellville, we broke off communications, but I never forgot about him.”

Batchelor said several years later when he was teaching a Sunday School lesson at the church he attended, he talked about Giersberg and their experiences and it renewed the desire he first had to bring him back to America where he could have a better life.

“Georg only wanted what I was born with – to be an American.”Batchelor began trying to track Georg down at the last address

he had for him in England but found out Georg had moved back to Germany.

“I thought he was gone and that I would never be able to find him or see him again,” Batchelor said. “But I kept trying.”

One day during his search, Batchelor said he dialed the number for a public, community telephone in a German village.

“A lady answered the phone and I asked her if she knew Georg,” he said. “She told me that, yes, she knew him and if I would call at the same time the next day, she would have him waiting by the phone.

“When I dialed that same number the next day and I heard Georg answer, I said, ‘Mr. Giersberg, this is America calling.’”

As Batchelor retold this memory, he visibly became emotional.“That was such a special moment,” he said. “I couldn’t believe I

had really found my friend after all of that searching.”Batchelor said he found out that Georg had married a woman

by the name of Gerda and they had four children – Brigetta, Hans, and twin boys Colin and Peter.

“We eventually got everything worked out and we brought them over on the Queen Elizabeth and they arrived in New York on February, 4, 1963.

“My pastor had a friend who lived in New York and he met them and took them to the airport. When they got to Alabama, we picked them up and brought them home with us and they lived with us until we could find them a home.”

Batchelor said Giersberg had been employed as a general engi-neer in Germany and was able to find a job locally serving in that capacity.

“Their family went on to be great supporters of justice and they accomplished many things,” Batchelor said. “Georg and Gerda’s dream finally came true. They were able to have the life they had always dreamed of having for themselves and for their children.”

The Batchelors and the Giersbergs remained friends for many years, through the passing of both Georg and Gerda.

And to this day, the Batchelors still keep in touch with Georg and Gerta’s children, especially Brigetta, a Russellville resident who is now known as Bridget Hovater.

“I am so thankful for Mr. Batchelor and for his friendship with my father,” Hovater said.

“I can remember coming to America, and I see all the things my family has been able to accomplish – things that I am very proud of – and I am so glad that a young American soldier had it in his heart to overlook the fact that he and my father should have been enemies, and saw the real person he was and not just the uniform he was wearing.”

30 FRANKLIN LIVING

FOOD

Cooking with Sam Cooking with Sam Recipes by Sam WarfRecipes by Sam Warf

Red, White & Blue Trifl e

1 qt. strawberries1 pint blueberries16 oz. cool whipwhite chocolate instant pudding (small)small pound cake1 can eagle brand milk

Mix instant pudding, fold in cool whip and Eagle brand milk. Layer. Start with cake. End up with blueberries and straw-berries on top.

Red, White & Blue Tart

1 18 oz. refrigerated sugar cookie dough softened1 8 oz. cream cheese softened ¼ cup sugar½ tsp. almond extract1 cup fresh blueberries1 cup fresh raspberries1 cup halved fresh strawberries

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.2. Press cookie dough into a 12 inch pizza pan, ungreased.3. Bake 10-15 minutes4. In a small bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and extract until smooth. Spread over cooled cookie dough.5. Sprinkle berries over the tart.

31FRANKLIN LIVING

FOOD

Red, White & Blue Parfait

1 8oz. vanilla yogurt¼ tsp. almond extract3 cups fresh strawberries or raspberries2 cups fresh blueberries8 oz. light whipped cool whip

In large bowl, stir together yogurt and ex-tract. Fold in cool whip. Alternate layers. Serves 6.

Flag Relish Tray

1 cup blueberries½ small watermelon, cubed1 cup feta cubed½ cup raspberries

Use a 12x16 white tray, put blueber-ries in a white bowl on left, then make alternate making a red and white stripe with the watermelon, feta and raspberries.

Red, White & Blue Salad

2 cups mixed salad greens¼ cup crumbled feta cheese2 Tbsp. walnuts4 strawberries¼ cup blueberriesRaspberry vinaigrette dressing

1. Lay the greens on a plate.2. Pile feta, walnuts, strawberries & blueberries.3. Dress when you serve the salad.

32 FRANKLIN LIVING

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Red, White & Blue Cake

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33FRANKLIN LIVING

34 FRANKLIN LIVING

OUT & ABOUT

Sen. Roger Bedford and Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow present checks to Russellville Middle School history teacher Jason Walker for tablet purchases for the classroom.

Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow and Sen. Roger Bedford present checks to West Elementary School pre-k teacher Judy Burcham for iPads for the pre-k classroom.

Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow and Sen. Roger Bedford present checks to American Legion member Harry Upton to help pay for students to attend American Legion Alabama Boy’s and Girl’s State.

Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow and Sen. Roger Bedford present checks to Renae Prince with the Russellville Foster Grandparents Program for help with a computer purchase.

Sen. Roger Bedford and Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow present checks to Franklin County Chamber Director Cassie Medley for assistance with the Watermelon Festival.

The following groups were recently awarded grants through the Franklin County Community Development Commission, which is an entity set up through the efforts of Sen. Roger Bedford, Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow, and other members of the Tennessee Valley caucus who worked to make sure TVA in-lieu of tax funds were being re-distrib-uted in the counties where the money was generat-ed. The committee consists of two appointed mem-bers, Brad Bolton and Kathy Hall, and a chairman, which rotates between the mayors of Russellville and Red Bay every two years. Currently Red Bay Mayor David Tiffin serves as the chairman. Funds are used to promote economic development, edu-cation, and recreation in the area.

Sen. Roger Bedford and Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow present checks to Tierney Barton, Tennille Barton, Courtney Smith and Abby Davis with the Phil Campbell dance line for help with uni-form purchases.

35FRANKLIN LIVING

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OUT & ABOUT

Still committed to servicehen the men and women of our armed forces fight and serve side by side, they develop a strong bond that is rarely understood by anyone other than fellow soldiers.

These men and women who have gone through the experience of serving in the military are also often faced with the same problems, difficulties and obstacles, and can understand the wants and needs another fellow soldier might have.

For these reasons and many others, both veterans and active military servicemen and women who live here locally have found ways to connect with one another and have an outlet to continue their service to others through the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

The American Legion was established in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization and has grown to become the nation’s largest wartime veterans service organization. They have many different service projects and programs and hundreds more projects that are specific to each community where they serve.

Locally, Franklin County is home to American Legion Post 64, based in Russellville. Lt. Col. Grant Atkins, who retired with 30 years of service in the military and now serves as the com-mander of American Legion Post 64, said there are several different ways

they give back to the community.Each November, the American Legion sponsors the Veterans

Day Parade held in downtown Russellville as a way to honor the local veterans and recognize them for their service.

They are responsible for the flowers placed on the Franklin County War Memorial Honor Roll each Memorial Day to

honor the memory of local veterans who died in ser-vice.

W

STORY BY KELLIE SINGLETON

PHOTOS BY KELLIE SINGLETON

& CONTRIBUTED

37FRANKLIN LIVING

They participate in community service projects, such as refurbishing the cannon located outside the Veteran’s Hall on Lawrence St. in Russellville, maintaining a flagpole on Alabama 24, and donating the flags placed along the dam at Sloss Lake for the July 4th celebration as well as Memorial Day and Veterans’ Day.

They also sponsor the Russellville students who are selected each year to attend the American Legion Alabama Boys State and the American Legion Auxiliary Alabama Girls State pro-grams as well as the local American Legion Baseball program.

“The purpose of our group is to instill a sense of community pride and patriotism in the area we live in,” Atkins said.

“There are many different things we are involved with, but mainly, we just want to honor our veterans and make sure we highlight the importance of their service, and continue to be of service to our community.”

The Veterans of Foreign Wars organization has been traced back as far as 1899 when men who served in the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection created several local organizations to help establish rights and benefits for their service.

Over the years, the VFW’s commitment to supporting and defending veterans of overseas conflicts helped bring about the creation of the Veterans Administration; a creation of a GI bill for the 20th century and an updated GI bill for the 21st century; the development of the national cemetery system; and they have fought for disabled veterans and the rights and care they receive.

38 FRANKLIN LIVING

The VFW also emphasizes participation in local community service projects and other ways to give back to the community.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5184 is the local VFW post for Franklin County, which is helmed by commander Bill Jackson.

According to Jackson, who served with the U.S. Army’s mili-tary police in Vietnam, the main goal of the local VFW post is just to help veterans in any way they can.

“We’ve done things such as cleaning up yards or doing house repairs for disabled veterans who aren’t able to do those things anymore,” Jackson said. “We’ve also helped in other ways if we find out there is a veteran who has a certain need. We just try to step in wherever we’re needed.”

Each November, the VFW also sponsors a Veterans Day recep-tion that follows the American Legion’s parade. At the recep-tion, the VFW not only recognizes the local veterans in atten-dance, but they also recognize a police officer and firefighter of the year.

“It’s always a special thing for us to be able to do this for our police officers and firefighters,” Jackson said.

“These are the people who are running to trouble when everyone else is running away. They are heroes, too, and should be recognized.”

And besides their community service, Jackson said organiza-tions like the VFW provide a way for local veterans to connect.

“Going to meetings and being part of the projects and gath-erings gives a veteran something to be part of where there are other people who understand what they’ve been through and the different problems veterans face,” he said.

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39FRANKLIN LIVING

“And for me personally, I love being able to help our veter-ans and let them know that they are important and they have not been forgotten.”

Probate Judge Barry Moore, who was a member of the Army National Guard and served in Operation Iraqi Freedom before retiring as a sergeant first class/E7, is a member of both orga-nizations and said it’s something that is very important to him.

“One reason I am glad to be part of these groups is because they serve to honor and support our older veterans, and without those people, we wouldn’t be where we are today,” Moore said.

“I have so much respect for all of our veterans and it makes me proud that groups like the American Legion and the VFW exist to honor and support the people who have fought for and defended our country.”

AMERICAN LEGION POST 64American Legion Post 64 meets the second Thursday of each month at the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce Offi ce on Jackson Avenue in downtown Russellville. The meal begins at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting begins at 7 p.m. For more information, contact Grant Atkins at 256-332-2332. VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS POST 5184VFW Post 5184 meets the fourth Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Veterans Hall on Lawrence Street in Russellville. For more information, contact Bill Jackson at 256-668-9040.

LOOKING BACK

40 FRANKLIN LIVING

Clifton Smelser WWII, Marines 4th Division

John Wallace Wood, Jr.U.S. Army, WWII

Thomas C. WoodU.S. Army, Korean War

Flavis W. HutchesonU.S. Army, WWII 1943-1945

LOOKING BACK

41FRANKLIN LIVING

Allen GossU.S. Army, 1968-1970

John Wallace Wood, Sr.U.S. Army, WWI

Wayne Wallace “Sam” KimbroughU.S. Army, WWII KIA

42 FRANKLIN LIVING

PARTING SHOT

“From the world wars of Europe to the jungles of the Far East, from the deserts of the Middle East to the African continent, and even here in our own hemisphere, our veterans have made the world a better place and

America the great country we are today.” – John Hoeven

www.tif nmotorhomes.com

Jack Elliott made a decision almost 40 years ago that changed his life forever – and it’s one that he’s never regretted.

Jack and his wife, Brenda, had been living in Cicero, Ill., just two blocks removed from the Chicago city limits, for 10 years when he came home from his job at Industrial Pipe and Supply one afternoon and told his wife that she had two weeks to have everything packed up and ready to move.

“We had two small sons and the oldest had just started school and I had seen enough to know that I was ready to move back to the South,” he said.

For the Elliotts, a move to Red Bay was a natural t. Jack was a farmer’s son from Cherokee and Brenda grew up in nearby Golden, Miss.

“I was very fortunate because Bob Tif n was looking for someone to handle purchasing,” he said of his hiring, just 22 months after Tif n Motorhomes opened for business.

Elliott will mark his 40th anniversary with the company on July 1.

“That was quite an experience for me because I had never worked in an of ce setting before,” Elliott said. “Bob and I were the only two people we had handling purchasing back then.”

After handling the company’s purchasing responsibilities for several years, it took a major national crisis to get him out of that role.

“In the spring of 1981 there was a major fuel shortage and motorhome sales had basically stopped,” Elliott said. “We kept building them so we would be prepared when things got better. We reached a point where we had about 100-120 motorhomes built and ready to go. I can remember Bob Tif n telling me, Jack Bostick and Kelly Hester that we had to move those units.”

For the next year, the three were on the road working to estab-lish new dealers and nd buyers for the existing coaches.

“When things started picking back up, I moved to the ware-house and worked in the parts department,” he said.

In the mid-1990s, Elliott began overseeing the dispatch de-partment, which schedules drivers and shipping motorhomes to dealers. It was there that Elliott made relationships with dealers that led to a natural transition to the sales department in 2000. That’s where he has remained since.

In his current role, Elliott calls on dealers that range from south Georgia to North Dakota and works to set up major shows, such as the annual RVDA-RVIA event in Louisville, Ky.

“I really love my job,” he said. “I always have. When I came to work here I never dreamed it would grow to become as success-ful as it has. I have been fortunate enough to see all the changes over the years and it has been fun to watch.”

But don’t let a little thing like a 40-year anniversary give the impression that he may be looking at retirement.

“I don’t ever think about retirement,” he said. “There is only so much you can do around the house. My career here has seen the ups and downs of the industry and it’s been a fun ride. It has been very good to me and my family and I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

In the rare time when he’s not at the plant, Jack and Brenda love to travel on their Honda Gold Wing trike. He’s also quick to point out how proud he is of his three grandchildren.

His son Randy has one daughter, Allyson, who is a student at Itawamba Community College pursuing a degree in forensic science. His youngest son, Tracy, has a daughter, Laken, who is a cheerleader and student at the University of Alabama plan-ning a career as a nurse anesthetist, and a son, Tra, who works as a student manager with the women’s basketball program at Shelton State Community College and is pursuing a career in physical therapy.

During Jack Elliott’s 40-year career with TMH he has seen the product line change from motorhomes like this 1976 Allegro (left) to this custom-built 2014 Allegro Bus (right).Jack ElliottJack Elliott

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