Alabama honors its war dead

Montgomery - Alabama honored its 92 dead soldiers, sailors and airmen who have died in the war on terror with a solemn ceremony Tuesday that included the presentation of a memorial containing their photographs.

"You look at the memorial we're dedicating today and you will see the faces of a new generation of American heroes," Gov. Bob Riley said.

Riley then turned his thoughts to the attending family members of the dead. "Every American owes each of you a debt that can never be repaid," he said.

Family members from the Shoals were among those in attendance.

Genice Nelson, the mother of 20-year-old Army Spc. James "Jamie" Lindsey, attended the ceremony with her husband, Mike Nelson, both of Florence. Their son died April 12 when the vehicle he was driving hit an improvised explosive device.

Genice Nelson said the ceremony was a tribute to members of the military. "It was very nice," she said.

Jamie Lindsey was a member of an Army airborne division and had been in Iraq since October 2006. He was married and is also the son of Tony Lindsey, of Russellville.

Marine Cpl. Matthew D. Conley, of Killen, died Feb. 18, 2006, after a similar device exploded near his vehicle.

Conley's parents, Tommy and Debbie Conley, of Killen, sister Allison Conley, and grandfather Billy Curbow, of Greenhill, attended. The parents wore dog tags with an engraved picture of their son.

"I think it's great, it's something to remember the soldiers by," Debbie Conley said.

Tommy Conley said his son was to have returned home the month after he died for the birth of his daughter.

Clyde Marsh, director of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, said his agency will propose new veterans' benefits for survivors of service-related deaths and for veterans with more than 20 percent service-related disabilities.

He said he'll ask the Legislature in February to extend free college, junior college and technical school tuition for surviving spouses and children of war dead. The increase will cover five years of tuition rather than four. Riley said he supports the proposal.

"I want the two additional semesters for family members because it's hard to finish college in four years," Marsh said.

The memorial is in a central place in the Old Supreme Court room of the Capitol.

It contains three panels of 90 names and photographs of the men and women with connections to Alabama who have died either in combat or in support of combat efforts in the war on terror in Afghanistan and Iraq since Sept. 11, 2001.

One name was omitted. A separate plaque contains the name of the most recent casualty.

Next to the pictorial is the Fallen Comrade Memorial, an inverted replica M-16 bayoneted into a stand containing name tags. A helmet cradles the rifle butt, signifying a war casualty. Dog tags dangle from the rifle.

The Fallen Comrade Memorial was presented by members of the Patriot Guard Riders and Gold Star Families.

While the ceremony unfolded, Patriot Rider motorcycle honor guards lined the walls of the Old Supreme Court room as is customary at funerals and ceremonies for war dead.

"We came to support families and show our appreciation for the soldiers fighting for us," said Alan Jackson. He rode his Yamaha V-Star with friend Kaye Hollon from Blount County to Montgomery.

State Tourism Director Lee Sentell, whose agency prepared the exhibit, said there was debate over who was actually from Alabama and should be listed on the memorial. He said typographical errors will be corrected.

Riley said he got the idea for a memorial after seeing one like it at a congressional office in Washington, D.C.

"I wanted a place where when everyone comes through they'll see a roped-off, solemn place that will cause them to slow down and be reverent," Riley said. "I hope I never add another (name) to it."

Dana Beyerle can be reached at (334) 264-6605.