Honoring Our Heroes ~Memorial
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“THE PEOPLE’S PAPER” VOL. 21 ISSUE 8 ~ MAY 2021 [email protected] Online: www.alabamagazette.com 20 Pages – 2 Sections ©2021 Montgomery, Autauga, Elmore, Crenshaw, Tallapoosa, Pike and Surrounding Counties 334-356-6700 Honoring our Heroes ~ Memorial Day ~ May 31st Those who valiantly fought for our Freedom deserve to be honored every Memorial Day Originally known as Decoration Day , Memorial Day originated in the years follow - ing the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971 . Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gather - ings and participating in parades. In 1968 Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May . The same law also declared Memorial Day a federal holiday. Each year on Memorial Day a national moment of remembrance takes place at 3:00 p.m. local time. Early Observances of Memorial Day The Civil War, which ended in the spring of 1865, claimed more lives than any AR OF conflict in U.S. history and required the establishment of the country’s first national W www.history.c1om 912 cemeteries. By the late 1860s, Americans in various towns and cities had begun holding springtime tributes to these countless fallen soldiers, decorating their graves with flowers and reciting prayers. In 1966 the federal government declared Waterloo, New York, the official birthplace of Memorial Day. Waterloo—which first celebrated the day on May 5, 1866—was chosen because it hosted an annual, community-wide event, during which businesses closed and residents decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags. Decoration Day On May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan, leader of an organization for Northern Civil War veterans, called for a nationwide day of remembrance later that month. “The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and W ORLD W AR I hamlet churchyard in the land,” he proclaimed. The date of Decoration Day, as he Wikimedia Commons called it, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular battle. ORLD AR OREAN AR IETNAM W NationalW Archives II Kmygundiary.blogspoWt.com iriaxeVobilingue.blogspot.com PRSRT STD GAZETTE PUBLISHING US POSTAGE PAID 12 East Jefferson St. MONTGOMERY, AL Montgomery, AL 36104 PAGE 3A PERMIT #69 2A May 2021 Dr. Martha Poole Simmons HThomaso Millner Deroicksorn Jri.: Ange 95 g OLuawrernce EdwHard Moerrowr, Sr.oes Thomas Miller Lawrence Edward Morrow was a U.S. Air Derickson, Jr. served two years in the U.S. Navy Force fighter pilot who lost his life at age 25 during WWII as a diesel mechanic at the rank of while serving his country on a TDY deployment Motor Machinists’ Mate Third Class. He received to Okinawa. His F4 jet fighter exploded when it the following ribbons: Victory Ribbon and Asiatic crash-landed in the Pacific Ocean following a Pacific Campaign Ribbon. touch and go landing. Morrow served three years Derickson was born July 4, 1925, in Meridian, doing exactly what he had always wanted to do. MS, to his parents, Thomas M. Derickson, Sr. and Morrow was born September 7, 1939, to his Myrtis Derickson. He was reared in Montgomery, mother, Jessie Woodman, and he was adopted by AL, where he played trombone in the band and MSG L. M. Morrow, his stepfather. He was graduated from Lanier High School in 1943. He reared predominantly in Montgomery, AL, and he volunteered to serve in the Navy, entering military graduated from Lanier High School in January service February 22, 1944, and he completed his 1958. Morrow enlisted in the AL Air National Boot Camp Training at the US Naval Training Station Guard and attended the University of AL for three at Sampson, New York. Following this training, years majoring in aeronautical engineering. In Air Force veteran, Lawrence Derickson was trained at the Naval Training Center 1961, because he had scored so high on tests Edward Morrow. He was killed 55 at Gulfport, MS, in basic engineering and diesel when he joined the Air National Guard (ANG) years ago when his F4 jet fighter mechanics. From there, he was sent to serve at Pearl and because of the shortage of pilots with the crashed into the Pacific Ocean Harbor at the Advanced Base Reshipment Depot ANG, he was offered the opportunity to leave col - near Okinawa. where he worked repairing automobiles and trucks at lege and receive pilot training. Morrow reported for duty at the ANG in Mont - the base until WWII ended. His work was an impor - gomery entering as a 2nd Lt. and completed13 months of pilot training at Craig tant part of the support effort for the victory of American military in the Pacific Theater. Derickson AFB in Selma, AL, receiving his wings in May, 1962. He was sent to McDill was discharged April 19, 1946. AFB, FL, and then to Okinawa for TDY for three and one-half months where Derickson’s reflections on his military service he lost his life May 24, 1965, during night flying. Morrow’s name is listed on a are, “It meant that I was patriotic. All my friends Wall of Remembrance in Colorado Springs, CO. were in the service. I went in right after high school Morrow was respected and admired by NCO personnel. In 2001, a veteran at age 18. I was more mature when I left the service. NCO who had been stationed in Okinawa in 1965, called one of Morrow’s sons My brother served at Guadalcanal.” to tell him a story about his dad. The veteran stated that Morrow was the only When Derickson returned to Alabama, he used the G.I. Bill and received a B.S. pilot officer who would take time to chat informally with the NCO’S on the Degree in Accounting from Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn University) in flight line. Morrow’s service as a fighter pilot involved hazardous missions. 1949. Then he began his long, successful career as an accountant. He returned to While in Okinawa, Morrow was sent on a mission to photograph a Russian MiG Montgomery and worked for Gulf Area Building Supplies for one year, Foshee aircraft over Japan. Guns were removed from Morrow’s F-4 plane and replaced Lumber Company for one year, Arctic Traveler for three years, Kershaw Manufac - with cameras. Morrow was successful in getting vital pictures of the MiG’s turing Company for five years, and W.S. Newell Construction Company for 57 where other pilots had failed. He was awarded a medal and commendation years. He continued working until January 2021 and retired at age 95. posthumously. Derickson and his wife, Martha, were married for 53 years before she passed Morrow was married to his wife, Patsy, for seven years, and they had two away, and they had three children and four grandchildren. He has one stepchild and sons who were ages 18 months and two months old when he left for TDY at two step-grandchildren with his wife, Judy, with whom he has been married for 20 Okinawa. They had three grandchildren. His wife remembers Morrow saying, years. He and Judy enjoy attending concerts by the Montgomery Symphony “There is one thing that I want to do. I want to fly jets.” Morrow was an active Orchestra and attending plays by the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. They often member of a Baptist Church, and he enjoyed playing golf as well as playing his travel to the mountainous areas of Mentone, AL, on the crest of Look Out Mountain guitar and singing. or to the Gulf Coast area at Orange Beach, AL. They have enjoyed visiting all of the Alabama State Parks and going on cruises. They have been part of a supper Lawrence Edward, Jr. at age 35 wrote this poem in honor of his father: group with other couples for 35 years in Montgomery, and they are active members of Christ Church Anglican where they were founding members. Prior to the found - The Lead ing of the Christ Church Anglican, he was actively involved in his former church, the Church of the Ascension, serving as Senior Warden on the Outreach Committee, The night was black when you disappeared, teaching Sunday school and serving as the church’s treasurer. Derickson also the weather not particularly bad. spearheaded three different campaigns to build houses for Habitat for Humanity. I know this was something we all feared Derickson has served as the President of the Montgomery Civitan Club. He has and the darkness took away my Dad. been active in the Sons of Confederate Veterans serving as the Adjutant, and he I’ve been told about the man you were, enjoys visiting Civil War battlefields. The way your smile could lift everyone. After 18 years, he retired from delivering Meals on Wheels for Montgomery Although your passion was flying, I’m sure Area Council on Aging (MACOA). An avid Auburn football fan, Thomas and Judy Your love was your wife and two sons. attended many Auburn football games until just a few years ago. “War Eagle!” My mother gave me the strength and hope, The courage to hold my head high. Col John M. Vickery: Age 77 She held me close as I try to cope and stare into the night sky. Col John M. Vickery personi - fied true patriotism and heroism Black as pitch, no light above, throughout his 24 years and nine you fall into the sea.