Darby's Rangers vet to attend

[SR-25]

Wednesday, November 10, 2004
By SHELBY G. SPIRES
Times Aerospace Writer shelbys@htimes.com
This year's Veterans Day celebration in Huntsville will have one of Alabama's homegrown stars leading the parade along with a celebrated World War II veteran.

The 11 a.m. parade will feature Randy Owen, lead singer with the group Alabama, as the parade's grand marshal. Maj. Gen. Howard Garrison, a World War II veteran and a former company commander in the famous commando unit, Darby's Rangers, will accompany Owen in the lead vehicle.

Darby's Rangers were organized by Army Col. William Darby as a light commando-type outfit to fight the Germans in North Africa and Italy during World War II.

Ed Banville, a Veterans Day parade organizer, said Owen was asked to be the grand marshal because of his history of tribute to veterans. Owen performed Alabama's hit "My Home's in Alabama" here in 2000 when the remains of Sgt. Billy Ray Laney were returned to North Alabama from Vietnam.

"He has continually performed actions for veterans," said Banville. "Randy has taken the lead to help the St. Jude's Hospital Children's charity and has raised over $60 million himself in that great cause, which affects many Americans, including veterans and military families."

Banville said that Owen and his wife, Kelly, have arranged for a large float to be in the parade.

The parade will begin across from the U.S. Post Office on Clinton Avenue and will pass Veterans' Memorial Park, where local veterans have been invited to view the parade under a covered tent.

This year's theme for the Veterans Day events is "Blue Star Banner Pride." The Blue Star Banner is displayed as a tribute by families who have loved ones serving in a combat zone.

"We've produced decals and presented nearly 1,000 banners to immediate family members from Madison County," said Bill Meiers, commander of Madison's American Legion Post 229. "This year our veterans are honoring (soldiers) serving overseas and their families here at home. "

It is a sign of respect to have veterans who live in North Alabama saluting a new generation of veterans now serving in hostile countries around the globe, said Bob Drolet, a retired Army brigadier general and now vice president in charge of Lockheed Martin's Space Technology Division in Huntsville.

"Many of us have fought in horrid conditions against a well (supported) enemy," he said. "We also know what pressure and concern it is on those family members left here at home."