YOUNG AT HEART IN LIMESTONE: Veterans active in Athens-Limestone community

Published 3:00 pm Sunday, February 25, 2018

The Athens-Limestone community is a patriotic one, if for no other reason than the fact there is large number of former military members who have made their home here.

Perhaps it’s no surprise there are a number of activities catered specifically to veterans. One of the community’s biggest events is the annual Veterans Day parade, which features residents lined up along streets and sidewalks of downtown Athens showing their appreciation to veterans.

At least four veterans organizations are active in the community, and one of the area’s top tourist attractions is the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives on Pryor Street in Athens.

Museum Director Sandy Thompson, an Air Force veteran, is an Indiana native originally. After her husband retired from the Air Force, he took a job with a contractor at Redstone Arsenal.

“A lot of people walk out the door as military and then walk back in the same door as a civilian,” she said. “The arsenal brings a lot of people to this area.”

Thompson said the warm weather and economy are also reasons why veterans may find Alabama attractive. Alabama provides a lower cost of living than many other states, and military retirement pay is exempt from state, county and municipal income tax.

Of course, there’s also the people in the Tennessee Valley.

“Limestone County is a great place to live because the people are friendly and embrace you,” Thompson said.

Of course the arsenal isn’t the only reason why non-natives settle here. Charlie Plotz, who served nine years in Nuclear Navy, is an Ohio native. He retired last year after working 11 years for the Tennessee Valley Authority at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, and he now volunteers at the Alabama Veterans Museum. Prior to that, he worked 23 years at the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Generating Station outside Dothan.

He said he settled in the South because he spent two years in Panama City, Florida, and enjoyed the weather.

Veterans organizations

The nonprofit Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives is one of the largest local veterans organizations and features a number of veterans as guides and volunteers. Thompson said most of the museum’s annual visitors are also veterans, and many have a connection to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville.

“That’s certainly our target audience,” she said.

The museum, which offers free admission, is in the middle of an ambitious fundraising effort to build a new facility. There are simply too many displays and artifacts to display in the current building, which once served as a train depot in downtown Athens.

The museum hosts a number of events each year, including an annual Memorial Day ceremony at the Limestone County Event Center. Each local veterans organization is invited to participate, as is the Limestone County Burial Detail. The detail, also comprised of former service members, provides the 21-gun salute.

The museum is at 100 W. Pryor St. in Athens. It is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

There are a number of other groups for veterans like American Veterans Post 21, commonly known as AMVETS. Member Larry Stark said the club is open to veterans who have served since 1945.

The group distributes flags throughout the city as part of the “Flags Over Athens” program. The group installs flags on Hobbs Street and U.S. 31 on Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, POW-MIA Day and Veterans Day.

AMVETS also offers weekend entertainment and games at their post on Black Road. Dues are $35 per year. The group can be reached at 256-444-2793.

Other organizations

• American Legion Post 49: 124 Cloverleaf Drive, Athens, 35611 (256-230-6233);

• Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4765: 18615 Jefferson St., Athens, 35611 (256-233-1067); and

• Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 511: 17915 W. Elm St., Athens, 35611 (256-230-9511).