Vietnam veteran Anthony Lindner was a pilot who retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 4 in 1987. Lindner moved to Athens six years ago to be closer to family and now volunteers on Wednesdays at the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives.

This week I sat down with Anthony Lindner at the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives in honor of Memorial Day on Monday.

Anthony is originally from Bavaria, Germany. His mother was German and his father was an American soldier in the Army.

Anthony moved to America when he was 11 and came over on a converted destroyer ship called the USS Randall. He said he got very seasick on the journey.

His family lived in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and he graduated from Fayetteville High School. After joining the Army, Anthony earned a degree in social sciences at the University of Tampa while stationed at MacDill Air Force Base.

He wanted to be a Green Beret and went to jump school at the John F. Kennedy special warfare center in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was later sent to the Panama Canal Zone as part of the 8th Special Forces group.

After completing flight school, Anthony flew helicopters and was an instructor in all modes of flight including goggle, IFE instruments and flight examiner. He flew planes and choppers, including DUSTOFF (Dedicated Unhesitating Service to Our Fighting Forces) in 1972 and 1973 in Vietnam. Anthony also supported Korean Tiger division and pulled out wounded and KIA’s.

He retired in December 1987 as Chief Warrant Officer 4 at Fort Campbell with 20 years and three months of service. He then worked for Eastern Air Lines as first officer flying a Boeing 757 for two years.

Anthony moved to Athens six years ago to be closer to his family. He says he loves the quaint atmosphere, the history and the friendliness of the people. He also enjoys our town Square.

He is a member of the North Huntsville Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association and Vietnam Veterans of America chapter 511 in Athens. Anthony volunteers at the veterans museum on Wednesdays. If you would like to meet him, just visit the museum. The hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday. There is no charge, but donations are welcome.

At 11 a.m. Monday, the museum hosts its annual Memorial Day program at the Limestone County Event Center. The program is free to the public. Various veterans organizations will be represented there, and refreshments will be provided.

On June 4, the museum will host its monthly Coffee Call at 8 a.m. The museum will also have a booth at the 2016 Save Our Flying Heritage fly-in on June 4. The event lasts from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and admission is free. For more information, visit www.sofhmuseum.com.

Other upcoming community events include:

• Singing on The Square at 6 p.m. on Friday, June 3;

• The Athens-Limestone Rescue Squad will host an outdoor expo on Friday, June 3, and Saturday June 4. Friday hours are noon to 7 p.m. and Saturday is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, contact Henry Hampton at 256-431-3505 or Gina Crumpton at 256-497-6612.

If you have any news to share, please email me at agibbs@my.athens.edu or write to me at P.O. Box 553 Athens, AL 35612-0553. I hope to hear from you soon.

One more thing — when you finish reading this article please call your mother and tell her you love her. I sure wish I could call mine.