Monday’s annual Memorial Day ceremony gave residents the chance to remember those who sacrificed their lives in the name of freedom, but it also provided an opportunity to right some wrongs.

The event, sponsored by the American Legion Post 49 and held for the first time at the Limestone County Event Center, featured a surprise segment not listed on the program. Though discharged from military service 67 years ago, Theo Calvin was finally awarded medals he earned while fighting enemy forces during World War II.

“This is a special opportunity to recognize one of your own,” said Lt. Gen. Richard Formica, keynote speaker at the event. “From time to time, our Army makes mistakes. I’m pleased to have the honor and privilege of correcting that.”

Calvin, 89, served as a staff sergeant in the Army and was a member of the 1st Infantry under Gen. George Patton. He saw action in some of the war’s epic battles, including the invasion of Sicily, Omaha Beach, French Morocco and Algeria.

He was awarded two Purple Hearts, a Good Conduct medal and several campaign ribbons. However, the Army failed to award him the Bronze Star, Combat Infantry badge, World War II Victory medal, Army of Occupation Medal with German clasp and Belgium Fourragere.

Formica credited the efforts of Sandy Thompson, director of the Alabama Veterans Museum, for taking the initiative to ensure Calvin received the appropriate honors.

“(Thompson) asked me if I would be willing to present the awards today and I had to think about it for one second,” he said. “I knew it was an opportunity to right those wrongs.”

While sitting in a chair in front of the hundreds in attendance, Formica presented the long-overdue medals to Calvin as his wife Virginia stood at his side. Following the presentation, he was given a standing ovation.

Not a happy day

Formica said many people get wrapped up in the fact Memorial Day weekend signifies the start of summer, and that it’s a day off for most Americans. He’s heard others wish someone a “Happy Memorial Day,” but said there’s nothing happy about the observance.

“It’s a solemn day in which we remember those who died serving the country,” he said. “It might even be a good day, but it isn’t a happy day.”

Formica assumed command of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command / Army Forces Strategic Command on Dec. 15. His previous assignment was on the Department of the Army Headquarters (HQDA) staff as special assistant to the chief of staff of the Army where he worked HQDA Air and Missile Defense Task Force and other missile defense related issues.

He took a moment Monday to speak about six soldiers who were killed in the Mideast while he commanded the III Corps Artillery out of Fort Sill, Okla. He said a total of 20 soldiers were killed while he commanded the unit.

“I didn’t know them individually, but I have come to know them in death,” he said.

Three died because their aircraft was misidentified and shot down by friendly fire. He spoke of Jose Perez, a medic, who was killed by a sniper will driving his first sergeant. After being shot in the neck, Formica said, Perez sped up to get the sergeant out of harm’s way before dying behind the wheel of the Humvee.

The last two soldiers he spoke of were Sgt. 1st Class Clinton Wisdom and Sgt. Don Clary of the Kansas National Guard battalion. He said they were as part of a convoy escort ensuring the safety of a visiting dignitary.

In the distance, Formica said, the men saw a speeding car approaching, and the soldiers took action to place their vehicle between the speeding car and the dignitary’s vehicle. The car, filled with explosives, collided with the soldiers, and both men were killed instantly.

Formica said there isn’t a day that goes by he doesn’t think about those six men and how they volunteered to serve after the country went to war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“They put their lives on the line for you, me, their comrades and their country,” he said. “None of them planned to die, but all died in service to their country. We are grateful to them for the ultimate sacrifice.”

Roll call

At each Memorial Day ceremony, a list of names are read signifying veterans who have passed away since the previous year. There were 183 names read aloud this year, whereas there were 152 last year. This year’s list included:

James Wahlon Adams

Kenneth Dewey Allen

Caroll  A.  Anderson,,Sr.

Aaron Andrew Arnett

William Robert Bailey

Gary Allen Baker

Elmer Dewey Bartlett

Morris E. Berzett

Joey Anthony Black

Fredrick A. Bonney

George Edward Bracey

Robert Morris Brewer

Thomas Walter Buckelew

Leroy Raymond Campbell

Lyndon Joel Campbell

Malcolm Oliver Carter

Robert E. Chaffer

Alice Irene Chandler

Charles William Christopher

Robert Leon Clark

Elmer Daily Clay

Thomas Julice Clem

William Henry Clemons

Willis Clutts

Mack Wilkinson Coleman

Byrum H. Collier

Joseph Hagan Collier

Billy Joe Cook

George Harrison Cook

George Francis Cooper

Riley James Cooper, Jr.

Wilson Pryor Corder

Lester Maylon Cross

George Clayton Davis

Clayton Francis Davis

James Davis

Jerry Wayne Day

Lucian Joseph Demers

Bobby Joe Draper

James Lester Dugger

Bobby Neal Duncan

James Horace Dungy

 Doyle Eugene Eastep

William Thomas Escue

George R. Evans

Martin Westmoreland Evans

Glenn Ray Ezell

Deborah Cheryl Fabacher

Charles Fann

Richard Hollis Faulk

Clifford Harry Fleming

Daniel Calvin Foard

William Elwood Fox

Buford Adam Franklin

Liford Easley French

Gordon William Frix

Curtis Edward Fudge

James Marion Gallien

Morris Ray Gatlin

Thomas Buel Gladney, Sr.

Frank Bobby Goode, Jr.

William Groendyke  

Bobby Douglas Hall

Helen  Veronica Hammond

William Osmond Harrison

Milton Charles Hawie

Robert Heard

Quitman Miller Hennesse

Alan Michael Heusier

William Hicks

Henry Hoy Higginbotham

Edward Hightower

Mahlon Joe Holland

Robert Edward Holland, Jr.

Donna Jean Holman

Oakley Wayland Holt

Huey F. Hope

William Hunter Horton

Charles Owen Hudson

Calvin C. Inman

James Bishop Jackson

Mark Allen Jackson

Homer Lee Jewel

Elmo Charles Johnson

 James B. Joslin

Thomas Odell Kellum

Rodney Blythe Kerr

Donald Sherron Killen

Larry King

Lonnie King

Franklin Rickey Knowles

Joseph  Krepelka

Mickey Allen  Kunter

Dwight Randolph Kyle

Calvin Edward Lamar

William Paul Lasseter

James Weilliam Lawrence

Grover C. Lawson, Jr.

David Edwin Leake

Sydney Archie Lehr

Jesse Earl Long, Jr.

Olin Mattison Looney

Frank Babson Lutz

Deward Bennie Malone

J.D. Martin, Jr.

Bobby Joe McAllister

Edward D. McColley

Patrick Pearce McCue

O. C. McGee

William James McGowan III

William McGreger

David Earl Milholen

Wendell Bryan Miller

John Bert Miller

Winston Smith Morris

Melvin Theodore Moyers

John Thomas Nesbitt

William Leonard Norris

George Leon Oliver

Alan  Dale Olson

Malcolm Pack

Ryan Kenneth Parker

Lee Acklin Parsons

Virgil Curtis Peoples

Lloyd Pogue

King Charles Poole

Howard Leon Pope

John D. Poteete, Jr,

 William M. Prestage, Jr.

Joseph Edward Price

James Orville Pugh

George Ray, Jr.

H.L. Redding

Ules Grady Reid, Jr.

Donald Eugene Rice

Alvin Lenoir Robison

Roy James  Rodems

Carlos Ray Rogers

James Emmett Rosenberger

Phillip Hugh Rowe

Gary Steven Sanders

Duane Lorraine Schaar

Mary Scudiere

Jerald David Simmons

Hoyt Eugene Sims, Jr.

Lifford E. Smith

Carl Stewart Smith, Jr.

Thomas Christian Sorensen

Riley Flannery Sparks

Charles E. Sprayberry

James David Springer

Larry Wayne Sprouse

Charnie Olander Staggs

Ray Winford Steele, Sr.

Timothy Eugene Stewart

Gene Wilson Stewart, Sr

William Robert Stinnett

Frank Xavier Stutz

Joseph C. Sugg

James McCalister Sutton

James Kenneth Taylor

Almon Terry

Rodel Thacker

Herman E. Thomason

James Granville Thornton

Robert Luther Thrasher

Joseph George Tifft

Robert Eugene Timmons

Edgar A. Townsend, Sr.

Robert Turner

 Walter Jennings Varney

Glenn Vaughn

Gene Lamar Walker

Hubert Ward

Alton Lee Watkins

James Harold Webb

Wiiliam Mayhew Weddington

 Ashford T. White

William Deamer  Whitt

Billie Earl William

Madison E.  Woodfin, jr.

Raymond Lester Youmans