Five years
ago on Washington's Birthday, the American Village in Montevallo dedicated the
National Veterans Shrine and Register of Honor. Over 1,000 people gathered that
February day for the opening of a remarkable place dedicated to the men and
women in every generation since the American Revolution who have served and sacrificed
for liberty.
Each of
these heroes – these veterans – is someone’s child. They came from all
walks of life to answer our country’s call. They served in war and peace;
lives were changed. They became a band of brothers, and sisters. They all have
stories that must be told. The National Veterans Shrine is a place to tell
those stories.
The
National Veterans Shrine is patterned after historic Carpenters Hall of
Philadelphia, meeting place of the first Continental Congress. A historic
marker at Carpenters Hall says, "Within these walls, Henry, Hancock and Adams
inspired the delegates of the Colonies with nerve and sinew for the toils of
war."
In his
remarks at the dedication of the National Veterans Shrine, American Village
Founder and President Tom Walker said,
"In years to come this place will be known to inspire
citizens with the stories of our veterans who have borne the burden of the
toils of war and keeping the peace. When our founders wrote the
Declaration of Independence, they knew a cold, sobering
truth: independence and liberty would come at a very high price. They
resolved:
For the support of this
Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we
mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
"This was and is the high price of liberty: the
necessity to pledge one’s life, fortune, and sacred honor. We bear witness to
that truth: the story of American liberty is written not only in ink on
parchment, but in the blood of service and sacrifice."
“The most important element of the National Veterans Shrine
comes from each of you, and we invite you to gather the stories, photos and
information about the everyday heroes you know who enlisted in times of war and
times of peace.”
Every
person reading this knows someone who has served or is serving in the United
States Armed Forces, and all should be honored. You can do that
by entering them in the Veterans Register of Honor, a website and database
housed in the National Veterans Shrine. They will be honored for all time, and
here their families can see a personalized and individualized video that
salutes that veteran. To find out how, visit www.veteransregisterofhonor.com. Help remember the
price of liberty, and those who have paid it.
The American Village
is located at 3727 Highway 119 in Montevallo, Alabama. For more information,
visit our website, www.americanvillage.org.