BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Members of the Reserve Organization of America recently attended the annual National Veterans Awards Dinner on Nov. 10.
Dozens of military-related entities participate each year, a tradition that began 75 years ago on Nov. 11, 1947 when Birmingham hosted the first official observance with support from Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Col. Don Brown, U.S. Air Force retired and member of the Southeast Alabama Chapter, emphasized the importance of ROA leaders “showing up.”
“We have to show up and participate,” said Brown. “ROA in Alabama has done this for many years.”
ROA President-Elect Layne Wroblewski sat at the head table and was formally announced alongside Cmdr. Edward A. Isom, USN retired.
PICTURED ABOVE: Back row, left to right: Lt. Col. Paul Baird, USAF Ret., Department of Alabama past president; ROA President-Elect Lt. Col. Layne R. Wroblewski, USAFR; and Col. Don Brown, USAF Ret., Ala. Chapter president.
Front row, left to right: Col. Bill Forshey, USAF Ret., past Ala. Department president and Ala. National Council Representative, now Secretary Treasurer of the Ala. Chapter; and Reece Newsome, MD, Major, USA retired, the current President of the new Department of the South, who traveled from Louisiana to attend.