honor

This Labor Day let’s honor Alabama’s workers

In July, the Southwest Alabama Labor Council made the tough decision to cancel what was going to be our 75th annual Labor Day Parade in Mobile in order to ensure the safety of our affiliates, members, and the general public. Needless to say, I’m crushed. Each year, there’s nothing I look forward to more than … Continued

Bren Riley

September 7, 2020

Opinion

Our sacred honor

This weekend America will celebrate its 244th birthday. Unfortunately, we do so in a time of a pandemic, a struggling economy, and violent protests. But, it’s still our birthday, and we should both commemorate and celebrate it. We usually do a good job in our celebration, although this year will be different since social distancing … Continued

Bradley Byrne

June 30, 2020

Opinion

It is good to honor our veterans, but it is better to take action

The word “sacrifice” gets used a lot, but it can be difficult to truly appreciate the full meaning of that word. For one group of people, “sacrifice” takes on a special meaning. This weekend we honor our nation’s veterans. While Memorial Day is set aside to remember those who died in military service, Veteran’s Day … Continued

Craig Ford

November 8, 2019

Opinion

Legends of Girls State

For almost 100 years one of, if not the best annual event for young Alabama High School leaders in Alabama has been the Alabama Boys State and the Alabama Girls State programs. These events are sponsored by the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary. Boys State and Girls State are sponsored nationwide by the … Continued

Steve Flowers

June 5, 2019

Opinion

Honoring our fallen heroes on Memorial Day

This Memorial Day, I ask that we all take time to remember and honor the Alabamians, and men and women from across the country, who have given their lives while serving in our nation’s armed forces. They—and their families—have sacrificed more than most of us can ever imagine in order to defend our country both … Continued

Doug Jones

May 27, 2019

Sen. Doug Jones sponsors bipartisan resolution honoring service of military retirees

Sen. Doug Jones, D-Alabama, introduced a resolution that will make April 18, 2019, “Military Retiree Appreciation Day” to honor military retirees. The resolution aims to commemorate the approximately 2 million retired service members, 60,000 of whom are Alabamians, across the U.S. “Our military retirees have sacrificed so much to serve our nation and continue to … Continued

Jessica Ballard

March 21, 2019

Three Alabamians recognized at White House during Black History Month event

Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington and Gov. Kay Ivey’s Minority Affairs Director Nichelle Nix were among 350 guests selected to attend a reception hosted by President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump in honor of Black History Month. The event Thursday evening honored the extraordinary contributions of African-Americans across the country. Ivey … Continued

Chip Brownlee

February 25, 2019

National Inventors Hall of Fame honors three Alabamians during Black History Month

In honor of Black History Month, the National Inventors Hall of Fame is celebrating three black inventors from Alabama for their contributions to innovation that have helped progress society. Andrew Beard, born a slave in Woodland, Alabama, in 1849 and was emancipated at age 15. He developed several plow patents for his own farm. After … Continued

Gabby Dance

February 18, 2019

Opinion

Alabama’s continued honoring of Robert Lee is a slap in the face to black Americans

Today, the State of Alabama will honor two men. One was a man who advocated for peace and justice, who led peaceful protests and demanded non-violent resistance to abhorrent mistreatment of Americans based solely on the color of their skin. All across America, people will celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King … Continued

Josh Moon

January 21, 2019

Opinion

“Cussing” the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

Leaders of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute ought to be ashamed. They have tarnished the institute’s standing in a way that may be hard to recover from. Last fall, the board of the BCRI voted to honor author, activist, and scholar Dr. Angela Davis, a Birmingham native, with its Fred L. Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award. … Continued

Joey Kennedy

January 10, 2019