Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs celebrates 80th anniversary
The Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs has hosted an 80th anniversary luncheon to commemorate eight decades of service to Alabama’s veterans and their families.
At today’s luncheon, held at the RSA Activity Center in downtown Montgomery, Gov. Kay Ivey along with the oldest and youngest working employee with ADVA cut the 80th anniversary cake, which symbolizes the passing of knowledge from the oldest to the youngest employee.
ADVA Commissioner Jeff Newton said there are big plans ahead.
“We’re going to increase the number of VSOs, veterans service offices, are out in several of our counties,” he said. “We’re also pursuing property and negotiating property for a second state veterans memorial cemetery in north Alabama, in the Huntsville area, so we’re very excited about that. We’re about to get started on that negotiation and lastly, we are partnering with Tunnel to Towers in building their Veterans Village homeless veterans village in Birmingham.”
The event also honored the agency’s legacy, Seaman Second Class Harry Jackson, Jr. He is a World War II U.S. Navy veteran who served on a submarine chaser three weeks off the coast of Normandy during and after D-Day. He also will celebrate his 100th birthday next month.
Speakers at the luncheon included Gov. Kay Ivey, Alabama Power chairman/president & CEO Jeff Peoples and ADVA Commissioner Jeff Newton.
