PARA, Local Groups Plan Drive-In Veterans Day Event

TUSCALOOSA, AL. — Tuscaloosa County Park & Recreation Authority (PARA) and other local veterans groups will host a drive-in Veterans Day program Nov. 11 that will be free and open to the public. The event will be put on by PARA and the Veterans Memorial Park Association, along with the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center and the University of Alabama Office of Veteran and Military Affairs.

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Colonel Duane Lamb, chairman of the Veterans Memorial Park Association, said the program will be drive-in only, due to ongoing concerns for safety due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The program will be broadcast via radio, and everyone can drive-in and tune-in while in the safety and comfort of their own vehicle," Lamb said. "This is a change but an easily adaptable solution."

The keynote speaker for the program will be Major General William S. Lee, commanding general of the 3rd Medical Command. According to PARA, Lee’s service includes a variety of medical and military command assignments.

A native of Marion, Alabama, Lee served seven years as a field surgeon for the 109th Evacuation Hospital, including mobilization to the Caribbean in support of Operation Hugo Relief. He also served as an EMT director for the 109th Evacuation Hospital during Operation Desert Storm and as the 62nd Medical Group Patient Decontamination Team Chief.

He currently works as medical director at the Marion Clinic, in addition to roles at various longterm care facilities.

Those attending the program can tune in to 87.9 FM once at the park, but PARA says the program will not be available via radio outside of the immediate park area.

For more information on the event, call (205) 331-5600. Veterans Memorial Park is located at 1701 McFarland Blvd. East.

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