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The Valley High School gym was standing room only on Friday. The school hosted their first Veterans Day Program complete with color guard, speeches and community members who served in the armed forces. 

JROTC Instructor Sgt. First Class Chase Campbell gave the opening remarks. He began by thanking his cadets, who organized the event. Valley High students invited family and friends who served to join the festivities and a meal. 

One of his cadets, Lt. Scott Favors led the program in the cadet creed. 

The guest speaker for the program was LaFayette Fire and EMS chief Jim Doody. Doody served in the Air Force where he worked as a fire protection and rescue service. Before coming to LaFayette, the chief worked overseas as a fire protection specialist for the U.S. Army, including over a decade spent in Afghanistan as a base fire chief.

Doody used his time to discuss an effort he spearheaded to bring a 9/11 mobile exhibit. This will be the first time the exhibit comes to the state of Alabama. 

“The 9/11 Never Forget mobile exhibit is one piece of the Tunnel of the Towers Institute, which is committed to teaching people across the country about 9/11, the fallen and the heroic sacrifices of first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice to save lives,” he said.

The organization provides financial support to first responders and veterans, along with education outreach on 9/11 and its impact on the country. The mobile museum includes guides who worked on that day. Doody proudly announced that the unit will be coming to Opelika on Sept. 11 through Sept. 16 and will be open to the schools of Chambers County. 

The VHS band performed the different branches’ songs as members of the audience stood for their respective songs, followed by Taps in memory of those who died in action. 

David Owen, CCSD Assistant Superintendent gave the closing statement. 

“Each one of these veterans signed a blank check,” he said emotionally. “A blank check means you’re willing to give it all, and many did.”

He recounted how current Superintendent, Dr. Casey Chambley, decided to start the first

JROTC program in the county district. 

“Today, these 109 cadets stand as a testament to that vision.”

After the program, VHS principal Troy Kelley gave insight into the day. 

“Our cadets really organized the whole program,” he said. “This program actually exceeded, I think, what our original expectations and plans [were].”

The principal added that he was surprised that many of his students are disconnected from the events of Sept. 11 and the events that followed. He said the holiday is a reminder of these monumental events.

“I think it’s an important day for them to remember the tremendous sacrifices [veterans] made so they do have the freedoms that they have,” Kelley said. 

Kelley also discussed the renaming of the JROTC program to the JROTC Power Program, in honor of Michael Frederic Power, who was a former VHS teacher. Power served in the JROTC at Georgia Tech before being commissioned into the Marine Corps. 

Kelley said that the naming of the program, “Speaks to his legacy and his impact on the community.”