By SHERRY DIGMON
News Publisher
Atmore First Assembly of God Church’s 33rd Annual patriotic presentation Celebration of Freedom July 4, 1776 – 2022 continued a tradition of excellence Sunday, July 3. Each year, AFA presents a stirring program celebrating God and Country in song, recitations, and in honoring veterans. This year, four veterans were honored – John Benjamin Odom, Donald Ray Odom, the late Kenneth Robinson, and Robert (Bob) Nall.
Pastor Don Davis presented each honoree with a plaque after relating their service and commendations to the congregation.
- John Benjamin Odom, US Army, 1985-2005, Operation Iraqi Freemen, Kuwait and Iraq, C Co 711 Sig Bn, Foley, Alabama.
Medals, badges, citations include Army Achievement Medal (4th award); National Defense Service Medal (2nd award); War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; War on Terrorism Service Medal; Armed forces reserve Medal with “M” and Ten Year Devices; Combat Action Badge;
Presidential Unit citation Badge; Sharpshooter Badge (Rifle); Army Service Ribbon; Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon. - Donald Ray Odom, US Army, 1981-2002, Fort Knox, Kentucky; Germany, Co A 711 – Sig Bn, Atmore, Alabama.
Medals, badges, citations include Army Service Ribbon; National Defense Service Medal; Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters; Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Bronze Ten Year Device; Army Achievement Medal with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters; Army Good Conduct Medal; Faithful Service Medal of Alabama with 3 Bronze Saint Andrews Crosses; Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon; NCO Professional Development Ribbon with Num 2 Basic Recruiter Badge; Rifle M16 Exp Qual. Badge; Hand Grenade Exp Qual. Badge. - Kenneth Clyde Robinson (posthumously, award accepted by his son Kenneth Robinson Jr.), US Army, 1954-1959, Germany.
Medals, badges, citations include Subsistence Storage Specialist; Army Good Conduct Medal;
Army Occupational Medal (Germany); National Defense Medal; Expert (Rifle) Sharpshooter (Carbine). - Robert (Bob) H. Nall, US Air Force, 1969-1989, South Dakota, Nebraska, Nevada, Florida, Islands of Portugal, Alaska, Texas, and Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
Nall accepted a congressional appointment to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado and graduated in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in General Engineering. Over the next 20 years he served in Rapid City, South Dakota; Omaha, Nebraska; remote Radar Stie in Alaska; Las Vegas, Nevada; Fort Walton Beach, Florida; The Azores Islands of Portugal, at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. and retired from Abilene, Texas as Lieutenant Colonel.
He completed two Professional Military Education courses and obtained a Master’s Degree in Management.
Among other awards, he received the Joint Service Commendation Medal; two presentations of the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal; National Defense Medal; Good Conduct Medal; Overseas Service Ribbon.
Participating in the program were Sara Davis, Melinda Kriss, Carley Dempsey, Roy White, Roxanne Jordan, Daniel Campbell, Earl Bodiford and First Assembly of God Rangers, Sean Taylor, and Josh Barnes. Members of the orchestra were Susan Kirkland, Lisa Gray, Brandon Hetrick, Landon Kirkland, Lauren Campbell, and Daniel Campbell. The program was directed by Sara Davis and Sean Taylor.