The Suburban Newspaper for Mountain Brook, Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Hoover and North Shelby County
OVER THE MOUNTAIN
JOU RNAL OTMJ.COM
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012
INSIDE Art celebrates nature at Moss Rock Festival
ABOUT TOWN PAGE 3
VOL. 22 #21
A PLACE TO REMEMBER DeMarco gives optimistic report on stateʼs finances
NEWS PAGE 10
Bone Bash frightfully good time for everyone
SOCIAL PAGE 14
Veterans from Over the Mountain communities will participate in a memorial ceremony at Alabama Veterans Memorial Park. From left: Greg Umphrey, Robert Sciacca, Thomas Nequette and Kent Palcanis. The park features the names of Alabama veterans, along with patriotic artwork like the casting below.
Journal photo by Keysha Drexel
OTM Veterans to be Honored at Memorial Ceremony BY KEYSHA DREXEL
O
JOURNAL EDITOR
n Nov. 11, as part of the Patriotic Tribute at Alabama Veterans Memorial Park in Vestavia Hills, four former soldiers from Over the Mountain will come together to honor each other and all who have served their country in the military. The men will take part in the park’s StepStones Ceremony, where bricks inscribed with veterans’ names are placed on a walkway encircling an American flag. The flag on the park’s American Flag Plaza is so tall, it can be seen from Interstate 459. Earlier this year, Thomas Nequette of Hoover, a former captain in the U.S. Marines, was honored by his lifelong friend and fellow military veteran Dr. Robert Sciacca, also of Hoover. Dr. Greg of Crestline, a former captain in the U.S. Army, will be honored with a brick at the StepStone memorial Nov. 11 by Dr. Kent Palcanis of Forest Park, who served
Patriotic Tribute When: Nov. 11, 1:30-3:30 p.m. Where: Alabama Veterans Memorial Park For more info call 985-9488 or email avstephens@gmail. com
in the U.S. Air Force. Thomas said to be honored with a StepStone brick was a defining moment for him. He said for many veterans, the StepStones and other such memorials mean more to them than their tombstones do. “Very few people will visit your tombstone--maybe your family every once in a while--but with a tribute like this, you know you are being honored alongside so many other veterans, so many other people who
served their country. It’s something I hope my grandkids’ grandkids can see and think about,” he said. To have the StepStone dedicated to him by his lifelong friend made the moment even more special, Thomas said. “It meant something special because I’ve known Rob since we were in high school together in Wisconsin,” Thomas said. “He knows me, knows that I proudly served my country and all that I experienced in the military, so coming from him, it was an incredible honor.” Thomas was a helicopter pilot during Vietnam, and Robert also served in Vietnam. Their friendship has spanned states, continents and several years. “After high school in Wisconsin, I went to college to play football, and Tom went into the military. I got my college degree on the same day I got my 1-A notice, and then I was off to Vietnam, too” Robert said. The 1-A notice was kind of like a draft See VETERANS, page 13
Tena Payne makes a life out of clay HOME PAGE 23
Publishing Party to celebrate The Altamontʼs Hames
SCHOOLS PAGE 37
SUE MURPHY ON HOLIDAY MENUS P. 2•YOUNG LIFE BUILT TO LAST P. 6•CANDIDATE PROFILES PART II P. 10•ROBERT S. VANCE JR. GUIDED BY FATHERʼS EXAMPLE P. 12