POWERGRAMS

11 York Each veteran who aended knows Becky York, the Alabama Power retiree and "petite fireplug whose personality is bigger than life itself." So says Tuscaloosa Rotary Club President Jordan Plaster, who aributes the flight's success to York's heavy involvement in planning and logistics since she joined the Rotary Club 13 years ago. York was named director of Tuscaloosa Honor Flight this year. "Becky is superwoman – she prey much did everything in relationship with the Honor Flight and the veterans," said Plaster, Tuscaloosa Honor Flight co-founder and Tuscaloosa Citizen of the Year for 2017. "She took care of day-to-day operations of contact with veterans, telling them when to be there for the flight, working directly with them and their families. With Becky's ability to get things done, we didn't miss a beat." York researched each veteran's credentials during the selection process. She worked with families to ensure each veteran had what they needed for the three-hour flight to D.C. With most veterans aged 65 and up, some required walkers or wheelchairs, which Honor Flight provided. Veterans had to be at the Tuscaloosa airport at 5:30 a.m. "She's been a joy to work with, an outstanding leader," Plaster said of York, who retired as Western Division Business Office manager. Her leadership and organizational skills come as no surprise to Western Division Energizers, for whom York was president in 2016-17. During her tenure, York put in place educational programs that are fun for her fellow 85 Energizers. The Tuscaloosa Rotary Club has raised funds to sponsor Honor Flights since 2010. Alabama Power's Western Division Office has donated more than $18,000 since 2013. With sacrifice comes honor Being at the Vietnam War Memorial stirred memories – good and bad – and brought tears to the eyes of many a veteran, such as Northport resident Paul Bagwell. The opportunity to be there, among so many veterans, rendered healing for the twice- wounded Bagwell. "Seeing the memorial made me feel beer about myself," said Bagwell, who was awarded two Purple Hearts aer Vietnam. "The more I looked at the wall, the more I got relief. I couldn't find the names of the lost friends. But the people that were there, the school kids and other people, showed respect. I didn't see a lot of that when I came back home." Within days of arrival in Xuan Loc, Vietnam, Bagwell took a sniper's bullet to the wrist. Medics cleaned the wound and put a support on his arm so that it would remain stationary and heal. Just 28 days into his tour with the U.S. Army – and 26 days aer high school graduation – Bagwell was in a tank aached to the 25th Infantry, helping to clear the way for troops in bale. His tank was hit by numerous rocket blasts. Out of the seven-man crew, only Bagwell and another man survived. Bagwell underwent major surgeries at U.S. Air Force Camp Drake in Japan, spending nearly two years in the hospital. Doctors aempted to remove the shrapnel from his chest down to his toes. He still has shrapnel in his heart: "They said it would cause more damage to remove it. I'm in pain every day," he said. "It was good that I got to go to the memorial. I've lived with this for nearly 60 years," Bagwell said. "I had no choice. I did what I had to do. It's not fun memories. But it helped me to go to the memorial." Veterans stand in front of "The Three Soldiers" by Frederick Hart. Visitors use pencil and paper to make a memento of fallen friends and loved ones.

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