Memorial Day was started in 1868 when the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) started “Decoration Day” as the time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. After WWI, it was expanded to honor all who died in American wars. It wasn’t until 1971 that it was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress.
On Monday, May 25th at 11:00 am at the Limestone County Event Center, the Alabama Veterans’ Museum and Archives will be hosting our annual Memorial Day Program; this program will honor and remember our veterans who have fallen since last Memorial Day. I am pleased to announce that Lt. Gen Larry Wyche, Deputy Commanding General of the United States Army Materiel Command, will be our guest speaker. We will also be honored with music provided by the Army Material Commands Yellahammer Brass Quintet.
Lt. General Larry Wyche assumed duties as the Deputy Commanding General of the United States Army Materiel Command on April 10, 2015. In this position, LTG Wyche also serves as the Senior Commander of Redstone Arsenal: The Executive Director for Conventional Ammunition; The Executive Director for Explosives Safety; and the Chief Operating Officer for the Department of the Army Depot Maintenance Corporate Board. He previously served as the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command, (CASCOM) and the Sustainment Center of Excellence at Fort Lee, Virginia.
His previous assignments included serving as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics and Operations of the U.S. Army Materiel Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. LTG Wyche also served as the Commanding General of the Joint Munitions and Lethality Life Cycle Management Command/Joint Munitions Command, Rock Island, Illinois. This command included more than 15,000 employees and soldiers with depots, arsenals, and ammunition plants in 17 locations. While serving as Brigade Commander, LTG Wyche deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, where he simultaneously served as Commander of the Joint Logistics Command, Combined Joint Task Force 76, and was responsible for logistical support to Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, and Sailors in Afghanistan. He has also served in numerous staff positions to include Chief, Initiatives Group, and later as Chief, Focused Logistics in the Force Development Directorate of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Programs and Director for Strategy and Integration in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics at the Pentagon.
LTG Wyche began his career in the enlisted ranks and achieved the rank of Sergeant while serving as a Calvary Scout Leader. LTG Wyche received his commission as a Quartermaster officer from Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi ROTC and graduated in 1983, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration. He later earned Masters’ degrees in Logistics Management from the Florida Institute of Technology, and National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
His awards and decorations include: the Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; Legion of Merit Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; Bronze Star Medal; Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal with Two Oak Leaf Clusters; Army Commendation Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters; Joint Service Achievement Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; and the Humanitarian Service Medal. He also has earned the Parachutist Badge and the Air Assault Badge.
Please join us for this memorable event!
By: Sandra Thompson, Director, Alabama Veteran’s Museum
