By By Chandler Myers
Atmore’s Lions and Rotary clubs came together Wednesday for a special meeting with a special guest.
Brigadier General Frank T. Speed Jr., the Assistant Adjutant General for Army in the Alabama National Guard, visited Atmore and spoke to the clubs on a variety of topics at a luncheon for his behalf.
As the Assistant Adjutant General Speed assists and advises the Adjutant General Abner C. Blalock on programs and training activities of Alabama National Guard units.
One of the programs that Speed talked about was the State Partnership Program that was started by NATO.
Speed said the program partners a state with another country around the world, and helps advise them on their militaries.
The partnership with Romania has also seen the Alabama National Guard take on the role as humanitarians.
Speed said the Guard has adopted an orphanage for children of a certain nature.
After speaking on the program, Speed went on to speak on members of the Guard and their activity during the War in Iraq.
He said that several people have made more than one trip to serve in the war.
The final thing that Speed talked about was the inauguration and how many men and women served for the event.
Speed said that several units around the country participated in the Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama. He added that this was just one of the ways the Guard will continue to serve its country.