Text Box: Along with the family-fun events, on-going music, and a spectacular fireworks show, the Spirit of America also spotlights individuals who have made significant contributions locally and nationally.  The Audie Murphy Patriotism Award, the Barrett C. Shelton Freedom Award, and the Humanitarian Award are presented each year on July 4. This year’s Spirit of America Audie Murphy Award recipient is Capt. Joe Hooper. Capt. Hooper was the most decorated soldier during the Vietnam War receiving 37 medals after serving two combat tours. Among those honors are two Silver Stars for gallantry, six Bronze Stars for heroism, eight Purple Hearts and a Medal of Honor presented by President Richard Nixon. Joe first joined the Navy in December 1956 at 17 years of age but after three short years decided the Army was more to his liking. He was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division in 1967 and deployed to Vietnam. He was discharged but reenlisted in September 1968 and served as a Public Relations Specialist. After receiving the Medal of Honor during his first tour, Capt. Hooper had to ask permission from the President to return to Vietnam; he managed to finagle a second tour. He felt that having experienced war and saving lives he could best serve his country by returning to the war torn country and continuing his service. Despite wanting to earn twenty years of service, Joe was forced to retire in 1974. As soon as he was released from Active Duty, he joined the 12th Special Forces Group (Airborne), an Army Reserve unit stationed in Washington State, as a Company Executive Officer. In February 1976 he transferred to the 104th Division (Training Support) also stationed in Washington. He was promoted to Captain in March 1977 and was separated from the service in September 1978. He is credited with 115 enemy kills in ground combat, twenty-two of which occurred on February 21, 1968. This hero died in 1979 at the age of 40. Joe’s wife, Faye, describes her husband as being romantic, persistent and genuinely like by everyone. They have one daughter, Joey named after her father, who lives in Denver. Joey was just three years old when her father passed away. His wife and daughter are thrilled and honored to be accepting this award on his behalf especially since it is from the citizens of his hometown, Decatur, AL. The recipient of the Barrett C. Shelton Freedom Award is Beverly Walker. Mrs. Walker became involved with the Miss Point Mallard Pageant in 1981 as the Judges Chairman and worked with the pageant until 1991, when she became the Pageant Director. In 1992 her winner was Heather Whitestone, who went on to become Miss America in 1995. She was named “Director of the Year” in 1998 and the Miss Alabama organization recognized the Miss Point Mallard Pageant in 1999 as the “Most Outstanding Open Pageant.” Beverly served diligently on the Spirit of America board since 1991. She became their vice president in 2001 and served in that position for two years. She then served as the Spirit of America president for five years from 2003 to 2007. Some of her duties included fund raising, solicitation of sponsors, booking bands, planning fireworks, making sure the event was operated safely, obtaining event insurance, working on the VIP program and trying to coordinate all the events into a great and wonderful festival that offered something for all ages. She gives a great deal of credit to her teammates, saying “You do not do all or any of these things without a great deal of help and that help came from an excellent and hardworking Board of Directors and the wonderful Decatur community.” Beverly and her husband, Julian Walker, who was Director of Parks and Recreation and Point Mallard for thirty years, came from Kentucky. “It was because of my husband’s job that I got involved with the Spirit of America Festival and the Miss Point Mallard Pageant and it quickly became a total family affair.” Currently, Mrs. Walker is employed with Teledyne Brown Engineering, Huntsville, Alabama, and will celebrate her 30th anniversary with them this year. She works in the Human Resources Department as the Benefits Manager. “I feel that my volunteering with the Spirit of America Festival and the Miss Point Mallard Pageant has allowed me to be more a productive and better individual in my community and hope I have made my community a little better with my small, but sincere contribution.”  

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Text Box: For more information: Spirit of America Festival PO Box 1776, Decatur, AL 35602 800.232.5449  /  256.350.2028 info@decaturcvb.org ©2009 Spirit of America Festival     All Rights Reserved   Designed by