Six service members who gave their best for their nation have been inducted into the Cullman County Veterans Hall of Fame, honored at a special Oct. 22 ceremony that paid tribute to veterans with local ties.

Both celebratory and somber, the ceremony marked the second annual induction event for the local veterans hall of fame, an organization that launched with the induction of its inaugural class last year. Nominations for potential HOF members are submitted by the community before being elevated through a vetting process conducted by the group’s selection committee, with equal consideration given to veterans both living and deceased.

Two of this year’s new hall of fame memberships were awarded posthumously, while the remaining four inductees attended this year’s ceremony to receive the honor in person.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Julian R. Campbell and U.S. Army Infantry Rifleman James T. Watts, Jr. — each a combat veteran of WWII — were posthumously inducted into the hall of fame, with family members in attendance to accept the honor on their behalf. Present to receive their inductions firsthand at the event were Clarence E. Benefield (U.S. Air Force), Hollis W. Baggett (U.S. Army), Van T. Hutchins (U.S. Army), and Richard L. Leigeber (U.S. Army).

Whether in WWII or in Vietnam, each of this year’s inductees saw active deployment during a time of war. But combat service is only one of many criteria that qualify a candidate for entry into the hall of fame, as co-founder and event emcee Col. (ret.) Don Fallin explained.

“A successful candidate must have distinguished him or herself in the military, have an honorable discharge, be a native of or a citizen of our county for around 10 years, and have served his or her fellow veterans and our community in some way since leaving the military,” Fallin told the ceremony’s large crowd of local elected and business leaders, families and colleagues. “As you will learn tonight when these honorees are recognized, you’ll see that each of these folks today have done that — and more.”

As new members of the Cullman County Veterans Hall of Fame, each of this year’s inductees will receive a distinctive name tag and a plaque. The plaques, which each feature a photograph and brief summary of an inductee’s life and service, will be displayed inside the Cullman County Courthouse for one year.

The names of each inductee also will be added to the hall of fame’s perpetual plaque housed at the courthouse. The perpetual plaque serves as an ongoing memorial; one that expands annually as new members are added. In keeping with the hall of fame’s mission to honor both its current and past inductees, Fallin also recognized last year’s inaugural class, which consists of the following veterans:

— Lt. Col. (ret.) Johnnie R. Strickland, U.S. Navy / U.S. Army Reserves.

— Donald Michael (Mike) Martin, U.S. Marine Corps.

— Steven L. Larsen, U.S. Marine Corps.

— Robert R. Turner, U.S. Marine Corps.

— Col. (ret.) Ken Brown, U.S. Air Force.

— Tech. Sgt. (ret.) Jerry La Otto Willibey, U.S. Air Force (Posthumous).