BY ROB DAVIS FOR THE OBSERVER

OPELIKA — Medal of Honor recipients and World War II veterans kicked off Freedom Fest weekend by meeting with the media last Friday at John Emerald Distilling Company in Opelika. Veterans Jack Stowe, Robert “Bob” Patterson and Melvin Morris were joined by family and friends as they answered questions and reflected on their military service and being awarded with the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration. The Medal of Honor is awarded to American soldiers for acts of valor above and beyond the call of duty. Established by President Abraham Lincoln in 1861, only 3,525 soldiers have ever been awarded the Medal of Honor.

Jack Stowe World War II Navy veteran Jack Stowe, who is 99 years old, was just 15 years old and working in a grocery store i

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