By By Adrienne McKenzie
Atmore's American Legion is named after Billy Glenn Rushing, who lost his life in 1918 during the first World War.
In honor of Rushing, the American Legion Post 90 Ladies Auxiliary gathered some of Rushing's descendants Wednesday morning for an indoor picnic. The Ladies Auxiliary had a plaque made for the Legion that commemorates Rushing.
"We had this just to present the plaque to the Legion," Ladies Auxiliary president Mary Stanley said. "We decided to have an informal picnic because there are some members of our group who don't have families to celebrate with on the Fourth."
Aubrey Stanley, American Legion Post 90 commander, said the Ladies Auxiliary worked hard on planning the event and getting the plaque made.
"The Ladies Auxiliary has been planning this for months and months," he said. "They had a plaque made and donated it to the Legion."
Aubrey Stanley said the main reason for gathering at the Legion on the Fourth, however, was to honor Billy Glenn Rushing. By doing so, five descendants of Rushing attended the event.
"We're here this morning to honor the Rushing family, which this Post is named after," Stanley said.
The relatives of Rushing in attendance included, Gene Rushing, Charles Rushing, Julia Fretwell, Randy Fretwell Jr., Emily Fretwell and Haley Fretwell.
Billy Glenn Rushing was born in Troy on Sept. 13, 1893. He moved to Atmore with his parents a couple of years later. He attended high school in Atmore and continued his education at the Polytechnic Institute at Auburn. He graduated in 1915 as an electrical engineer.
Rushing was the son of Atmore's major W. E. Rushing. He fought in the war in Germany, Austria, Turkey and Bulgaria in 1917 and 1918 as an aviator in France. However, he lost his life while on assignment as a ferry pilot, out of Tours, France, on June 15, 1918.