By GREG MARKLEY The U.S. Census Bureau recently released population numbers for the states and cities. Huntsville is now Alabama’s largest city, with more than 215,000 citizens. But Birmingham keeps its title as the largest metropolitan area in this state. Remember:...

By GREG MARKLEY While teaching undergrad history at Fort Benning, Georgia, in 2014, I wanted to find out how many fort buildings the soldiers’ were familiar with — the history and the significance of the person it is named for. Although many students drove by or...

By GREG MARKLEY Next September marks 50 years since I put on slacks (not blue jeans!) and a tie (remember what that is?) and ventured across state lines to begin my first job. I was 16 years, 3 months old — and looked 14. I attended an excellent parochial school but...

By GREG MARKLEY “Freedom is not free,” “My country right or wrong” and especially “America First” are famous patriotic phrases in the U.S. They are often said at veterans’ group meetings, seen on bumper stickers and heard from the lips of political candidates. Hal...