It made me laugh in realizing

how those days have truly passed me by. I would like to think that it

is not that I can't physically do the things that I could do 10 or 15

years ago; it's just that I fear the pain that I am likely to feel for

the next couple of days after.

Seriously, though, I feel truly

honored to be included in this ceremony. It is also an honor for me to

be inducted with my (1987) classmates, Kerry Evert and Daphne Colclough.

Like everyone else here, I enjoyed watching Kerry and Daphne in high school

and feel lucky to be mentioned in their company today.

One other inductee I would

like to acknowledge is Craig Thomas. He probably does not realize it,

but he had a huge influence on me and was my idol during my high school

wrestling career. I wanted to be a state champ just like him, so his induction

today makes this doubly special for me.

I would like to thank the athletic

Booster Club for supporting Fayette County Sports and the Hall of Fame.

Thanks to the selection committee Howell McElroy, Charles Warr, Gary Phillips,

Don Apking, Trig Dalrymple and Addison Lester for my selection. Thank

you, Coach Charlie Sheets who introduced me to wrestling; Coach Glenn

Lindsey for giving me a passion for the sport and teaching me to be a

winner; Coach Kirk Hoffman who taught me to be a champion.

Responsibility for my success

in high school and beyond belongs to my parents, Row and Chip Anderson.

Without their support, guidance, and love, I never would have been able

to come close to the accomplishments that I have been fortunate enough

to achieve. Everything that I am today is because of them. A special thanks

goes to my wife, Lisa Addison Anderson, for her continued support during

our naval career.

Finally, on behalf of the USS

Theodore Roosevelt Battle Group, I'd like to thank everyone back home

for the tons of support that we have received over the past six months.

Like everyone else, we were

shocked and saddened by the events of Sept. 11. Those feelings gradually

shifted to anger and a renewed sense of purpose that we have been fortunate

enough to bring to bear on those who wish to harm our great nation and

its citizens. The successes of Operation Enduring Freedom, however, would

not have been possible without the love and prayers from the many people

of Fayette County. Your support has made our job much easier.

After almost 15 years in the

Navy and after living in numerous places throughout the country, I am

still proud to call Fayetteville my home. I look forward to my next visit

so that I can thank you personally for today and support for the past

six months.

Jeffrey T. Anderson, LCDR USN

USS Theodore Roosevelt