On Saturday May 26th, dozens of local veterans, families, and friends attended a Ellijay Memorial Day Service to remember all veterans, past and present, who lost their lives in the United States military. It was a touching ceremony that included speakers from different local veteran and political organizations. The ceremony was held in front of the three year old Veteran’s Memorial Bridge located at the Veteran’s Memorial area in the Gilmer County Park.

Master of Ceremony, Tom Cox, welcomed all the living veterans and families of those who lost loved ones who were at the event. During his welcoming, Cox himself a former Lieutenant in the United States Navy, informed the crowd that 37 million Americans haved donned the country’s military uniforms since the beginning of our country’s birth, and more than 2 million have died. Cox went on say that while

“All gave some, some gave all”

After Cox’s opening remarks, Ellijay’s largest Boy Scout Troop, 402, Cub Scout Packs 402 and 404, the Gilmer Civil Air Patrol Cadets, and Color Guard each walked across the stage to present the crowd with their flag colors. An invocation was then given by the Rev. Joseph Murphy.

Cox then fully welcomed all of the organizations that were there to honor the veterans including: The Sons of the American Revolution, the Sons of the Confederate Veterans, the North Georgia Honor Guard, the Gilmer County Civil Air Patrol, and the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of America.

A special welcome was given by Cox to Sandy Lyons, the person responsible for organizing the fundraising for the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge. The Veteran’s Memorial Bridge was constructed three years ago at the Gilmer County Park in memory of all the veterans in all past United States wars from the American Revolution to the Afghanistan War. Lyons told FYN about 750 pieces of marble, 20 granite benches, and 6 picnic tables are included it the memorial that recognize 19 soldiers KIA, 1 MIA, 11 POWS, 69 Purple Hearts, and 45 Silver and Bronze stars. Veterans, friends, and family members also have the option to purchase engraved bricks to go at the memorial that will honor a loved one or a $10 dollar dvd showing the construction of the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge.

Also at the event, the Sons of the American Revolution, presented four local Eagle Scouts with their Eagle Scout Achievement awards. The Eagle Scouts who were presented the awards were Mike Davis, Eli Chastain, Patrick Sheahan, and Tommy Calhoun.

In the middle of the ceremony patriotic music was performed by this year’s Gilmer Idol competition winner Sarah Bryan. Bryan led the crowd in a performance of “God Bless America” with the Rev. Joseph Murphy, followed by another performance of her own rendition of “I’m Proud to be an American”.

Cox then introduced speaker Jack Smith, local Director and Chairman of the North Georgia Tea Party Alliance, who served seven years with the United States Army and National Guard, and spent 23 years working with Eastern Air Lines. Smith’s speech was one of intregrity with a theme of “Our Heritage and the Founding of the United States.”

“The Soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.”

Smith quoted General Douglas MacArthur’s 1962 farewell speech to West Point, the U.S General who commanded the Southwest Pacific Theatre in World War II. Smith continued and closed his speech dedicated to the United States with the famous words of President John F. Kennedy,

“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”

Speakers at the ceremony also included Retired Lt. Colonel George Pletcher of the United States Army, and Tom Thorton, Commander of the American Legion.

Following the speaking, Cox asked every veteran in attendance to stand as a “fly over” was done by the Gilmer County Cilvil Air Patrol led by Captain Ross Staham, while Clarence Leatherwood, member of the North Georgia Honor Guard performed a bugle benediction of “Taps”.

When asked what the memorial day celebration meant to him, fundraiser organizer of the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge, Sandy Lyons said,

“It means our Country was founded on some principles that we have put down in Georgia marble along that fence. It tells what our Country was based on and its got a lot of details and historical documents that the people need to read.”

Some of the documents included in the marble are the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the Magna Carta. Lyons says he also plans to put Patrick Henry’s speech “Give me Liberty or Give me Death” in the marble, and the last thing he plans on putting in the marble is “The Ten Commandments”.

Anyone interested in purchasing a brick to put on display at the Veteran’s Memorial, buy a dvd of the construction of the Memorial Bridge, or would just like to have a Veteran’s name displayed on a “Gilmer County Veteran’s List” can contact Lyons at www.gilmercountyveterans.us.