Friday March 29th, 2024 10:27AM

Gilmer County veterans prepare for annual Memorial Day Service

By Staff
ELLIJAY - Veterans from Gilmer County are ready once again to commemorate Memorial Day at the Veterans Memorial Bridge and Garden in Ellijay River Park.

Event planner and Veterans Bridge founder Sandy Lyons said representatives from various military branches and community groups will assist with the program on Monday.

Guest speakers Bennie McDonald and Lt. Col. Howard Gene Reed will offer comments at the ceremony. Both men served in the Army Green Beret Special Forces. U.S. Marine LCpl. Sean Adams from Gainesville, who was disabled at 19-years-old by an explosive device in Afghanistan, is expected to attend the Ellijay event. Lyons said several of Adams' fellow Marines from the north Georgia area will attend the service, as well.

The event will also feature members of Ellijay American Legion Post 82, the local Civil Air Patrol squadron and the North Georgia Honor Guard.

Local Cub, Brownie, Girl and Boy Scouts will be on hand, as well, to comprise an honorary Color Guard.

Lyons said he started holding Memorial Day events at the bridge site four years ago to remind people about the significance of the holiday.

"We want people to come and realize what Memorial Day really is," said Lyons.

The service will be free to attend and open to the public; it gets underway at 11 a.m. Monday, May 27.

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