Gainesville veterans gather at Rock Creek Park

GAINESVILLE - Among the many events scheduled for Veterans Day in the Gainesville-Hall County area was the traditional laying of the wreaths at the three monuments at Rock Creek Park.

Veterans from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War gathered for the 2:00 p.m. ceremony.

Vietnam vet James Gilmer, who attended the event with his wife Jan, said not only was the ceremony an opportunity to remember the service and sacrifice of the military, but also it was a time of camaraderie for veterans.

"A number of veterans I went to Vietnam with...32 of us from Gainesville...and we still stay in contact with each other," said Gilmer.

He and other Vietnam-era veterans were responsible for raising the funds to build the monument to fallen Vietnam veterans from Gainesville-Hall County, just as area Korean War veterans raised the funds to build the recently-dedicated monument to local soldiers who were killed in Korea.

In addition to the veterans who gathered at the park Sunday was a little boy with aspirations of serving in the military himself one day.

J.H. Reece, 5, has been fascinated with the military ever since his family can remember.

"I want to be part of the Air Force," he said.

His grandmother Judy Grindle said J.H. has admired military veterans in the family and that may be why he has military aspirations.

"His grandfather Howard Grindle was in World War II and his grandfather James Burch was in World War II," she said.

While Veterans Day is on November 11, some commemorations will be held Monday, November 12. The city of Lula holds a ceremony at 10:00 a.m. at the city's Veterans Park, while American Legion Post 7 will hold its annual service at Lakewood Baptist Church on Thompson Bridge Road at 11:00 a.m.