North Georgia honors veterans with events all weekend, Monday

The calendar says Veterans Day is on Nov. 11, but this year, the celebrations have been going on all month and they'll continue into Monday around North Georgia. 

A numbers of schools chose Friday to host area veterans for special meals or assemblies, and a Veterans Appreciation Celebration sponsored by the U.S. Army Rangers is going on all weekend in Dahlonega.

The federal observance of Veterans Day 2018 is Monday, Nov. 12, so many groups are waiting to honor veterans on that day.

AccessWDUN has compiled a list of observances in our region and they are listed below. If you know of others, please email the information to [email protected]. 

GWINNETT COUNTY VETERANS DAY CEREMONY

• Sunday, Nov. 11
• 1:30 p.m.
• Gwinnett Fallen Heroes Memorial on the grounds of the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville
• The ceremony begins with a Veterans March at the memorial.  Col. Richard H. White, a Norcross native and Vietnam veteran,  is the keynote speaker.

• Sunday, Nov. 11
• 3 p.m.
• Gainesville First United Methodist Church, 2780 Thompson Bridge Road
• The Believers Concert Band pays tribute to veterans and their families with a variety of patriotic music, including a sing-a-long. The concert is free and open to the public. 

• Monday, Nov. 12
• 9 a.m.
• Rock Creek Veterans Park, 223 Northside Drive, Gainesville
• This annual event is hosted by Gainesville's Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter and features special music and a guest speaker. The event is open to the public.

• Monday, Nov. 12
• 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
• Student Center, UNG Campus in Dahlonega
• UNG students, faculty and staff will recite the names of service members from Georgia killed in action during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Eight UNG alumni are among those who gave the ultimate sacrifice during those battles. 

CITY OF LULA VETERANS DAY OBSERVANCE

• Monday, Nov. 12
• 10 a.m.
• Lula Elementary School
• This event is usually held at Veterans Park in Lula, but because of the possibility of rain, community members are invited to join local veterans at Lula Elementary School, which is just north of Lula City Hall on Main Street.

• Monday, Nov. 12
• 11 a.m.
• Lakewood Baptist Church, 2235 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville
• This annual Veterans Day observance is hosted by the American Legion Paul E. Bolding Post 7 and includes music from the Chestatee High School band the Maranatha Christian Academy Chorus. This year's speaker is Congressman Doug Collins of Gainesville, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

• Monday, Nov. 12
• 12 - 4 p.m.
• The afternoon of events features a special program at Dawson County Jr. High at 1 p.m. and a parade through downtown Dawsonville at 3:30 p.m.