Two groups in Gainesville will collaborate throughout Memorial Day weekend to remember the lives of those who have served and lost their lives.
The Rock Creek Vietnam Veterans and the Rotary Club of Hall County will collaborate to place hundreds of markers to recognize the lives of local deceased veterans during Memorial Day weekend.
Mickey Hyder with the Rotary Club of Hall County spoke on WDUN’s Mornings on Maine Street to share more about the annual project.
“There's approximately 90 markers out at Rock Creek presently,” Hyder explained. “This weekend, on Saturday, we will be putting approximately 150 markers up and down (Historic Green Street). And then we will also put 150 markers (on historic Roosevelt Square).”
Hyder said the organizations are looking for volunteers to aid in placing markers around Gainesville. The groups will meet Saturday at 9 a.m. at Rock Creek Veterans Park to place the markers.
“There, we take the participants and kind of give them instructions on what to do,” Hyder said. “We'll separate up into two groups, one going to Roosevelt Square, one going to Green Street. There will be folks who know exactly what to do, to give assistance and directions.”
In addition to the project, Hyder said the Rock Creek Vietnam Veterans will also host a Memorial Day ceremony the following day on Sunday, May 25 at 2 p.m. The ceremony will be hosted at the Rock Creek Veteran Park and feature Colonel Jonathan Pooley from Riverside Preparatory Academy as the guest speaker.
This year’s ceremony will also honor Vietnam War Veteran and founder of Rock Creek Veterans Park Johnny C. Hulsey, who passed away earlier this year. The organization will unveil a stone memorial in his honor.
“It will be the first time that I can imagine that we've had this ceremony and Johnny not be there,” Hyder said. “But he will be there in spirit, I promise you. Johnny has been a leading force for veterans for as long as I can remember.”
