Two Memorial Day remembrance ceremonies will be conducted in Fayette County Monday to honor those who “gave the greatest measure of devotion” serving in the U.S. military. Senoia will also host its own Memorial Day gathering as well.
The festivities start in Peachtree City at 8 a.m. with a small gathering at The Gathering Place off McIntosh Trail in Peachtree City as the Kiwanis Club will serve coffee and donuts before the 8:30 start of the annual golf cart procession around Lake Peachtree to City Hall. The formal ceremony will start at 9 a.m. at the Veteran’s Memorial at City Hall Plaza.
This year’s guest speaker is Brigadier General Steven R. Hawkins, (USA Ret.), who served in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bosnia, Albania, Iraq, Kosovo, Germany, and the US, and upon his retirement from the Army in 2005, served as the World War Overseas Director for the American Battle Monuments Commission, headquartered in Paris, France. The event is sponsored by the City, VFW Post 9949, American Legion Post 50, and the Peachtree City Kiwanis Club.
At 11 a.m. in Fayetteville, a second ceremony will be held in the somber setting of the Fayetteville City Cemetery, which always lends a certain gravitas to the occasion, among the flag-decorated graves making the war dead who make their final resting place there.
If able, partipants are asked to bring lawn chairs for seating because space is limited.
Legionnaires from Fayette County Post 105, who are hosting the event, will be on hand to assist senior citizens and those who might need help with seating.
The cemetery is located on Ga. Highway 54 in downtown Fayetteville with parking available at the county board of education office.
Cadets from the Army JROTC Tiger Battalion from Fayette County High School will present the Colors. Members of the “Spirit of McIntosh” High School band will provide music and perform the national anthem. The Sons of the American Revolution will fire a musket volley to honor the veterans buried there as “Taps” is played.
In the event of bad weather, the ceremony will take place in the nearby American Legion “Log Cabin,” just south of the intersection of Ga. Hwy. 85 and Hwy. 54 at 180 S. Glynn St, next to the Fayetteville Fire Dept.
Senoia’s event starts at 10 a.m. downtown and will be capped by an aircraft flyover. The parade begins at 2 p.m. and includes among its entries the 116th National Guard Army Band.
Activity in the downtown area will pause at 3 p.m. for the National Moment of Silence and will be followed by a mini-concert by the 116th Army band.
At dusk, the city will present its annual Memorial Day fireworks display at Marimac Lakes on Pylant Street. Parking will be available at the ball fields on Howard Road, a short walk to the lake.
