I remember with fondness the

occasion of the late Sen. Herman Talmadge visiting our fair county.

The Fayette County Sesquicentennial

was held in the early summer of 1971, and one of those invited to speak

was Sen. Talmadge. He had been our senator for 20 years at that time,

and this was the first time he had been invited to speak here.

One of the committee members

got the bright idea to drop 200 red carnations down into the old courthouse

square, where events were being held.

I obtained the use of a United

States Air Force helicopter from Dobbins Air Force base. I had to clear

this with several dozen entities and it was to land at the airport in

Peachtree City. The Peachtree City police chief was to be nearby with

his radio handy.

On the Fayetteville end, the

Fayetteville police chief was to be in his car, ready to send the message

that the senator was just about through with his speech, and to start

the helicopter on its way.

Now bear in mind that in the

process of getting all the last minute details in place, I was up three

days and three nights without any sleep. So it should come as no surprise

that early on the morning it was to start, I literally fell off my carport

steps and fractured a foot. It was put in a cast and I was told to stay

in bed for several days.

Sure. I had eight days of activities

to tend to.

When it sounded like the senator

was about to wind down, I motioned to my son to go to the Fayetteville

police car and start the whole carnation drop affair.

Only the Fayetteville police

chief was not to be found anywhere. Deciding he was not going to get the

message, and feeling that enough time had passed, the Peachtree City chief

went ahead and started the helicopter on its way.

I could hear it coming and

punched the person next to me to tell the guest speaker what was going

to happen. Too late, here come the flowers down upon us. Needless to say,

the speaker looked a little surprised.

But all worked out, however.

Someone handed Talmadge one of the carnations, and he turned around and

laid it down on the monument we were unveiling to our war veterans. Sitting

beside this memorial was George White, a native of Fayette and the county's

highest decorated veteran. He placed his flower across the first one to

form a cross. Tears rained.

While I planned the first part

of the event, and it didn't work out, the unplanned second part worked

out beautifully.

Thanks to the understanding

of the late Sen. Herman Talmadge.