(Forsyth County, GA) Forsyth County residents gathered on Friday, May 26 at the Veterans War Memorial in Cumming for the City of Cumming’s annual Memorial Day Ceremony.
Mayor Troy Brumbalow opened the ceremony with an announcement concerning a new addition to the Cumming City Center.
This Veterans Day on Friday, November 10, the city will be unveiling a new veterans memorial around the Reflecting Pool near the Lou Sobh Amphitheater.
“It's going to be gorgeous, events will be held there in the future,” Brumbalow said. “Flags will be set up throughout the City Center and boardwalks, it's going to be really nice. It'll be a lot more of an intimate setting, we won’t be hearing cars going down the road.”
This year’s keynote speaker was Chaplain Leland Jones, a chaplain’s recruiter for the Georgia Army National Guard.
Jones’s message urged people to honor the sacrifices of military members who died in service to their country by living a life of service themselves, whether it's helping a friend in need or assisting the senior neighbors next door.
“The value of life and life service is beginning to fade from the human psyche,” Jones said. “We're doing less and less to prepare our young ones and our children to see the value of what service is and that's why I'm grateful to see the young ones who are here with you. But… for many of you, you're the grandparent who brought the grandchild. There's a gap in between where we're missing that same connected component. Serve where you can, less and less are we urged every day to render good service on the job, in our schools and our communities.”
Jones had three main points when it comes to serving others: serve where you can, serve who you can and serve while you can.
“Make the most of the time that you have,” Jones said. “Love your families now, care for one another now, be good now for tomorrow is not promised, yesterday cannot be undone, all we have is now. Memorialize those who have paid the ultimate price. Whatever God puts your hand to do, do it to your last breath because all you have is now.”
Several flags were then added to the Avenue of Flags, which are donated by family members of deceased veterans in their honor.
Flags were dedicated to:
- Len Morris Campbell, Jr., US Army, March 21, 1947 - June 2, 2022
- Patricia Ruth Edwards, US Coast Guard Auxiliary, April 20, 1933 - November 18, 2022
- David J Watson, SR, US Army, December 3, 1939 - November 10, 2022
- Paula A. Scholfield, US Coast Guard, January 12, 1941 - November 16, 2022
- Michael J.. Kotler, US Navy, Dec 29, 1944 - Feb 16, 2023
The ceremony ended with a white dove release.
If you have a news tip in Forsyth County, contact Justine Lookenott at justine.lookenott@newsbreak.com. You can also follow her on Twitter at @justalookenott.
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