Georgians honor fallen service members on Memorial Day
Veterans march to top of Stone Mountain on Memorial Day
Dozens of veterans and community members carried flags to the top of Stone Mountain on Memorial Day to honor and remember those who gave their lives for the country. A ceremony also took place in Roswell and a parade took place in Georgia. Additionally, a ceremony was held at the National Cemetery in Marietta.
ATLANTA - Communities across metro Atlanta gathered Monday to honor the sacrifices of America’s fallen service members during Memorial Day ceremonies, parades and tributes held throughout the region.
What we know:
At Stone Mountain, veterans and community members participated in the annual Memorial Day Rock March, carrying flags up the mountain to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the military. Active-duty Navy SEALs and Army personnel also took part in the event.
One veteran at the event said Memorial Day is about far more than a long holiday weekend.
"It’s not a day off. It’s not just the holiday," the veteran said. "It’s a day that we remember, we honor those who have fought, who have died for those who couldn’t make it home."
Following the march, veterans gathered for a picnic and fellowship event.
In Roswell, the Rotary Club hosted its annual Roswell Remembers Memorial Day ceremony and a parade took place in Dacula. The parade featured more than 90 organizations, including marching bands, youth groups, churches and veterans organizations.
World War II veteran Charlie Wilson, who served with the First Infantry Division known as the "Big Red One," served as the parade’s grand marshal.
Meanwhile, hundreds gathered Monday afternoon at Marietta National Cemetery for the annual Memorial Day ceremony organized by the National Memorial Day Association of Georgia.
Organizers said the event serves as a solemn reminder of the true meaning behind Memorial Day.
"This day is different from July the Fourth. It’s different from Veterans Day," association president David Moore said. "Today we solemnly remember the people that fought for our freedoms. The cost of freedom is not free."
Officials said the cemetery contains the graves of veterans from numerous conflicts dating back to the Revolutionary War.
Local perspective:
For many in the crowd, attending the annual service has become a deeply personal tradition.
Larry Anderson, a Marine Corps veteran who served for 30 years, is among those who return to the cemetery each year.
"We come every year," Anderson said. "I have friends not buried here but who were military service casualties, and I did 30 years myself in the Marine Corps."
Another attendee, David Hunter, said his connection to the holiday traces back to his father's World War II service.
"My dad was in the military; he was in the army and landed at Normandy on D-Day, and it's just tradition," Hunter said.
U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk delivered the keynote address during the ceremony, telling the crowd that preserving the memory of the fallen is a collective responsibility.
"Ronald Reagan reminded us that freedom is only one generation away from extinction, that every generation is responsible to defend and fight for that freedom," Loudermilk said.
Attendees expressed hope that the public would continue to recognize the holiday's true purpose. Ahead of the ceremony, local Cub Scouts placed American flags at every headstone across the cemetery grounds.
"It's so important to remember that our freedom is not free and that these individuals and soldiers gave everything," attendee Janice said. "I think it's the best place to remember is right here in this national cemetery."