For years the monument to Habersham County’s war dead has quietly overlooked the Clarkesville town square. One rarely sees a visitor there, unless the town is hosting a festival or there’s a public rally or prayer vigil downtown.
Now, the local VFW plans to change that.
Foreign war veterans belonging to Grant-Reeves Post 7720 in Cornelia started a new tradition at the KIA monument in Clarkesville this Memorial Day. They held a bell-ringing ceremony at the site complete with singing, a 21-gun salute, and TAPS.
The somber, yet moving ceremony was the first of its kind at the monument in recent memory, and Post 7720 Commander Bill Miles says it won’t be the last.
“We are going to make it an annual event but will do it as a candlelight service next year,” he tells Now Habersham.
In addition to the Clarkesville ceremony, Post 7720 veterans and auxiliary members participated in four other memorial tributes over the long holiday weekend.
The Honor Guard provided military honors for Memorial Day ceremonies at Center Baptist Church in Helen and at the Rabun County Courthouse. The VFW choir sang and did a flag presentation at the Oaks Scenic View nursing home in Baldwin. And Post 7720 also hosted its traditional Memorial Day event at Grant-Reeves Memorial Park in Demorest.
That’s a lot of time and commitment, especially for an aging membership.
James Ramey is among the oldest members of Post 7720. At 96, he’s one of the last surviving World War II veterans in Habersham County. He too joined in Monday’s ceremony, adding his voice to the Grant-Reeves Veterans and Patriots Choir.
Commander Miles is one of the younger veterans in the Post. Since assuming command, he’s devoted a lot of time and energy to infusing new life into the organization to keep the membership, and the memories alive.
“It is important to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms and to educate our younger generations about the selfless service our men and women give serving in our armed forces.”
