Memorial Day events on tap starting Sunday
Published 12:00 am Friday, May 27, 2016
LaGRANGE — The West Georgia Veterans Council will hosts Memorial Day events starting Sunday, with a ceremony Monday.
On Monday, the West Georgia Veterans Council hosts its Memorial Day service at 11 a.m. at Southview Cemetery, 1421 Hamilton Road.
“Memorial Day represents one day of national awareness and reverence, honoring those Americans who died while defending our nation and its values,” states a press release from the council. “While we should honor these heroes every day for the profound contributions they have made in securing our nation’s freedom, we should honor them especially on Memorial Day.”
LaGrange Public Safety Chief Lou Dekmar is the featured speaker for the event. The agenda also includes an invocation by the Rev. Dalton Hammock, chaplain of the Marine Corps League.
The service will be followed by members laying a wreath on the grave of Staff Sgt. Hammett L. Bowen Jr., who received a Medal of Honor in Vietnam, at Restlawn Memory Gardens, 2098 Mooty Bridge Road. Anyone who wishes to relocate to the cemetery for the wreath laying was encouraged to attend.
Prior to Memorial Day, the council is inviting families and individuals to help place flag on veterans’ graves at Meadoway Gardens, Southview, Hillview and Shadowlawn cemeteries on Sunday. Flags will be available at each cemetery starting at 1 p.m. and the event will proceed until all veterans’ graves have a flag.
“Please join us when and if you can,” states a press release from the council.
The flags will remain on the graves until Tuesday, when the group is asking people to come help remove them starting at 9 a.m.