Between 250 and 300 people are expected for Monday’s Memorial Day observance at the Emma Kelly Theater to pay homage to those who lost their lives in military service during America’s wars.
Patriotic music will begin inside the Averitt Center for the Arts at 10:30 a.m., with the program beginning around 11 a.m.
Rodney Harville, who is organizing this year’s celebration, said it’s important to remember the meaning of Memorial Day.
“Most people confuse Memorial Day with Veterans Day,” he said. “Memorial Day is a memorial service, but a lot of people don’t realize that and think it’s just another day off.”
Dr. Byron Twigg of Bethel Baptist Church said he was honored to be selected as the guest speaker at the ceremony. He said he plans on talking about the sacrifice of the soldiers who gave their lives for their country.
“It’s easy to say someone died in a war, but we need to be reminded that it’s not a small thing,” Twigg said. “Then that knowledge requires us who are living to know that we have what we have because of their sacrifice and we need to live our lives in a way that remembers them.”
Twigg will speak following the “Memorial Roll Call” of all the soldiers from Bulloch County who died in World War I, World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War.
Also at the event, artist Elaine Chambers will present her painting “The Music of Freedom” to the American Legion Post 90.
While the actual ceremony begins at 11 a.m., at 10:30 a.m. there will be patriotic music performed by the trio “Outrageous Joy” from First Baptist Church.
For years Dr. Kemp Mabry was in charge of the Memorial Day program, but he passed away in March. Prior to his death, however, he’d put together the program for this year’s event.
“He outlined this all before he passed away,” Harville said. “He’s a great loss, but we’re going to carry on.”
Sponsoring the ceremony is American Legion Dexter Allen Post 90, the Bulloch County Historical Society and the Averitt Center for the Arts.
Luke Martin can be reached at (912) 489-9454.
Patriotic music will begin inside the Averitt Center for the Arts at 10:30 a.m., with the program beginning around 11 a.m.
Rodney Harville, who is organizing this year’s celebration, said it’s important to remember the meaning of Memorial Day.
“Most people confuse Memorial Day with Veterans Day,” he said. “Memorial Day is a memorial service, but a lot of people don’t realize that and think it’s just another day off.”
Dr. Byron Twigg of Bethel Baptist Church said he was honored to be selected as the guest speaker at the ceremony. He said he plans on talking about the sacrifice of the soldiers who gave their lives for their country.
“It’s easy to say someone died in a war, but we need to be reminded that it’s not a small thing,” Twigg said. “Then that knowledge requires us who are living to know that we have what we have because of their sacrifice and we need to live our lives in a way that remembers them.”
Twigg will speak following the “Memorial Roll Call” of all the soldiers from Bulloch County who died in World War I, World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War.
Also at the event, artist Elaine Chambers will present her painting “The Music of Freedom” to the American Legion Post 90.
While the actual ceremony begins at 11 a.m., at 10:30 a.m. there will be patriotic music performed by the trio “Outrageous Joy” from First Baptist Church.
For years Dr. Kemp Mabry was in charge of the Memorial Day program, but he passed away in March. Prior to his death, however, he’d put together the program for this year’s event.
“He outlined this all before he passed away,” Harville said. “He’s a great loss, but we’re going to carry on.”
Sponsoring the ceremony is American Legion Dexter Allen Post 90, the Bulloch County Historical Society and the Averitt Center for the Arts.
Luke Martin can be reached at (912) 489-9454.