Restaurant Donates Trailer To Transport Veterans Memorial Markers

MILTON, GA — The Olde Blind Dog Irish Pub in Crabapple has donated a specially designed trailer to Milton Veterans Memorial Markers, Inc to transport white markers that are installed in key locations for two-week periods over Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

The Milton Veterans Memorial Markers, Inc is a 501c3 nonprofit group that funds, manufactures and maintains the markers. There is no cost to Milton residents to pay homage to deceased relatives who honorably served in the military.

With the growing number of requests for additional markers, it became apparent that a new
trailer was needed to supplement the existing trailer. Each trailer is 20 feet long and holds 300
markers employing a specially designed rack system that facilitates distribution and collection
of the markers.

"Olde Blind Dog Irish Pub believes in supporting our community" said Ron Wallace, owner of the Olde Blind Dog. "Donating this custom trailer has special meaning because it recognizes in a tangible way the contribution our military has made to all of us in Milton. I am proud to be part of a large group of wonderful volunteers who spend four Sundays every year installing and retrieving the crosses."

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On Nov. 11, 573 markers were put on display on Deerfield Parkway, Crabapple Road, Birmingham Highway and nearby streets by roughly 30 volunteers. Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, commemorates the end of World War 1 in 1918, but it now honors veterans of all wars in which the United States has fought.

Former Milton City Councilman Bill Lusk started the program in 2007 with 50 markers. He
financed the program himself for the first seven years. Lusk, with the help of several volunteers, has made all the markers in his basement workshop. Each wooden marker requires several hours to make.

“In 2007 I could put all 50 markers in the back of my pickup" Lusk said. "With nearly 600 markers
to date, the addition of the new trailer from Ron Wallace and the Olde Blind Dog team allows
us to serve the ever-increasing requests from Milton residents.”

Applications for markers may be made by visiting the city's website or clicking here.

Image via Milton Veterans Memorial/Olde Blind Irish Dog Pub