Smyrna Memorial Day Event (FREE)

On Monday, May 28, 2018, at 9:30 am, the City of Smyrna, Georgia holds its annual Memorial Day ceremony at Veterans Park, 2800 King Street, Smyrna, GA 30080. The event and parking are free and open to all.

Scheduled speakers are Lieutenant General Steve Arnold, US Army (Ret) and Gunnery Sgt. Victoria Turney (Ret). The ceremony will feature the Georgia Army National Guard Band, Campbell High School JROTC and the USAF Honor Guard.

Military equipment displays will include current and vintage military and security vehicles and weaponry, a US Marine Patrol Boat, H3 Hummer and other attractions.

This year we celebrate the 100th anniversary of World War I. In September 1918 in France, American 2nd Lieutenant John Wickersham, 28, wrote a poem to his mother and for all mothers:

And, fellows, she’s the hero of this great, big ugly war,

And her prayer is on the wind across the flat,

And don’t you reckon maybe it’s her tears, and not the rain,

That’s keeping up the patter on your old tin hat?

The next day, leading his platoon, they were shelled, and he was mortally wounded. Wickersham’s poem was about mothers, but it could just as easily have described the heartache of a wife, daughter, sister, father, son, brother or husband who have felt the loss of the one million American heroes who have died for their country while serving in wars from the American Revolution to the current War on Terrorism.

Long after the guns have fallen silent and the bombs stop exploding, the children of our fallen warriors will still be missing a parent. Spouses will be alone. Parents will grieve.

It is for these heroes and the men and women of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard training or in harm’s way to protect our freedom that we gather on Memorial Day.

This year’s sponsors include The City of Smyrna, Smyrna Veterans Committee, Veterans Memorial Association of Smyrna, American Legion Post 160, Northwest Speakers, Smyrna Rotary Club, Jonquil City Kiwanis, Chick-fil-A of South Cobb, and JWC Real Estate.