Cumming Celebrates 20 Years of Its War Memorial, Event Friday

The City of Cumming presents the 2012 Memorial Day Ceremonies Friday at 11 a.m. at the Veterans War Memorial located at 301 Veterans Memorial Boulevard in Cumming. The day will also commemorate the 20th anniversary of the War Memorial that was completed and dedicated in May 1992.

"We are honoring veterans this year that have actually participated in the program in the past that have past away in this last year or so," said Alison Smith, city of Cumming employee and event organizer.

Smith said, while this is a city sponsored event, the day honors all veterans of Cumming and Forsyth County. She also explained why the ceremonies are always on the Friday before Memorial Day.

"This is our ceremony to do our dedications of "Avenue of Flags," it's not strictly just a Memorial Day ceremony," she said. "We are able to do more on that Friday because we are a smaller community and we do seek the same resources for support that all of the bigger communities that do that on that Monday."

"We are able to provide more on that Friday, we have found in the past that has been our experience," Smith added.

City officials are expecting about 650 to 800 people to attend Friday's free event and will have enough seating to accommodate at least 750 people.

As in years past, about 100 seats are reserved for family members who are dedicating flags, there's a section for veterans and general audience seating.

The ceremonies will begin with a welcome from Cumming Mayor H. Ford Gravitt, followed by the invocation given by Travis Bridgeman, pastor at . Richard Knight, a Veterans of Foreign Wars District Commander for four years and member of the local VFW Post 9143, is this year's Master of Ceremonies.

The Forsyth County Fire Department Honor Guard, and Forsyth Pipe and Drum will give the 'Presentation of Colors' followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The North Georgia Barbershop Singers will perform the National Anthem and other pieces of music during the ceremony.

The "Avenue of Flags Dedication" is filled with flags donated by the family members of deceased Veterans who served in the United States Military. Some of the flags are flown for soldiers killed in action, some for those who served in times of war, some for prisoners of war and still others for those who served in times of peace. All of whom had earned the honor of a military funeral at their passing in acknowledgement of their service to the United States of America, according to the event's program.

The ceremony will conclude with a rifle salute given by the Forsyth County Fire Department Honor Guard, Taps and the release of doves, including a peace dove.