Memorial Day Ceremonies In Cumming Today

The City of Cumming and Forsyth County presents the 2011 Memorial Day Ceremonies today at 11 a.m. at the Veterans War Memorial located at 301 Veterans Memorial Boulevard in Cumming.

The ceremony is being held today and not on Monday for a very good reason--attendance.

"We've tried different days, we've tried on Friday, we've tried Monday, we've tried Saturday and traditionally our biggest turnout has been on that Friday beforehand," said Alison Smith, city of Cumming employee and event organizer. "On that Monday we have a lot of people traveling, taking vacations and we just don't have the same turnout."

City officials are expecting about 750 people attend today's free event and will have enough seating to accommodate that many people.

"One hundred of those (seats) are reserved for family members who are dedicating flags, we have a section for veterans and then we also have general audience seating," said Smith.

The ceremonies will begin with a welcome from Cumming Mayor H. Ford Gravitt, followed by the invocation given by Shad Faulkner. This year's Master of Ceremonies, Martin Farrell, with the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1030 and a former radio and television anchor will give the introduction.

The Forsyth County Fire Department Honor Guard and Forsyth Pipe and Drum will present the colors and the national anthem will be sung by Macy Swanson, a rising sophomore at North Forsyth High School.

During the Avenue of Flags Dedication, Smith told Cumming Patch 11 flags will be dedicated, one in honor of former Cumming Police Chief Buck Jones.

"The other 10 are normal families that we do," said Smith. "And then we've got a 12th pole that we're actually adding flags to that was dedicated in 1997. The Pendley family is adding two new dedications to the Furman Pendley flag."

According to the City of Cumming the "Avenue of Flags Dedication" are 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.

The event will conclude with a rifle salute given by the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, followed by Taps and the release of  white doves.