Red, white and blue will be proudly displayed as our nation’s veterans and active duty military are honored during the City of Cumming’s annual Veterans Day Ceremony. The public is invited to take part in the event, which will be held at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 at the city’s Veterans War Memorial, 301 Veterans Memorial Blvd.

While the city hosts the event at its war memorial every year, the planning and organization of the ceremony falls to either the local chapter of the American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars. This year that privilege goes to the American Legion Post 307. The post’s commander, Randy McGhee, will serve as master of ceremonies. Cumming Mayor H. Ford Gravitt will welcome everyone, and the event’s keynote address will be presented by Chief Warrant Officer 5 Tom Golden.

Throughout his time with the Georgia Army National Guard, in which he enlisted in 1985, Golden served in Operation Desert Shield in 1990 to 1991, and in Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2005 to 2006. He has also participated in numerous other missions both at home and abroad, including the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta and training aviators and crewmembers for the Georgian Air force in the Eurasian country of Georgia. In 2011, he was selected as the next Command Chief Warrant Officer for the state of Georgia, and throughout his career Golden has been awarded numerous decorations.

The Cumming Veterans Day Ceremony will also feature musical performances from Forsyth Central High School’s Flash of Crimson Band, the Forsyth Christian Home Educators Learning Co-Op, and Christian Fine Arts of Forsyth. North Forsyth High School’s Marine Corps JROTC will present the colors. In total, some 60 students will perform during the event.

Additionally, a 21-gun salute will be presented by the Forsyth County Joint Honor Guard Rifle Team, which includes members of the sheriff’s office and fire department; a patriotic reading will be given by the Daughters of the American Revolution; and “Amazing Grace” and “Taps” will be performed.

Pam Daugherty, one of the event organizers who is a member of the Forsyth Christian Home Educators, said last year’s ceremony drew about 400 people, with about 70 of those being veterans or active duty military personnel.

“I know from speaking with them that it is greatly encouraging to look out and see a big crowd,” Daugherty said. “They especially love to see all of the kids there.

“This is a wonderful tradition, a wonderful event that the City of Cumming hosts, and I feel that it is our patriotic, civic duty to show our support as a community.”

The Veterans Day Ceremony is free and open to the entire community.

Event at a Glance
What: City of Cumming Veterans Day Ceremony
When: 11 a.m. Nov. 11
Where: Cumming’s Veterans War Memorial, 301 Veterans Memorial Blvd. (next door to the Cumming Police Department)
Cost: Free and everyone is welcome

Source:  City of Cumming

  Cumming, Forsyth County, Veterans