The City of Grovetown held a Veterans Day ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 9 at the Veterans memorial next to city hall to honor past and present veterans.
Major Eric Rowland was the guest speaker, and he spoke about the history of Veterans Day. He said the ceremony was part of a tradition that began in 1918 when Congress made Armistice Day a national holiday as a way to honor WWI veterans.
“In 1954 after WWII had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen in the nation’s history… Congress, at the urging of veteran’s service organizations amended that by striking out the word armistice and inserting in its place the word veterans. With that approval, we have the modern Veterans Day on the 11th of November to honor veterans of all wars and all those who have served, past and present.”
Rowland also wanted to specifically remember Vietnam veterans and said the last American, Max Beilke, solider left Vietnam on March 29, 1973. Beilke would later become of the first people to declared missing following the attack on the Pentagon on Sept. 11. He was at the building for a meeting with retirement officials regarding support of veterans and family issues.
“Today we recognize that the Army’s people are its greatest strength and that taking care of them and ensuring they are ready to fight and win our nations war is a top priority,” Rowland said. “But as we know, when Max Beilke and other Vietnam veterans returned home, the Army and largely the nation as a whole, did not honor or recognize their sacrifices in service. The war was divisive and those division bled over into the way those who served were treated when they came back to a nation who called them to serve.”
He went on to say that out of nine million Vietnam veterans, only six million are still around and those who served are an inspiration to those who serve today.
City Administrator Elaine Matthews spoke about the Grovetown Veterans Wall and said if anyone would like to be added, they just need to bring a copy of their DD214 with private information redacted, current address and contact information, to city hall and give to Public Information Officer Jordan Johnson.
“Just want to say a couple things bout Grovetown and our network with Fort [Eisenhower] and Cyber Command, NSA,” Matthews said. “We have a fantastic working relationship with them, and we do welcome those that are here from Fort [Eisenhower] today. Our city is blessed that some of our forefathers had this wall installed, because it’s a very emotional thing to come here and be able touch the names of your loved ones, some gave all for their country.”
Aliana Williams, a social studies teacher at Grovetown High School, sang the National Anthem. The Fort Eisenhower Color Guard presented the flags during the event.
On Saturday, Nov. 11, the CSRA Veterans Parade will take place at 10 a.m. in downtown Augusta. That same day, the VFW 12190, will hold a Veterans Day event at the Memorial Wall behind the Columbia County Library in Evans.
Stephanie Hill is the managing editor and covers Columbia County government for The Augusta Press. Reach her at stephanie@theaugustapress.com.
