About Dawson County news. (Dawsonville, Georgia) 2015-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 14, 2018)
Wednesday, November 14,2018 dawsonnews.com I DAWSON COUNTY NEWS I 9A FROM 1A Veterans In the poem, the red poppy flowers have grown in Flanders Field, which was once covered in the blood of lives lost in World War I. Since the poem’s publication in 1918, the red poppy has become an international symbol of the lives sacri ficed and the hope that none had died in vain. Costley also noted the honor of Dawson County being nationally recog nized as a regional site for Veterans Affairs in Georgia. “Each year the Veterans Administration nationally recognizes two locations in each state to be designated as regional sites for the VA,” Costley said. “The other one [besides Dawsonville], by the way, in the state of Georgia is the city of Atlanta, so I am very honored, as we all are, to have this designation bestowed upon us.” During the ceremony, the 2018 Veteran of the Year award recipient was announced by Vietnam Veteran Wayne Watkins. Sgt. Albert Andrew Day, an Alpharetta born Vietnam veteran, serving in the third infantry, fourth battalion Delta company until his honor able discharge in 1970, received the award for his military service and his continued efforts within the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 970. Day currently serves on the board of directors and served as the special operations officer in charge of the chapter’s primary fundraising event for two years. “I don’t feel like I deserve it, but I’ll take it with honor,” Day said. “My tour in Vietnam might not have been as exciting as some of you, but it was really an experi ence, and if I had to do it all over again, I’d do it.” The Dawson County High School Chamber Singers perform "Elegy" at the annual Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 12. Vietnam Veteran Wayne Watkins presents the 2018 Veteran of the Year Award to Sgt. Albert Andrew Day, left, Nov. 12. The audience stands for the presentation of colors and the Pledge of Allegiance during the annual Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 12. Dawson County Junior High School Choral Director Kevin Woody performs "God Bless the USA" during the annual Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 12. Photos by Jessica Taylor Dawson County News Veterans stand and pledge during the performance of TAPS during the annual Veterans Day ceremony hosted by Veterans Affairs of Dawson County Nov. 12. The Missing ManTable, symbolizing prisoners of war and those missing in action from the United States military, was on display at Dawson County Junior High School during the annual Veterans Day ceremony. JROTC cadets from Dawson County High School wait in the wings before laying flags representing each branch of the U.S. military on the Missing ManTable during the Veterans Day ceremony. A Boy Scout from Troop 422 presents the Georgia state flag during the Veterans Day ceremony at Dawson County Junior High School Nov. 12.
