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iEeporter
June 1, 2022
Monroe County program honors Memorial Day
By Diane Glidewell
news@mymcr.net
Monroe County’s Memo
rial Day program brought
well over 100 people to the
courthouse square to re
spectfully remember those
individuals who gave their
lives fighting to protect
the country and values
in which they believed.
Surrounded by United
States flags fluttering in the
breezes around the court
house, the program used
various voices to maintain
the traditions that honor
those who stepped forward
in the past so that freedoms
continue today
Central to the Memorial
Day Program was reading
the names of those from
Monroe County killed in
World War 1, World War
11, Korea, Vietnam and the
Gulf War. Hugh Rader
and Ryan Hilton read the
names. There were seven
wreaths placed at the Mon
roe County Veterans Me
morial, presented by Boy
Scouts Troop 51, Dorothy
Blount Lamar Chapter
COC, Lt. James Monroe
Chapter DAR, Major Wil
liam Horton DAC, Monroe
County GOP, Ocmulgee
Chapter SAR and Vietnam
Veterans Association #946.
“Taps” played following the
laying of the wreaths.
Monroe County's John
Ricketson gave open
ing and closing remarks.
He paraphrased General
George Patton to say that
we shouldn’t mourn for
those soldiers and sailers
who gave all but rather
should thank God that they
lived. As Rev. Nathan Jack-
son gave the invocation,
he prayed for the nation
and prayed for peace. He
thanked God for men and
women with courage and
said the battle is not with
man but is a spiritual battle
from which only God can
provide protection.
Troop 51 Boy Scouts
Grayson Bellwin and
Caden Baker presented and
retired the colors for the
program, with the assis
tance of Chuck Garnett of
the Ocmulgee Chapter of
the Sons of the American
Revolution. Jeff and Abby
Holcomb and Glynn Rog
ers of Living Word Church
sang the Star-Spangled
Banner.”
Claude and Marty
Curlee led the pledge of
allegiance to the flag. They
of Forsyth Main Street,
sang “God Bless the USA,”
and showed tremendous
grace and presence when
the accompanying music
stopped in the midst of his
presentation. He contin
ued without missing a
note with a delivery that
sounded as well, if not bet
ter, a cappella.
Martin Ursitti, retired
U.S. Navy and member of
the Vietnam Veterans of
America Chapter #946,
which meets monthly
in Forsyth, delivered the
keynote address. He said
that only one bullet, hand
grenade or bomb sepa
rated those we celebrate on
Memorial Day from those
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Those who participated in Monroe County s Memorial Day Program gathered for a picture at
the Memorial monument after the program.
young men
and the lives
as fathers,
grandfa
thers and
contributing
members of
Macon and invited anyone
who knows of veterans or
family members in need of
readjustment counseling
to contact Macon Veterans
Services.
A1 Turner spoke in tribute
to Gold Star families, those
who lost a service member.
Ricketson thanked Denise
Herring for organizing the
program and closed with
the quote of unknown ori
gin, “We don’t know them
all, but we owe them all.”
Those attending the Memorial Day program stand at attention during The Star-
Spangled Banner, including left Claude Curlee and Marty Curlee.
were responsible for the
flags placed around the
courthouse. Donations are
being accepted so that flags
representing the differ
ent armed services can be
placed along with the U.S.
flags on future commemo
rative days.
Frank Wilder, director
we honor on Veterans Day.
He said that U.S. service
men who fell in battle are
buried in 25 cemeteries in
10 countries around the
world.
Ursitti said that most
U.S. servicemen who died
in battle lost two lives, the
lives they were living as
communi
ties that
they could
have lived.
He quoted
Matthew
5:9, “Blessed
are the
peacemak
ers,” to close.
Allison
Jenkins
explained
and
read “In
Flanders
Fields” by John McCrae,
and poppies were offered
to those attending the pro
gram. Ken Blackstone, U.S.
Army retired, sang “Blades
of Grass and Pure White
Stones,” which speaks of
Arlington National Ceme
tery. Blackstone works with
Veterans services based in
THANK YOU
MONROE COUNTY
for trusting me with another
four years representing District 7
on the Board of Education.
I am there to represent you!
EVA
BILDERBACK
MONROE COUNTY
BOARD OF
EDUCATION
DISTRICT 7
THANK YOU
FOR RE-ELECTING ME.
I kept my promise to be a
back-bone not a Ham-bone.
And I am honored
Monroe County will allow
me to do it four more years.
Making Monroe County
Great again,
one Republican at a time
John Ambrose
MONROE COUNTY COMMISSIONER
DISTRICT 3
I am humbled and honored to serve on the Board of
Education. I will strive to continue to make Monroe
county schools some of the best in our state. Our
children and grandchildren’s welfare of a positive and
safe environment for learning and a quality education v*
will be my top priority while serving on the BOE. Also,
I would like to thank my wife, family, friends and
community for their encouragement and support. ^
Most importantly, I would like to thank my Lord and \
Savior Jesus Christ for opening this door for me to
serve my county and bring glory to His name. Thanks ^
Robert Jenkins. For any suggestions or concerns, I f
can be contacted at RJenkinsMC@gmail.com ^
MONROE COUNTY BOE DISTRICT 5