This Memorial Day, a group of local service clubs and veterans organizations, are working together to bring to Rome and Floyd County an event that will explain the true meaning of this special day: our appreciation and gratitude to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and our freedom. This event, which will be open to the public starting at noon, will be held at Ridge Ferry Park
on Monday, May 26, 2014. There will be no admission charge. One of the things that will make this Memorial Day celebration differ from those in the past is that the community is encouraged to not only attend, but become a part of the event. For the veterans who served in World War Two, Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Kuwait, Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan, you are encouraged to bring your uniforms, your decorations, your souvenirs, your table and your stories to share with the community. Display areas will be organized by wars and/or conflicts and persons wishing to display will setup in the appropriate areas. While the people of Rome, Floyd County and the surrounding areas are encouraged to attend, there will also be representatives of the American Legion : Post 5, Post 52, Post 136, and Post 506; AMVETS; Exchange Club of Rome; Korean Veterans; Marine Corps League; United Veterans of the Armed Forces; Veterans of Foreign Wars; and we expect more to follow. As a service to the community from the American Legion Post 5 Honor Guard, you are encouraged to bring flags that are no longer serviceable for flying and they will be properly disposed of. In addition to the personnel and organizations attending the event, static displays of various military helicopters, vehicles and equipment used in the conflicts that date back as much as seventy years will be present. This event will make for a superb outing for the whole family as well as to serve as an enjoyable learning environment for the younger generations. In the years to come, the children of today will hopefully carry with them our values and the importance of the issues we instill in them. By the end of the day on May 26, we want every attending child to be able to answer the question ‘What does Memorial Day mean to me?’ Parents, if you have a child that already has that answer, have them write a letter, draw a picture or create something with a significant meaning that they can bring and give to a veteran to show their appreciation. It will make as much of an impact on the veteran as their stories will for you and your child. We all have 365 days a year to travel and tend to our lives – we can take 1 of those days to honor our fallen veterans that gave us that privilege. We owe our freedom to those who are and were willing to don the uniform and fight on our behalf in foreign nations. Some of those service members will never be able to tell you their stories because of their ultimate sacrifice. Those stories will never be written in the history books or played on the silver screen. Come out Monday, May 26, 2014 to Ridge Ferry Park in Rome and you will be privy to the real stories from local heroes that were pivotal to the success and freedom enjoyed by us in the United States of America.
