Four members of the East Fall Line Region Continentals and Brier Creek Artillery Skunk Brigade, Georgia Society Sons of the American Revolution participated in the 79th Pine Tree Festival by firing their six-pounder cannon to start the parade. The parade was delayed because of rain until 11:30 a.m. Earlier that morning at 8 a.m., The Brier Creek Artillery fired their cannon to start the Annual Knotty Pine 5K Run. The race started on time even though it was raining pretty good. The Kiwanis Club had 68 runners that braved the rain to make the annual run. The SAR pulled their two cannon trailers in the parade with Compatriot Alton McCloud from the Little River Chapter in Thomson pulling the first cannon and Compatriot Alton Reynolds of the Wiregrass Chapter in Swainsboro pulling the second cannon. Those riding in the two trucks were Steve Burke and Dess Smith in the first truck and Alton Reynolds’ grandchildren and wife Jodi in the second truck. After the one-mile parade, because of the rain this year, Commander Steve Burke was unable to set up his Revolutionary War artifacts booth among the vendors and answer questions. We estimate that the booth would have been visited by between 300 - 500 people and viewed by over 4,000 people.
