Members of the East Fall Line Region traveled to Sylvania on Dec. 18 to participate in the Tribute to the 40 Screven County Veterans, who never made it home. On the 102nd anniversary of World War I and the 75th anniversary of World War II, this tribute was named Beyond the Sea.
The tolling of the bell was done in three parts: 17 casualties of WWI, 22 casualties of WWII and one casualty of the Korean War. Including these 40 wreaths, there were a total of 559 wreaths placed in the Screven County Cemetery on veteran’s tombstones. This event was sponsored by the American Legion Screven County History buffs in support of the Ellis E. Williams Memorial Post 7116, Veterans of Foreign Wars George Alexander Mincey Memorial Post 116. Also, Regent Emelyn Hunter and Harriet Yancey of the Brier Creek Chapter, DAR was responsible for the Revolutionary War Memorial event that was held just before the Beyond the Sea event.
Members of the EFLR, at the conclusion of both events, fired a 3-round volley with their flintlocks, 6-pounder Naval cannon and 3-pounder mortar. Those members firing the cannons were Commander Steve Burke, Sgt-at-Arms Don Bazemore and Bernard Martin. Those members firing their flintlocks from the Brier Creek, Wiregrass and Little River Chapters were: Wilder Smith Jr., Alton Reynolds, John Tapley, Al Smith, Dess Smith III, Lee Smith, Allen Mincey, Woody Woodard, Alton McCloud and Gary Smith.
