The 3rd Annual Memorial Day Service was held Monday, May 27, at 11 a.m. at the Veterans & 1st Responders Memorial Park. Before the service, breakfast sponsored by the Emanuel Medical Center was held at the hospital cafeteria at 9 a.m. and over 70 veterans and Brier Creek Artillery members attended. The Memorial Day, ‘A Day of Remembrance’, event started off with a welcome from Chair Johnny Tapley, then the invocation by Dr. Rev. James Mason. The Pledge to the Flag of the United States was led by Veteran Scotty Nasworthy. A bell was tolled by veteran Jim McCurdy for Emanuel County's fallen heroes from the Revolutionary War, War Between the States, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, and Global War on Terror (Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa), for each of the service members killed August 2021 by the bombing at the Kabul Airport, National Guard Members and U.S. Border Patrol Agent killed near Rio Grande City, Texas on March 8, 2024, and Georgia U. S. Reserve Soldiers killed in Jordan on January 28, 2024, and for Emanuel County's Firemen and Law Enforcement killed to include Swainsboro Fire Department, Swainsboro Police Department, Twin City Police Department, Emanuel County Sheriff's Department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Then the Brier Creek Artillery (Wiregrass, Brier Creek, Little River Chapters) fired a three-round volley (15 rounds) with their five cannons (four six-pounders and one eight-pounder). After the three-round volley, Veteran Bob Nobles played taps on his bugle. The Memorial service was ended with closing remarks from Chair Johnny Tapley and the benediction by Dr. Rev. James Mason. There were approximately 100 in attendance. The event was sponsored by the Veterans at the Library, SAR, DAR, VFW, The American Legion, and the Sons of the American Revolution. A special thanks to Jane Durden, Shari Watt, Emanuel Medical Center CEO Damion Scott, Swainsboro Fire Department (trucks) and Herman Middlebrooks.
