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Published Saturday, May 23, 2009 in Local

Lineup of local holiday activities

By Winston Skinner

The Times-Herald

Cowetans will have opportunities to participate in Memorial Day activities in Moreland Sunday and in Newnan, Senoia and Peachtree City on Monday.

Memorial Day is a time set aside each year to remember those who gave their lives in military service. On Thursday, Gov. Sonny Perdue issued a proclamation instructing all state buildings and facilities to fly the U.S. flag and the Georgia flag at half staff.

In his proclamation, Perdue concurred with a directive from President Barack Obama for flags to fly at half staff from sunrise Saturday through noon on Monday. In addition, Obama has called on Americans to pray for peace at 11 a.m. Monday.

The National Moment of Remembrance, established by Congress, asks Americans wherever they are at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day to pause for one minute in an act of national unity.

Sunday at 2 p.m., the Moreland Community Historical Society will hold a Memorial Day program at the Moreland Mill. "Those attending will be given a candle to light in honor or memory of a soldier they know," said Josh Evans, MCHS president. Light refreshments will be served after the program.

On Monday at 8:30 a.m., a golf cart procession will begin the Memorial Day events in Peachtree City. The annual program will begin at 9 a.m. at the City Hall/Library Plaza. Lovejoy resident Kevin Baker, immediate past-national president of the Children of the American Revolution, will speak.

The 2008 first and second place winners of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9949's annual essay contest, the "Patriots Pen," will read their winning entries as well. The Peachtree City event will be held outdoors at the VFW Memorial unless weather turns inclement. Rain location is First Presbyterian Church.

Events in Newnan will start Monday at 10 a.m. when a display of military memorabilia will be set up near the fountain in the city park. Dedication of Veterans Memorial Plaza will begin at 11 a.m. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2667 will conduct the ceremonies at 11 a.m. with John Gwizdak, VFW past national commander, speaker.

A short musical program will be presented by Northside Elementary School Chorus, under the direction of Joan Nelms.

On Monday afternoon, the military memorabilia display will move to the Newnan-Coweta Historical Society's History Center in the restored Atlanta and West Point Railroad Depot between East Broad and East Washington Streets in downtown Newnan.

The memorabilia will be on display from 1-4 p.m., and approximately 15 veterans from World War II, Vietnam and Panama will share memories and talk with visitors.