Published Thursday, May 22, 2008

Senoia plans big Memorial Day

By Sarah Fay Campbell

The Newnan Times-Herald

There will be something for everyone to enjoy at Senoia's annual Memorial Day celebration Monday.

The third annual event will feature a parade, fireworks, music both pop and military, a fly-over by the Civil Air Patrol, Civil War and Revolutionary War reenactors, a keynote address by World War II veteran Helen Denton, vendors, vintage cars and more.

The event gets bigger and better every year.

Things will kick off at 10 a.m. Monday. That's when food and craft vendors will open up along Main Street.

The memorial program begins at noon, and the parade steps off at 2. Vendors, reenactors, veterans, and most everybody else will be on hand until 5 p.m.

Things will then move to Leroy Johnson Park on Howard Road for the fireworks display, which will begin shortly after dark.

This year's event will be extra special for music lovers, said Claudia Wood of the Senoia Downtown Development Authority.

The U.S. Army Ground Forces band will march in the parade, and give a concert afterwards.

Thirteen-year-old singer A'lise Holliday will perform before the fireworks display. Holliday, a Fayette County resident, is a hip-hop and R& B singing sensation and songwriter.

Also performing will be Tammie Adams and Marrianne Allison. Allison, the winner of the 2007 international John Lennon Songwriting Contest, performs weekly at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Biloxi, Miss. Allison performs a mix of acoustic, country, and folk music.

The Civil Air Patrol GA-116 Composite Squadron will perform the fly-over during the parade. High in the sky will be a single engine propeller plane.

The entire event will be emceed by The Car Guys, Scott Sargeant and Charlie Filkins. Rutledge Wood of the SPEED Channel will be on hand to visit with NASCAR fans.

In addition to the reenactors, there will also be a living history exhibit.

And there will also be plenty of food vendors and children's activities.

The event is sponsored by the Senoia Downtown Development Authority and the city of Senoia.

For more information, visit www.senoia.com or contact Gail Downs at 770-599-9155 or Suzanne Helfman at 770-599-8182.