Soldiers from Coastal Georgia gathered at the Averitt Center for the Arts Monday to honor the fallen soldiers who have come from Bulloch County.
After reading from the Declaration of Independence, Capt. William “Bill” Anderson, United States Navy Retired, keynote speaker at Monday’s Memorial Day program, said “It is a simple guarantee we can buy and do things for no reason other than ... satisfaction.
“Those we honor today … served and died for the meaning of those words. We honor with thanks and words of encouragement those who serve today.”
While deployed in Iraq, Statesboro soldier Lonnie D. Ellis wrote a book of poetry. Several of those poems were displayed in the lobby of Emma Kelly Theater, where Monday’s program was held.
The names of those Bulloch County veterans who died in war were intoned along with words of remembrance.
A moment of silence for three late former speakers…Burton “Burtt Hawkeye” Higgins, Kemp Mabry and Robert Dannacher…was offered by Dan Foglia, program coordinator.
As a token of thanks for their service, Vandy’s in the Statesboro Mall gave all veterans who attended Monday’s program tickets for a free meal.
