From left to right: Philadelphia Winn Chapter NSDAR Corresponding Secretary Lee Schermerhorn, First Vice Regent Ann Story, Daughter Lynn JacquesMayor Tom Witts and Snellville City Council Member, Bobby Howard officiated. Several notables, including Snellville VFW Commander Jimmy Jackson also addressed the group.
Local Chaplain Melvin Elverson and Pastor Trey Hilderbrand from the Snellville 12 Stone Church offered a prayer and benediction for the ceremony.
The Gwinnett County Community Band provided rousing musical accompaniments throughout the evening.
The Button Gwinnett SAR (Sons of the American Revolution), and Athens SAR were well represented in period dress with muskets blazing!
Philadelphia Winn Chapter NSDAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) greeted visitors with flags, bookmarks and informative literature detailing the purposes of their organization, historic preservation, education, and patriotism.
From left to right: Jay Guest, Walker Chewning, Fred Meyer, President Button Gwinnett Chapter/State Militia Commander Bill Palmer, Gordon Woodard, Mike Watkins, Mike Ruff. Also in attendance were John Ziegler, Don Loudermilk, Harry Kitchings, HODAR (husband of DAR) Tom Jacques, Melvin Buck, Jim Lynch
The evening came to a close after a reading of the Gettysburg Address, Laying of the Wreath, and SAR Musket Volley, followed by Taps. Visitors were also given candles as lighted balloons were released into the starry night sky as the Gwinnett Community Band played Stars and Stripes—a truly grand finale to a memorable evening in honor of and with gratitude for veterans everywhere!
Special thanks to Wild Wings Cafe who donated the beautiful wreath.
For more information regarding the Philadelphia Winn Chapter of the NSDAR, please visit our website at:
philadelphiawinn.georgiastatedar.org
Photos by Lee Schermerhorn and HODAR Tom Jacques
