A service Monday at Veterans Memorial Park will honor local military men and women who served their country honorably and paid the ultimate sacrifice.

For the first time, cadets with the Dawson County High School JROTC will organize and conduct the Memorial Day ceremony, which is a special project of the Veterans Affairs of Dawson County.

"It's a great honor for all of our cadets to be involved in this ceremony, remembering our fallen soldiers," said Cadet Lt. Col. Woody Perry. "We're very proud that they asked us to take such a major role in the ceremony."

Originally known as Decoration Day to memorialize soldiers killed in the Civil War, Memorial Day was first observed as a national holiday in 1971.

The Veterans Affairs of Dawson County holds a local service each year.

State Rep. Kevin Tanner will serve as the event's keynote speaker.

The community is invited to attend the 3 p.m. service.
Community groups have also displayed 184 memorial markers with American flags along the streets of Dawsonville to honor deceased military men and women of Dawson County who have served honorably in one of the branches of service.

This Memorial Day, seven new memorial markers were placed around the old courthouse: Walter J. Victor, Jerry Fausett, Sherman "Tank" Heaton, Larence Lynn Hanks, Michael L. Allen, William Dean Hulsey and Dan "Bull" Hulsey.

The markers were put up by members of Etowah Masonic Lodge No. 222, Free & Accepted Masons, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter No. 970, Dawsonville Lions Club, Young Business Men of Dawson County and Chestatee Masonic Lodge No. 102, Free & Accepted Masons.

For more information, call Bill Sexton at (706) 216-5438.