By Don Brown, Veterans Affairs of Dawson County

Monday, May 25, 2020 was Memorial Day, that day set aside to remember and honor those who gave their lives in service to our country. Locally this Memorial Day was markedly different, there was no formal ceremony, no speeches, no gathering of veterans to honor the fallen and no smartly dressed JROTC Cadets replacing the flags. The markers and flags that have been traditionally placed on streets throughout Dawsonville were reduced to those around the historic courthouse.

An unseen enemy changed all that, the COVID-19 pandemic. It made health and safety most important, it made social distancing change events. 

A wreath was placed in Veterans Memorial Park at the memorial statue honoring and remembering those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. The rendering of Taps echoed between the flags and a few stood to salute as it played and remembered those who didn’t come home.

Memorial Day has normally seen the opening of swimming pools, sales of linens and automobiles, family picnics in the park and boating on the lake, but this year is not “normal”.

Perhaps this year is an opportunity to sit with our children, call up Memorial Day on the internet and show them who has given them the freedoms to be who they are and where they are.

Thank you Dawsonville and Dawson County for a brief moment of silence honoring those who gave all.