I want to thank you for the support you’ve shown towards our veterans for the past several years. We will celebrate our 6th Annual Veterans Day Celebration on Nov. 11, 2010. 

Our parade has grown larger every year as more veterans and active military join us.

For many, this is a healing process when they see the community come out to support them.

However, I’ve seen less community support in the past couple of years. For those that have attended each of our parades, I say: “Thank you so much!”

However, we need the rest of the community to come out and cheer on our heroes as they walk, ride or march through downtown Dawsonville.

Many of our heroes never received a “Welcome Home.”

Our World War II veterans are all but gone, our Korean War veterans are few and our Viet Nam veterans are leaving us way too soon.

Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are coming home without welcomes.

We must show them gratitude. We owe them so much.

Their sacrifices are great and they will live with them for the rest of their lives.

Many scars are visible, but far too many are not. Their memories are with them constantly.

So, I ask you, my community, to come out on Veterans Day Nov. 11 at 4 p.m. and line the streets of downtown Dawsonville to say, “Welcome Home and Thank you!” to our veterans.

I ask you to give them a pleasant memory that they can reflect on when their memories of war flash back and cause them such heartache.

Pam Hamalainen

President, Veterans Affairs of Dawson County