Gainesville observes Veterans Day

GAINESVILLE - The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month...Gainesville joined the nation Wednesday in observing Veterans Day.

The Maranatha Christian Academy singers set the tone for the event at the Mountains Center, singing 'This land is Your Land'; So, once again, did the Chestatee High School Band with their patriotic medleys that featured all the songs of the Armed Services.

As the band played 'Anchors Aweigh', 'The Caissons Go Rolling Along', the Marine Hymn, the song of the Coast Guard, and 'The Wild Blue Yonder' of the Air Force, veterans of each branch stood and proudly saluted.

Marine Vietnam vet Calvin Sneed of Gainesville remembered what it was like when he came home from harm's way.

"They did not honor the veterans in Vietnam, it was a slap in the face, but now they are honoring them and they should," Sneed said. "It is a privilege to see that now."

Sneed still grieves for comrades who did not come home.

"I lost a lot of men under me in Vietnam, and it hurts," he said.

The Paul E. Bolding American Legion Post hosted the event and members performed the POW-MIA ceremony with the table for one, set with a single rose, the American flag, the inverted glass and a single burning candle to illuminate the missing soldier's way home.

Master of Ceremonies, veteran and Legionnaire Joe Sartain, Jr. called the most recent and tragic loss of American military lives at Fort Hood Texas an 'act of terror'.

Legion Auxiliary members and Sons of the American Revolution placed the wreaths; Major Brad McCanna, U.S.M.C. (Ret.) narrated the flag folding ceremony conducted by members of the Navy ROTC unit from East Hall High School.

Sheriff Steve Cronic presented the flag to retired Sheriff's Major Jim Ash, who guided construction of the new Hall County Jail.

The Sheriff's Honor Guard fired the traditional 21-gun salute; a Sheriff's bugler played Taps and the Riverside Military Academy Color Guard retired the colors.

"We do get together with some of our friends, and we pay our respects on this day," Sneed said.