Wednesday, May 24, 2000
Wednesday, May 24, 2000 |
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Memorial Day activities this weekend Atlanta History Center honors those who fought for freedom BY
MICHAEL BOYLAN Millions of brave men and women have put their lives on the line since this country's inception. Memorial Day is a time for Americans to reflect on those who fought and died for our freedom. The cities of Fayetteville and Peachtree City will conduct Memorial Day ceremonies and the Atlanta History Center will have several activities honoring America's soldiers. Beginning Friday, May 26, the Atlanta History Center will host The Moving Wall Vietnam memorial. The Moving Wall displays the names of 58,213 men and women who died while in military service in Vietnam between 1959 and 1975. The Wall, which will be on the lawn of the historic Swan House mansion, will be open to the public 24 hours a day during its 10-day stay. Access to the Moving Wall will be free of charge. There will also be a special family program Saturday, May 27 from noon to 5 p.m. “Soldiers Past and Present” salutes American soldiers with a journey through Georgia's military past. Visitors will hear the real stories of soldier life as living history interpreters and veterans present the weapons, equipment, vehicles and the experiences of soldiers from the American Revolution to the present. The Center also will have three Vietnam-related exhibitions on display in McElreath Hall and the Atlanta History Museum through June 4. These include “Requiem: By the Photographers who died in Vietnam and Indochina,” a nationally touring exhibition organized by the Newseum in Arlington, Va. “Snapshots of the War: A Soldier's Tour of Duty” is a display of 30 photos taken by U.S. Air Force Capt. George Ray Herrin while stationed at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in 1968 and 1969. “Local Memories of a Distant War” features artifacts and memorabilia collected by Atlanta veterans during their service in Vietnam. The Atlanta History Center is open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for students 18 and over and seniors 65 and over, $4 for youths 6-17 and free for children 5 and under. Call 404-814-4000 or visit www.atlantahistory.net. Local activities will begin in Peachtree City with a golf cart parade at 7:30 a.m. The parade begins at The Gathering Place and will head to the City Hall Plaza for a cermony starting at 7:45 a.m. Fayettevile will have a cermony at McCurry Park at 11 a.m.
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