Everyone should know the cost of freedom, Marine Gen. Raymond G. Davis said at Peachtree City's annual Memorial Day Ceremony Monday morning.

“We all must know that freedom is not free,” Davis said. “We must feel the high cost for being free and we must remember those who served to protect our freedom.”

Millions of American soldiers died in the two world wars, and more than 50,000 troops died in Korea and Vietnam, he reminded the crowd. Though those soldiers died protecting the freedom of Americans, people in today's military are facing different challenges, the general said.

Among those challenges are cuts in the nation's military budget. Davis listed nuclear submarines and a host of other cuts the government has made to lower costs.

Those cuts, in turn, have put the branches of the U.S. military in a poor position, as Davis sees it.

“We now have the most lack of readiness in our military forces that we have seen in the last 50 years,” he said.

The nation has been using the reserve forces more often to fill in for those serving overseas, he added. And the country is not fulfilling its promises of medical care, job preferences and education to military enlistees, he said.

Davis also urged the crowd to learn more about America's war history.

“Our challenge is to know our past mistakes and bring America back to greatness for our children and our great-grandchildren,” Davis said.

He also challenged every American to “upgrade our culture.”

“We need to return to integrity, loyalty and faith,” Davis said.

Those values were echoed in a poem read by Gary Rossomme about those who wish to burn, spit on or stomp on the American flag.

Rossomme said anyone wishing to desecrate the flag should get permission first from three people: a war veteran, an immigrant and the mother of someone who gave his life for his country.

“Americans who don't appreciate the flag don't appreciate this nation,” Rossomme said. “Ask those who have defended our nation so we may be free today.”

The choral group Music First serenaded the crowd with several patriotic tunes before and during the ceremony. Also, the top three overall winners in the Memorial Day essay contest read their entries and received their awards.

Jillian Profeta, a seventh grader at St. Paul Lutheran School, won first place and received a $100 savings bond in addition to a Georgia state flag from Rep. Kathy Cox. Juliane Rossomme, who is home-schooled, took second while Thomas Getreu of J.C. Booth Middle School placed third. Both received $50 savings bonds.

The ceremony was sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Peachtree City Kiwanis Club and the city of Peachtree City.

Back to News Home Page | Back to the top of the page