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Livsey helps dedicate memorial at Inman

By CAROLYN CARY
ccary@TheCitizenNews.com

Gen. William J. Livsey, one of only four Georgians to attain four-star rank in the United States Army, spoke Monday morning at Inman United Methodist Church.

The congregation dates back to 1832 and has never erected a sign naming its cemetery. With the help of generous donations from members, and the assistance of member Ralph Wofford, a granite monument was unveiled as a part its Memorial Day Remembrance. It sits in the center of a newly laid brick patio.

A new flag pole was erected and 90-year-old Don Harp Sr., a native of the community, raised the first flag, initially to the top of the pole to dedicate it, and then lowered it to half-staff in honor of the occasion.

Jim Minter, also a native of the community, introduced Gen. Livsey. Currently a resident of Fayette County, Livsey is a native of Clarkston.

As the general began to speak, the rain began to come down mightily, and he commented, “I’m glad to see the rain. It is a sign of God weeping for our fallen heroes we are honoring today.

“When our servicemen returned from World War I, there was a parade down Fifth Avenue, and then our country forgot. When they returned from World War II, there was a parade down Fifth Avenue, and then we forgot. After the Korean War, a very small detachment marched down Fifth Avenue, and yes, we then forgot. When the Vietnam War was over, not only was there not a parade, but cat-calls instead. In each instance, men returned to fight somewhere else another day.”

As an aside, he said he told General Norman Schwarzkopf, whom he mentored in Korea, that he, General Livsey, could have fought Desert Storm from a phone booth in Fayetteville.

The general ended his remembrance remarks by quoting the poem “In Flanders Field” by heart. His last words were, “Remember, freedom is not free.”