Organizers of the 9th Annual Peachtree City Memorial Day Celebration want to pay special tribute to those who have been wounded in the line of duty. They invite any wounded service members and their families to the event on May 28, starting at 9 a.m. at City Hall Plaza in Peachtree City.

Memorial Day traditionally honors those who have died in service to America, and that will continue as a primary goal. This year, the theme “Honoring Those Who Have Sacrificed” also encompasses men and women who have been injured.

“We always need to remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice, their life, in the cause of protecting what we believe in as a nation,” said Randy Gaddo, event coordinator. “But Americans need to be reminded that those who return home wounded, physically and/or mentally, from the battlefield have sacrificed equally as much, as have their families,” said Gaddo, who is a retired Marine.

In line with that theme, the guest speaker is the Director of Medical Services and the Medical Officer of the Marine Corps. Rear Admiral Richard R. Jeffries will speak about modern battlefield medicine.

There will be special seating for Purple Heart recipients and their families, from any era. Service members, active, retired or former, are encouraged to wear their uniforms and/or their Purple Heart.

While killed-in-action statistics are often quoted, wounded in action tallies aren’t. WWII has the highest number of wounded of any post-Civil War era, with 670,846 reported wounded, as compared to 240,002 in WWI. Vietnam saw 153,303 wounded; Korea 103,284 and the first Gulf War, 467. The wounded from the current Iraqi War stands at about 24,000, with another 1,115 from the war in Afghanistan.

Besides the well documented wars and conflicts, thousands of others have been wounded in other engagements during the Cold War Era. For example, 169 were wounded in Lebanon between 1982 and 1984; 100 were wounded in the Grenada campaign in 1983; 240 in Panama between 1989 and 1990. And there are scores of others wounded in skirmishes and undeclared conflicts.

“Too often Americans forget those who return home wounded, physically and/or mentally, from the battlefield,” said Gaddo. “Modern battlefield medicine is saving more lives than ever before, but this also means that we have more warriors coming back with debilitating injuries that can take years to heal, or possibly never will. America owes her wounded warriors, and their families, a tremendous debt of gratitude. They deserve the best medical attention available.”

The Memorial Day celebration unofficially begins at 8:30 a.m. with the traditional patriotic golf cart procession from the Gathering Place around Lake Peachtree to City Hall Plaza, the site of the official celebration. The public is invited to join the procession. More than 200 patriotically-decorated golf carts are normally involved.

The singing group Music Alive! will begin performing introductory music at city hall plaza at 8:30 a.m. They will be joined by the Southern Nights Chorale, an all-male a cappella group, who will sing the National Anthem. At 9 a.m. honors to the flag will commence, followed by a memorial wreath presentation by the local VFW post 9949 and more music.

“We hope that the later start time will make it easier for families to join us as we honor the memories of those who have died, or were wounded, in service to the United States,” said Gaddo.

The top winner of the Memorial Day student essay contest will read his or her winning entry and all top finishers will receive awards.

The 2006 winner of VFW Post 9949’s annual essay contest, the “Patriots Pen,” will read his winning entry as well. Eighth grader Matthew Trebuchon will read his winning thoughts on Citizenship in America.

The event is held outdoors at the VFW Memorial in City Hall Plaza unless weather turns inclement, when it is moved across the street to the First Presbyterian Church. “We’re hoping for good weather so we can do a vintage aircraft flyover and feature a JROTC silent drill platoon,” said Gaddo. “But First Presbyterian is an excellent location if needed and we appreciate the church leaders’ participation.”

The Kiwanis Club of Peachtree City, VFW Post 9949, American Legion post 50 and the City’s Leisure Services Division jointly sponsor this event. Call 770-631-2542 for more information.

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