Communities across metro Atlanta celebrate Memorial Day

ATLANTA — Communities around metro Atlanta and the United States are celebrating Memorial Day by honoring soldiers who have died.

President Barack Obama laid a wreath Monday at the Tomb of the Unknowns to honor members of the military who died serving their country.

Obama's appearance at Arlington National Cemetery carries on a longstanding presidential tradition and comes as the U.S. struggles to end various conflicts in the Middle East.

In his remarks, Obama called for Americans to honor the fallen by caring for those they leave behind their families and their battle buddies who come home.

"We need to be there not just when we need them, but when they need us," Obama said of the nation's veterans.

In metro Atlanta, a service was held Monday afternoon at the Marietta National Cemetery.

People started gathering at the landmark hours before the 72^nd annual program began.

The cemetery is celebrating its 150^th anniversary.

Each grave was decorated with a flag, placed by members of the Boy Scouts and other local organizations.

Thousands of people arrived to hear speakers honor the lives of those who fought for the country's freedom.
Attendees remembered those they knew who died in service.

“My comrade, Paul E. Kelly, which I would post his name out here, is buried out there. He and I were in the military in Vietnam at the same time, so it gives me a great honor just to come out and honor him, and all of these fallen heroes out here. They are the real heroes,” Vietnam War veteran Clifford Flanagan said.

A ceremony in Spalding County honored soldiers who died and were forgotten.

The “lost” soldiers’ death records were missing from historical archives.

A librarian noticed that many of the local African-American soldiers who died in service had not been recognized on the current Doughboy memorial.

She spent two years tracking down death records and found 15 soldiers, 12 black and three white, who had been omitted.

Those soldiers will be honored in the re-dedication of the Doughboy Memorial statue.

“I’m a little overwhelmed, really, because I never expected any of this. It was all about the soldiers, always. Always about the soldiers. I called them my guys, and I’m really glad my guys are being honored like this finally,” archivist Cindy Barton said.

Memorial Day celebrations are scheduled throughout the day in metro Atlanta.

Cox Media Group