Hundreds gather for Marietta’s 77th Memorial Day ceremony to honor fallen heroes

MARIETTA, Ga. — On Monday, people in Georgia and across the country and remembering our fallen heroes.

From President Joe Biden laying a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery to local events where people are paying tribute to soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Channel 2′s Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell was at the event in Marietta where she spoke to veterans.

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It was a sea of red, white and blue. The young and old come together to pause and reflect.

“They were men. They were women. Brothers, sisters and fathers,” Brig. Gen. Mark Gelhardt said.

They are our fallen heroes.

“You decided to be here. A conscious decision to be here to remember our fallen soldiers, airman, Marines, Coast Guard, Navy,” Gelhardt said.

Hundreds gathered at the Marietta National Cemetery for the 77th Memorial Day ceremony.

“It makes me feel proud of my country that we have citizens willing to step up for us on our behalf and as all of these people buried here did. They died for our country,” Navy veteran Don Giles said.

“That’s what makes me a proud American Legion, and to continue to show my support for fallen soldiers,” Army veteran Lemuel Johnson, Jr. said.

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The ceremony included a 21-gun salute, special tributes, and speeches. It was organized by the National Memorial Day Association of Georgia.

“I served 16 and a half years,” veteran Linda Monroe said.

“I served in the united states navy for four years,” veteran Stevilus Nelson said.

“This is a special day. I just explained to my granddaughter about the significance of this,” Giles said.

The mayor of Marietta, Cobb County chairwoman Lisa Cupid, and so many other leaders were in attendance for the ceremony.

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