Roswell to Remember Again With Memorial Day Event
 |
In 1997, 12 patriotic individuals came together to create a truly unique Memorial Day event – a non-political, non-commercial ceremony honoring veterans and the sacrifices they made in protecting our freedom. That first ceremony attracted approximately 1,800 individuals. From that humble beginning, came the Roswell Memorial Day Ceremony, an event that attracts approximately 6,000-7,000 people throughout Georgia and the Southeast each year.
This year’s event begins at 10 a.m. on May 26 at the Faces of War Memorial at Roswell City Hall. The guest speaker is Lt. Col. Robert Ledee, a highly decorated combat veteran who honorably served his country during four wars in his 31-year career. Among his 40-plus service decorations are the Purple Heart Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and two Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Medals.
 The annual Roswell Remembers Memorial Day ceremony is generally one of the city’s best-attended events. Lt. Col. Robert Ledee will be the guest speaker at this year’s event on Monday, May 26. |
Ledee serves on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Viet-Nam Veterans Alliance and is a member of the Marine Corps Executive Association, Marine Corps League, Purple Heart Society, Marine Officers Association, Brotherhood of Elks and a life member of NRA.
Ledee has been guest speaker at many business, civic and charitable organizations. Since the inception of the Armor 4 Troops Foundation, Ledee has appeared and been honored on national television talk shows and in national and local newspapers and radio stations across the United States.
The Roswell Vietnam War Monument is 14 feet in height and 20 feet across, highlighted by Georgia marble cap stones and old colonial bricks. The plaza and walkways contain hundreds of memorial bricks purchased by supporters of the project.
Fifty faces, cast in bronze, depict an array of emotions, including fear, grief, and courage. They represent American serviceman and women, medical personnel, and Vietnamese civilians. One figure in the sculpture is that of a soldier reaching out to clasp the hand of a little girl. A sheer waterfall cascades over the backdrop faces. Viewers will be able to see a reflection of their own faces and at that instant become a part of the memorial.