A ceremony was held on the Covington square Tuesday morning in honor of Veterans’ Day. The ceremony was hosted by American Legion Post 32. The Newton High School Jr. ROTC Color Guard was on hand to post colors at the beginning of the ceremony. Porterdale Baptist Church Pastor Dickie Johnson gave a prayer followed by the Pledge of Allegiance delivered by American Legion Post 32 Commander Bobby Hamby. Joanna Horstmans sang The National Anthem and God Bless America for the crowd before the story of the holiday was delivered by Hamby. Key note speaker Roger Tingler commented before the ceremony, "It’s an honor for me to have been asked to give the speech today. Being a Vietnam Veteran, I know what it’s all about. I’m grateful to the ones that are serving today and I think we owe them a big debt of gratitude." American Legion Post 32 Sr. Vice Commander Don Floyd was chosen to make the presentation of the wreath to conclude the ceremony. More than 75 community members and veterans attended.
In Social Circle, students, residents and veterans celebrated Veteran's Day with an assembly themed, "The American Flag," Tuesday morning at the Social Circle Elementary School gym. Essay and poem contest winners read their entries, and the North Georgia College and State University cadets, the Social Circle Middle School/High School band and Elementary Chorus performed songs for the packed audience. State Sen. John Douglas (R-Covington) spoke on the significance of the flag. Veterans of the various branches of the Armed Forces, along with civilians who had worked for the Department of Defense and the mothers and wives of veterans were recognized during the assembly.
