Dozens of veterans and residents gathered Friday morning for a Veterans Day ceremony on the Square.

Sgt. Rob Robinson, a 26-year veteran of the Marine Corps who saw action in a range of conflicts from Vietnam to Beirut and Panama to Desert Storm and Somalia, gave the keynote address, detailing the effect service had on his life and the solidarity that binds veterans and service members of all branches.

“The camaraderie we all share truly is a bond that will last a lifetime,” he said.

Robinson, who also serves as Georgia Vice President of the American Legion Riders, ribbed veterans and service members of other branches, but said it amounted to a sibling rivalry, teasing among family.

Veterans from World War II up to Afghanistan and Iraq came out to support each other for the half-hour ceremony. The Marine ROTC from Newton County High School presented the colors, while members of the band from Eastside High School played patriotic tunes.

Terry Moore, a Marine Vietnam veteran and commander of the American Legion Post 32, was the day’s master of ceremony.