Georgia Military College hosted their Memorial Day Parade on Friday, May 13.
Memorial Day is a day for remembrance of those who have died in service to our country. Annually, GMC hosts a Memorial Day Parade to honor these lives and bring the community together for this occasion.
Major General Thomas Grabowski, assistant adjutant general of the Georgia Air National Guard, was the keynote speaker for the event. Major General Grabowski spoke about honoring fallen comrades, comforting grieving families and coming together as a community to support those alive in their honor and those who have passed.
“Days like today remind us of the tremendous human costs associated with freedom. Days like today give us an opportunity to honor our fallen comrades and their families,” said Grabowski to the crowd.
Major General Grabowski emphasized that freedom is a gift bestowed upon the United States from the many people who have given their lives for this country and continue to fight for this country.
“Sometimes, I think we have enjoyed freedom for so long that we’ve either forgotten the human costs associated with freedom or feel entitled to freedom,” said Grabowski. “I think we owe it to them (our fallen) to never take freedom for granted.”
The GMC Junior College Color Guard presented the presentation of colors and sang the national anthem during the ceremony to honor those freedom. Cadet Avi Villareal then offered a cadet’s prayer as well to remind the 143rd Corps of Cadets what it means to be a cadet and what those who have died for this country represent.
“We owe it to those who gave their lives for the cause of freedom. Remember that freedom is an aspirational idea and a journey that we must continuously work on,” Grabowski told the cadets.
In front of the community, several awards were given out to honor cadets and Major General Grabowski. The Distinguished Order of the Servant Leader Award was presented to Sara Rose, Lauryn Simpson and Lauren Rutherford for donating at least 100 hours of community service in one year. Chairman of GMC Board of Trustees, George Hogan, assisted in the presentation of the GMC flag to guest speaker, Major General Grabowski.
“Memorial Day is a humbling event that leads most of us to struggle to discuss the sacrifice that is hard to comprehend,” said Grabowski. “Today we stood here and we honored American humans and honored our next generation. God bless Georgia Military College, the great state of Georgia and the United States of America.”