For those who gave all: Memorial Day programs pay tribute to the fallen

Those who served and those who respect them came together at separate local events to honor the ones who gave their lives for our country.

Rockmart’s American Legion Brown-Wright Post 12 presented a program at Rockmart’s Veterans Memorial Park on Sunday, May 28, while the Cedartown Veterans Memorial Park Committee held a program at Cedartown’s Veterans Memorial Park on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29.

Air Force veteran Glenn Robinson spoke at the Rockmart ceremony, encouraging people to reflect on the true meaning of Memorial Day and remember the men and women who gave their lives while serving in the military and armed forces.

The day of remembrance was originally known as Decoration Day and originated in the years following the Civil War. It became an official federal holiday in 1971.

Cedartown’s Memorial Day ceremony featured Cedartown attorney George E. Mundy as its speaker as he told stories of the experiences his family members had while serving in the military, including himself.

He began with his uncle, Lt. Gen. George Warren Mundy, a West Point graduate who joined the Army Air Corps prior to The Great Depression and trained pilots in the years leading up to and during World War II.

George E. Mundy entered the Air Force after going to college and law school, and was stationed at March Air Reserve Base near Riverside, California. While there, he participated in Operation Homecoming, when prisoners of war were being brought back from Vietnam.

One of them, U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Lewis W. Shattuck, was interned for more than six years and lived in Mundy’s apartment for two weeks after he was brought back to America.

“And you would think that

someone who had that experience would be bitter. He’d be disillusioned. We didn’t know what to think. But we had long talks with him, and he was one of the most upbeat people I’ve

ever met,” Mundy said.

“All gave some. Some gave far more than others. And some gave all. On this beautiful Memorial Day, let’s remember all that served.”

Jeremy stewart Members of the American Legion Brown-Wright Post 12 Legion Riders bring the American flag and the Legion flag forward at the start of the Memorial Day ceremony at Rockmart’s Veterans Memorial Park on Sunday, May 28.

Jeremy stewart The American Legion Brown-Wright Post 12 honor guard stands by during the Memorial Day Program at Rockmart’s Veterans Memorial Park on Sunday, May 28.

Jeremy stewart Local attorney and military veteran George Mundy speaks at the Memorial Day ceremony at Cedartown’s Veterans Memorial Park on Monday, May 29.

Jeremy stewart Fred Hambright and his wife, Jenny Hambright, admire the memorial in the center of Cedartown’s Veterans Memorial Park before the Memorial Day ceremony Monday, May 29.

Jeremy stewart Air Force veteran Glenn Robinson speaks during the Memorial Day ceremony at Rockmart’s Veterans Memorial Park on Sunday, May 28.

Jeremy stewart Air Force veteran Glenn Robinson speaks during the Memorial Day ceremony at Rockmart’s Veterans Memorial Park on Sunday, May 28.