Duluth Celebrating Memorial Day

With flags honoring veterans flying throughout the city, Duluth will be celebrating Memorial Day with a weekend full activities. The City of Duluth will present Purple Heart recipients with a commemorative coin and honor them for their sacrifice and service to country Saturday, May 28. 

The service will begin at 6 p.m. at the outdoor Duluth Festival Center Amphitheater and Town Green. Mayor Nancy Harris will declare May 28 Purple Heart Day.  U.S. Rep. Rob Woodall (R-GA) will be the keynote speaker. Also participating will be District 1 Gwinnett County Commissioner Shirley Lasseter.

The American Legion Riders, a sanctioned organization of veterans and their motorcycles, will perform a “Salute to Fallen Heroes” to honor soldiers who served the country and paid the ultimate sacrifice. American Legion Post 127 from Buford will deliver a 21-gun salute. The Duluth Festival Center is located at 3142 Hill St.

Duluth author and Navy veteran J.L. (Jerry) Robb and his best friend from high school Darrell Edwards will play Echo TAPS at the end of the ceremony. Robb will then sign copies of his book “THE END The Book” at the Duluth Festival Center following the ceremony at 7 p.m. View the invitation to the book signing on You Tube at http://you.tube/6hHEGOl9w8Y.

The Duluth Merchants Association and the City of Duluth will sponsor the annual Daniel D. Monk Memorial 5K Stars & Stripes Run/Walk starting at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 28, on the Town Green. 

Age divisions start at 10 & under and go up to 70 and over. Awards will be presented to the first male and female overall and top three finishers in each age division of the 5K run. All participants will receive a T-shirt and a goodie bag on the day of the race.

Race registration is $20 with proceeds going to the Gwinnett Foundation to benefit local charities and support downtown development.

Elvis impersonator Mark Pitt will present a stirring Memorial Day “Tribute to the Troops” concert honoring past and present military veterans and active duty soldiers at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 28, at New Dawn Theater Company in Duluth.

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to locally based Hugs for Soldiers, which sends cards and care packages to deployed American troops and compiles welcome home bags. Hugs for Soldiers also has an Adopt-A-Soldier program. 

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children. Discount tickets of $10 are available for veterans and active duty soldiers. The theater is located at 3087 Main St. Tickets may also be ordered by calling 678-887-5015.

Duluth High School seniors, their families and friends will be rising early to attend graduation at 8 a.m. Monday, May 30, at Gwinnett Center. The 2011 Duluth High graduating class numbers 402. 

Gwinnett County will hold its Memorial Day ceremony Monday, May 30, at 1 p.m. at the Gwinnett Fallen Heroes Memorial in Lawrenceville. This event is held each year to honor the county's past and present military heroes and public service personnel. Members of the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners and honor guard units from Gwinnett County Corrections, Fire and Emergency Services, Police and Sheriff's Departments, and the Lawrenceville Police Department will take part in the tribute.

The name of Marine Lance Cpl. Joseph “Ryan” Giese will be added to the Global War on Terrorism marker at the Fallen Heroes Memorial. Giese, 24, was killed in January 2011 while on patrol in Afghanistan.

The Fallen Heroes Memorial, located on the grounds of the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center at 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville, honors all Gwinnett residents who died in the line of duty in military or public service. 

Woodall will be the guest speaker at the fourth annual All Services Softball Tournament hosted by the Sentinels of Freedom Saturday, May 28, at Bunten Road Park in Duluth. 

Woodall will be introduced by Commissioner Lasseter. Mayor Harris and Sentinels of Freedom Gwinnett President Tim Thornberry are also scheduled to speak.

Participants may choose to play for one of four teams--Army, Navy, Marines or Air Force. Players do not have to be a former or active members of the military but must be over 18. Registration for the tournament is $35 per player and includes lunch, a water bottle, T-shirt and at least two games.

Onsite registration is scheduled for 10 a.m. with the opening ceremony following at 10:30 a.m. Games start at 11 a.m.

Proceeds from the event will support the Sentinels of Freedom in their efforts to provide four-year life scholarships to wounded veterans.

Duluth and Gwinnett County offices will be closed Monday, May 30, for the Memorial Day holiday. All offices will resume regular working hours Tuesday, May 31.