Milton is set to honor fallen heroes in its annual Memorial Day bash, and this year, the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Reserve’s 108th Training Command is slated to headline. Major General William B. Dyer II will be the featured speaker at the event, as reported by the City of Milton news release. With a career that began in 1985 and decorated with numerous awards, including a Bronze Star Medal, Dyer is prepared to address a crowd gathered to remember those who've laid down their lives for the nation.
The ceremony, which is free and open to all, is set to kick off at 10 a.m. on May 27, over at the Green at Crabapple Market at Heritage Walk. Tradition deeply traces this event to a time when people began to regularly place flowers on the graves of Civil War soldiers in the 1860s. But it wasn't until 1968 that Memorial Day was officially penned down as a national holiday, to be acknowledged on the last Monday of May each year. This gathering marks Milton's unwavering commitment to never forgetting to pay homage to their servicemen and women, spanning from past conflicts up to the more recent Iraq and Afghanistan engagements.
Milton's mayor, Peyton Jamison, alongside leaders from the Milton Veterans Memorial Markers, will also grace the ceremony with their presence, according to the City of Milton news release. The Milton Veterans Memorial Markers are known for their work in installing markers to pay tribute to late U.S. troops with local ties. Their efforts are visible around Veterans Day and Memorial Day. Interested parties or those looking to register a veteran can find more information on the organization's website.
The event, in addition to the somber reflection on military service and sacrifice, is set to feature a potpourri of performances. A lineup including singer Solo Lowit, bagpiper Tom Crawford, and trumpeters from Milton High School is bound to uplift the spirits of attendees. The day will wrap up with the releasing of doves over downtown Crabapple, a gesture that has become a ceremonious capstone for the day's activities. For more cues on what's coming or for any burning questions, Emily Salerno, the city's Community Outreach Manager, can be contacted via email.
