Anyone driving into Dahlonega for the long weekend, can't help but notice the line of wooden crosses lining the side of the roads when approaching town. Twice a year, volunteers from our local American Legion help to meticulously place these markers as visual reminders of the price of our freedom. Each memorial marker has the name of a Lumpkin County veteran who served in the armed forces during the past one hundred years. This is our special way to honor the memory of those county residents who answered the nation's call to duty during peacetime and war.
Dahlonega and Lumpkin County have a long, and ongoing relationship with the military. From the ROTC program at the University of North Georgia to Camp Frank D. Merrill which trains the elite Army Rangers, the continual price of our freedom is reflected in the wooden and stone markers around the area. Although the memorial markers are only erected during the Memorial and Veteran's Day holidays, many other permanent memorials to our military can be found around Dahlonega.
Memorial Day can be an exciting time to get out and enjoy what our area has to offer, particularly with family and friends. Remember that those freedoms we enjoy and often take for granted, have been paid for by those brave men and women, who should never be forgotten.
