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Community Corner

Businesses and DAR Hold Memorial Day Weekend Celebration For Military Families

Young and old alike enjoyed games, food, and live music as they celebrated and honored members of the military and their families on Saturday in Watkinsville.

There’s nothing quite like the images of red, white, and blue bunting,  gleeful children,  hotdogs and homemade cakes on Memorial Day weekend to put you in a patriotic mood.

This was the scene at on Saturday during "A Celebration honoring the families of the Military Service Men, Women and Veterans of our Country." Dory’s Hearth Home and Patio, Art on the Side, and co-sponsored the event.

A warm breeze carried Celtic traditional voice and instrument from the featured Athens Ceili Band.  The musicians encouraged event-goers to dance a jig as they played flute, guitar, accordion, and drum on a hay bale. American flags adorned the stage.

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Bright red and blue tents housed smiling Oconee women, members of The Reverend John Andrew Chapter National Society of Daughters of The American Revolution (DAR).  Each tent was loaded with prizes donated by Oconee businesses for which tickets could be purchased for drawings throughout the day.  Proceeds will support ongoing DAR projects that focus on education, historic preservation, and patriotism.

“Our goal was to get support from the community for our local veterans and to bless them by showing support and comfort for military families," Dory Brown said, her eyes tearing as she spoke."Most of us have no idea what they go through knowing their loved ones are risking their lives unselfishly to serve their country.”

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Brown is the current regent of the local DAR chapter named for the Rev. John Andrew --a Liberty County native and Revolutionary War veteran and state legislator from that area.  He spent his later years serving the community in Bishop as minister of Mt. Zion Methodist Church and remained there until his death in 1830.

Everywhere you turned, you witnessed someone having fun.  Traditional games were set up for the children, including a bean bag toss, an art station,  squirt bottles,  a ping pong ball bounce,  and a ring toss.

“We wanted the children to get a chance to play old-time games, which are rarely seen anymore,” Brown said.

This was the second annual event, and plans are in the works for next year's Memorial Day weekend celebration. 

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