Roswell marks 26th annual Memorial Day ceremony with prayers, wreath laying and veteran testimony

The City of Roswell held its 26th annual Memorial Day ceremony in Roswell, Georgia, on Memorial Day to honor members of the U.S. armed forces who died while serving. The program included prayers, a wreath-laying, musical tributes and a keynote address that recalled individual stories of service and sacrifice.

Mayor Kurt Wilson opened the civic remarks, telling attendees the ceremony “stands as 1 of the oldest and largest of its kind in the entire state of Georgia.” He added, “But this day is not for celebration; it is for remembrance,” and urged the community to “speak their names” and pass the memory of the fallen to younger generations.

Reverend Chuck Savage delivered the invocation and prayer, asking for comfort for “those who mourn” and protection for “those who serve today.” During the program, Charlotte Dodson, identified as the surviving spouse of the Rev. Malone Dodson, placed a wreath at the Vietnam War memorial; the program notes that the memorial was dedicated May 30, 1995, by the Roswell Vietnam War Memorial Committee.

David Young, chairman of the Roswell Remembers Memorial Day Committee and a member of the Roswell Rotary Club, thanked the City of Roswell and partners—the Roswell Recreation and Parks Department, Roswell Public Safety and Public Works, and Visit Roswell—for coordinating the event. Young introduced military service representatives and asked the audience to stand when each service hymn was played.

Army Colonel Carl H. “Skip” Bell of Marietta delivered the keynote. Bell, introduced with a citation noting his induction into the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame in 2023, described combat experiences in Vietnam and the lasting effects of service. He recounted actions by individual soldiers he knew—naming Smitty Ross, a tank commander who later died of cancer he attributed to Agent Orange exposure; a lieutenant identified as Terry Pig who received the Silver Star and later suffered health consequences linked in the speech to Agent Orange; and Bert Phillips, a platoon leader killed by an explosive device during a reconnaissance mission. Bell said of veterans’ sacrifice, “they wrote a check to the United States government that basically said, you can cash this up to and including my life,” and emphasized that the people memorialized “are more than a name on a wall.”

The program included musical performances, including the playing of service hymns and a vocal performance by Massey McKinley. The ceremony closed with a benediction and brief thanks to organizers and participants.

The event was ceremonial in nature; no legislative or administrative actions were taken. Attendees and organizers emphasized remembrance, the history of the Roswell memorials and passing the memory of fallen service members to future generations.