05-25-07 Roswell Remembers Memorial Day
Event attracts statewide attention
Source: written by Hatcher Hurd.
 In some communities, Memorial Day observances are little more than a few veteran groups gathering around a flag or meeting at the local cemetery to remember their comrades. That is not the way it is done in Roswell.
For the 10th year, the Roswell Rotary Club, the Roswell East Rotary Club and just about all of the city departments will combine to create what has become the largest Memorial Day celebration in the state.
Monday, several thousand visitors will be at the Faces of War Vietnam Memorial on the lawn at Roswell City Hall to remember and honor those citizens past and present who served their nation in the cause of liberty.
Walt Woliver, co-chairman of the 30-member committee that is putting on the event this year, said this 10th celebration is a benchmark for the entire city.
"It's a real milestone. It is the signature project for both Rotary clubs as well as the city. And today it receives not only statewide recognition but across the Southeast," Woliver said.
The day of the event perhaps 100 Rotarians will be working as volunteers. That won't include Roswell employees from Parks and Recreation, Public Works, Public Safety and other departments who will also be on hand to make everything go just right.
Once again the radio personality Moby will act as emcee of the event. This will be the 8th year that Roswell Remembers Memorial Day Ceremony is hosted by Moby. Moby has a 25-year history as the top morning DJ in Dallas, Houston, and Atlanta, where he was the top-rated morning personality for 10 years.
Patriotic music will again be provided by the Atlanta Wind Symphony.
Over the course of more than two decades, the AWS has become internationally respected for its musical excellence, service to the community and contributions to music education. Their patriotic selections are a highlight of the Roswell Memorial Day Ceremony.
One of the most popular traditions of the event is the appearance of the Chattahoochee Celtic Pipes and Drums. This band was formed by officerRory Howe, with the Roswell Police Department 12 years ago with the thought of being the first Law Enforcement agency in the state, to have a police pipe band.
Georgia Tech's John Endicott, professor at the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at Tech and director of the Center for International Strategy, Technology and Policy will be the keynote speaker at ceremonies. Before joining the faculty in 1989, Endicott was a career Air Force officer of 28 years' service and senior advisor in the Defense Department. A brief summation of his resume includes stints as:
- Deputy Head of the Political Science Department at the U.S. Air Force Academy
- Director International Affairs for the Planning Directorate of Air Force Headquarters, the Pentagon
- Deputy Air Force Representative to the Military Staff Committee of the Security Council, the United Nations
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