Macon honors veterans during Coleman Hill ceremony
Mayor Lester Miller and Middle Georgia State University President Christopher Blake spoke about veterans’ service and sacrifices.
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Communities across the country are coming together Wednesday to honor the men and women who have served our nation. Veterans Day is a time to recognize their courage, sacrifices and dedication to protecting our freedoms. 41nbc attended Coleman Hill for Wednesday’s celebration.
Veterans Day is a day to pause and remember the men and women who fought for our freedom, those who fought on the front lines and continue to serve in our communities. Veterans Day is a day to thank them for their service and everything they did to protect our freedom.
”As I was driving out here today, I was trying to figure out if I was going to need my umbrella, what jacket to wear, right?” Macon-Bibb County Mayor Lester Miller said. “So were you, and was the ground going to be wet? As I thought about that, I can’t help but think about our veterans. You know, many of our veterans, when they signed up to do that job and they served their country and they served their country well, it didn’t matter what the weather was. That’s the thing about a veteran. It’s a call of duty. It’s a special call. And I think that today is a beautiful day. We’re happy to be here, sitting all comfortable. I couldn’t sit before you today and I couldn’t be the mayor of Macon-Bibb County today if it wasn’t for the men and women that fought for our country to give me the right to do that.”
Middle Georgia State University President Dr. Christopher Blake says veterans deserve to know their service and sacrifices are valued, and he hopes the community takes time to thank them for defending the nation and freedom.
“Middle Georgia understands and has a really good appreciation of the importance of those who put their lives in harm’s way to defend freedom, defend the nation, and those who believe in democracy around the world,” he said. “There’s a very good sense of understanding shared across this region. I hope today our veterans feel pride and know that they are appreciated and thanked. So, I hope today when we find a veteran, we thank them and we say your work really mattered, and we honor it.”
Blake says teaching students about the sacrifices made throughout American history is important to helping future generations understand and appreciate the freedoms and opportunities they have today.
“I love history, and I believe that we learn a lot about how to live our lives and how to live into the future from looking back,” he said. “And I hope those in schools and colleges understand that this country has gone through great eras where people have sacrificed to give us the freedoms and allow us to have these opportunities to thrive. So, I hope we teach that, and I know that at Middle Georgia State we’re committed to making sure people understand that.”