Memorial Day Field of Crosses ceremony set for Sunday
Each of 146 crosses honors an individual from Dougherty or Lee County
By Jim Hendricks
ALBANY — Albany area veterans groups will again honor members of the military who died in service to their country in a 3 p.m. ceremony at the Field of Crosses Sunday.
Located in front of the Albany Mall off Dawson Road, the Field of Crosses consists of 146 small white crosses, each with the name of a resident of Dougherty or Lee County who died in military service since World War I. Each cross has a small American flag attached and includes the service member’s rank and the war in which he was killed.
The field is bordered by American flags, and a silhouette of a soldier kneeling next to a fallen comrade is located next to the field.
Marvin Mixon, program chairman for American Legion Post 30 in Albany, says that each year 50-70 people brave the hot south Georgia sun to pay tribute to those who died in service to the nation.
“For the program, we usually have about 50, 60 or maybe 70 people,” he said, adding that because of the heat — a sunny afternoon is expected with a high around 92 — the solemn ceremony is kept brief.
“We’re going to have prayer, the national anthem, the rifle salute and Taps,” said Mixon, who will be the speaker at Sunday’s ceremony. “After the prayer, I’ll say a few words.”
The crosses were placed Saturday morning by a coalition of veterans organizations in the area, including Post 30, American Legion Post 182, Leesburg; American Legion Post 335, Sylvester; Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2785, Albany, and the Marine Corps League.
The crosses will be in place through Monday. Mixon said that the field is open to anyone who wants to visit.
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