County to honor vets, public safety in day-long event Saturday
From staff reports
CARNESVILLE – Franklin County will honor and celebrate its heroes Saturday with a free, all-day event.
The county’s Hometown Heroes event will honor veterans and public safety personnel.
The day will begin at 9 a.m. with a dedication ceremony for the Franklin County Veterans Memorial, Public Safety Memorial and the unveiling of Blue and Gold Star Memorial markers.
The dedication ceremony will be held at the Franklin County Courthouse.
Lt. Col. Kenneth Fowler will serve as master of ceremonies.
Kendra Lou Pieper, a former paratrooper with the 173rd Special Troops Battalion, will speak.
Donald McDuffie of the Fraternal Order of Police will also speak.
Jan Thiese and Peggy Tucker of the National Garden Club will also take part in the ceremony.
Following the dedication ceremonies, a day-long celebration will be held on Hull Avenue in Carnesville.
The celebration will include vendors and entertainment.
A parade of veterans and public safety personnel will begin at 11 a.m.
Franklin County’s oldest veteran will serve as grand marshal, with several honorary marshals.
The parade will proceed from Rocky Ford Park to Hull Avenue, with viewpoints on the left side of the road from Old Carnesville Elementary School to Sid and Augusta White Memorial Park in Carnesville.
A pepper eating contest will be held from noon until 1 p.m. in the first gazebo at Carnesville park..
Registration for the pepper contest will be from 10-11 a.m. at the gazebo. Cost is $20. For information, email Brooke Dutton at fromthehart8485@gmail.com.
From 1-2 p.m., residents can throw a pie in the face of commissioners and others. The cost to throw a pie will go to a good cause.
Entertainment will include Kane Hammock from noon until 1 p.m., Adjacent Hayes from 1-2 p.m., Second Time Around Band from 2-4 p.m., Nich Wright from 4-5 p.m. and Steve Bryson from 5-7:30 p.m.
A fireworks show and candle service will be held from 6-6:30 p.m.
Community Parking will be at the top of Hull Avenue in the splash-pad field and overflow at the Rocky Ford Park.
Reserved handicapped parking will be at Peach State Credit Union.
For more information, email kfinger@franklincountyga.gov or adodd@franklincountyga.gov.