Alpharetta will remember 150 years of hometown heroes at the 56th Annual Old Soldiers Day Parade Saturday, Aug. 2.
American Legion Post 201 honors the city's 2008 sesquincentennial anniversary and will recognize all Alpharetta veterans of all wars. "Alpharetta Remembers 150 Years of Hometown Heroes" is this year's theme.
"We recognize not only the veterans of Alpharetta, but the veterans of all hometowns of all wars," said Mayor Arthur Letchas.
Alpharetta City Band starts off the day at 8:45 a.m., followed by an introduction of guests at 9:30 a.m. The parade begins on Main Street at 10:15 a.m. at City Hall, then turns west (right) on Old Milton Parkway and ends at the American Legion Post 201.
Approximately 185 units are expected in the parade, with marching military units, the Shriners, floats, bands, wagons and horses, classic cars, clowns and candy. The celebration continues at Post 201, where the Varsity serves free hot dogs and Coca Cola free soft drinks.
The Old Soldiers Day Parade first began in 1865 after the guns were silenced in the War Between the States. The Confederate soldiers living in and around Milton County, now part of Fulton County, relived a fellowship born of war each year, coming from miles around by horse, wagon and on foot to a small town called Alpharetta. Apparently sometime during 1920 the Confederate soldiers invited the "young-uns," the new veterans of World War I, to parade with them. After a few years most of those soldiers were gone and the event faded.
In 1952, a group of men from American Legion Post 201 re-dedicated the Old Soldiers Day Parade.
The 56th Old Soldiers Day Parade sponsors include: The Varsity; Coca Cola; ADP; Alpharetta Revue & News; Bank of North Georgia; Carl Black of Roswell; Kinkos; Lusk & Company, Inc.; News/Talk 750 WSB AM; North Point Mall; Northside Chapel Funeral Directors; Robin R. McIntire; CPA, Sam's Club; VFW Post 12002; WGKA Radio 920 AM; Wal-Mart Alpharetta; and Wal-Mart Roswell.
- www.northfulton.com
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Hometown heroes honored in Alpharetta
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