Veterans Day at Bay Creek

For this Veterans Day, Nov. 11, a Bay Creek family has set up a special memorial to honor the 26 Georgia Army and Air National Guardmen and to honor our lost veterans since 9/11. At their home of 545 Bay Grove Rd. and along Lake Bay Creek, the Berger family have planted three flags for each lost National Guard soldier.

The Bergers invite their neighbors to stop by the lake to reflect on the sacrifice that these brave soldiers made and that our Guard soldiers make everday. This is also a time to reflect on veterans of all conflicts.

The flags honor the following fallen Georgia Guardmen:

1. Army Spc. Jacques E. Brunson, 30, of Americus, Ga.
2. Army Staff Sgt. Carl R. Fuller, 44, of Covington, Ga.
3. Army Sgt. James O. Kinlow, 35, of Thomson, Ga.
4. Army Sgt. John F. Thomas, 33, of Valdosta, Ga.
5. Sgt. Charles C. Gillican III, 35, of Brunswick, Ga.
6. Army Sgt. Jonathon C. Haggin, 26, of Kingsland, Ga.
7. Army Staff Sgt. David R. Jones Sr., 45, of Augusta, Ga.
8. Army Sgt. Ronnie L. Shelley Sr., 34, of Valdosta, Ga.
9. Army Sgt. 1st Class Victor A. Anderson, 39, of Ellaville, Ga.
10. Army Sgt. 1st Class Charles H. Warren, 36, of Duluth, Ga.
11. Army Spc. Mathew V. Gibbs, 21, of Ambrose, Ga.
12. Army Spc. Jerry L. Ganey Jr., 29, of Folkston, Ga.
13. Army Sgt. George R. Draughn Jr., 29, of Decatur, Ga.
14. Army Staff Sgt. Robert L. Hollar Jr., 35, of Griffin, Ga.
15. Army Sgt. Chad M. Mercer, 25, of Waycross, Ga.
16. Army Sgt. Paul A. Saylor, 21, of Norcross, Ga.
17. Army Spc. Joshua P. Dingler, 19, of Hiram, Ga.
18. Army Sgt. Thomas J. Strickland, 27, of Douglasville, Ga.
19. Army Spc. Michael J. Stokely, 23, of Sharpsburg, Ga.
20. Army Spc. James T. Grijalva, 26, of Burbank, Ill.
21. Army Staff Sgt. Dennis P. Merck, 38, of Evans, Ga.
22. Army Sgt. Philip A. Dodson, Jr., 42, of Forsyth, Ga.
23. Army Spc. Marcus S. Futrell, 20, of Macon, Ga.
24. Army Staff Sgt. Philip L. Travis, 41, of Snellville, Ga.
25. Army Private First Class Carlton Newman, 21, of Maryland
26. Staff Sergeant Amos Edwards, 35, of Savannah, Ga.