Fannin County will celebrate Veterans Day Saturday, November 9, with a breakfast, a parade and a memorial service. The day begins with a free breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. for all veterans and their families at St. Anthony Catholic Church Parish Hall at 967 East Main Street in Blue Ridge. The Knights of Columbus Assembly 2563 serve as hosts for the breakfast and Dairy Queen will provide biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, juice and coffee.
The annual Veterans Day parade will follow at 11 a.m. It begins from the corner of East Main and Church streets in Blue Ridge and continues along East Main through downtown to East First Street, then to Veterans Memorial Park on Old Highway 76, across from Fannin County Middle School. Anyone participating in the parade should line up by 10:15 a.m.
Among the parade participants will be the Fannin County High School band, members of the military, antique and emergency vehicles, representatives of the Fannin County veterans organizations, the North Georgia Honor Guard and others.
The memorial service will begin at noon, featuring guest speaker retired United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Ken Brenneman and participation by the North Georgia Honor Guard.
Brenneman served as helicopter pilot and Headquarters Staff Officer. He was stationed at at least seven different military bases around the world and spent extensive time in Afghanistan and Iraq, he said. He also was employed as a civilian by three U.S. companies supporting the State Department and Department of Defense contracts in the Middle East but now, since 2015, owns and operates Blue Jeans Pizza. The veterans organizations of Fannin County serve as the hosts for the Veterans Day memorial service.
Veterans Memorial Park is located at 4584 Old Hwy. 76 in Blue Ridge. Call Richard Crosley at 770-656-9342 for more information.
The Copper Basin Veterans Day Parade will begin at 3 p.m., November 9, on East Tennessee Avenue next to the McCaysville police station.
It will then turn north (right) onto Highway 5, crossing over the concrete bridge at the Toccoa River, left on Ocoee Street (the three-way stop at IGA) into Copperhill then left onto Grande Avenue to cross the steel bridge on its way back to the starting point.
Event Coordinator Donna Tresslar said several clubs and organizations will be participating and that anyone interested in joining the parade is welcome. “Come on down and show your support for our veterans,” she said.
A Jeep, Car & Truck Show will also be held in McCaysville to celebrate the day, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Register early by visiting Dixie Discount in McCaysville, or register on show day at 8 a.m.
Contact Tresslar at 706-455-3321 for more information about the festivities in Copperhill/McCaysville.
Sunday, November 10, at 11 a.m., a Veterans Day Service for all veterans will be held at Midway Baptist Church located at 77 Midway Street, McCaysville.
Following the service, everyone is invited to tothe fellowship hall for a meal. Call Glenn Hughes 706-900-0001 for more information.