The Long County Veterans’ Memorial Committee met recently to finalize plans for the Long County Veterans Day celebration Nov. 11 at Veterans Field in Ludowici.

Committee Chairman Marvin DeLoach said the event will be a first for Long County and is very overdue.

“This event is something that we have needed to do for a long time, and I am glad that we are finally getting it done,” DeLoach said.

He said the celebration will include entertainment, food, games and fun for people of all ages. It also will be a day for the community to honor the veterans who have served their country in the armed forces.

U.S. flags will be sold for $5 each and will be placed around the track to honor veterans. DeLoach said all proceeds will go to help fund the proposed Long County Veterans’ Memorial.

“We want these flags all around the track,” he said. “When people buy them, if they want, they can have the name of a veteran placed on the flag in that person’s honor. And the good thing is that all of this money will also go towards our memorial fund.”

DeLoach said the cost to build the memorial will be $40,000-$50,000. So far, more than $6,000 has been raised, according to the committee chairman.

When the memorial is built, he said, there will be two stones — one stone having veterans’ names on it and a second stone with sponsors’ names. 

He said there will be specific areas for those veterans who were killed in action or missing in action, those who served in each war and those who served during peacetime.

Deloach said all veterans will be recognized at the Veterans Day celebration in November, but World War II vets will receive special recognition.

 “Now we are needing vendors and volunteers who can provide booths and entertainment at the celebration,” he said. “These people or groups are asked to contact me so that we can get them penciled in for the day.”

DeLoach said volunteers should be aware that all proceeds will go toward the veterans’ memorial.

In addition to DeLoach, members of the Long County Veterans’ Memorial Committee include Kerry Hunt, Randy Wilson, Gaynelle Garrason, Marjorie DeLoach, Scott Parker and Bob Parker.

For more information on volunteering for the Veterans Day celebration or helping with the veterans’ memorial, call Marvin DeLoach at 545-2706.