WHAT IS THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA?

The purpose--the sole purpose--of our Association is to honor our Veterans, both past and present and to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.  We do this through a ceremony held every Memorial Day.

​The Officers and Board of the NMDA, along with our Patron Members and Member Organizations, encourage you to honor our Veterans in a meaningful way this Memorial Day.   And by joining and supporting the NMDA, you will help assure that this particular ceremony will continue for the years ahead and for generations to come.

Event speakers

Keynote Speaker-Brigadier General Mark D. Gelhardt, Sr.
BG Gelhardt entered his military service in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program, at the University of Florida. His class won the Warrior of Pacific trophy as the best Cadet program in the Nation both his Junior (1978) and Senior years (1979) in part due to his exceptional leadership skills. His commendable Army career positioned BG Gelhardt at one time as liaison to the President of the United States, where he was responsible for the last link of communications between the President and the rest of the Government. In the course of his Military Service, Gelhardt attended several Army schools including Air Assault School (receiving his Air Assault badge), Combine Army Service Staff School (CAS3), Command and General Staff College (CGSC), and has accomplished earning several Master’s Degrees. Since retirement from active Army duties, Brigadier General, Gelhardt has spent over nine years in the Georgia State Defense Force (GSDF), an all-volunteer National Guard Auxiliary. First as the ACofS, G6 (Chief Information Officer), then as the ACofS, G1 (Human Resources), and now as the Commanding General. General Gelhardt was promoted to Brigadier General by Governor Kemp, in November 2020, and now works for The Adjutant General (TAG) of Georgia as one of the threecomponent commanders within Georgia. Gelhardt was also deployed overseas several times as an Active Duty Advisor to the Army Reserves and The Georgia Army National Guard.​

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Reflections Speaker-Brigadier General Tom Blackstock, Jr.
Our former National Memorial Day Association of Georgia Past President, BG Tom Blacksock, will offer his "Reflections on Memorial Day" this year.  He is a seasoned Army Executive Officer with over four decades of military service developing high performance tactical teams.  BG Blackstock's exemplary Army record and extensive responsibilities both overseas and stateside include numerous Meritorious Service Awards, the Georgia Distinguished Foreign Service Medal, the Georgia National Guard Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Boar's Head) and the National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star.  We are honored to have BG Blackstock offer his "Reflections.  He is a seasoned Army Executive Officer with over four decades of military service developing high performance tactical teams.  BG Blackstock's exemplary Army record and extensive responsibilities both overseas and stateside include numerous Meritorious Service Awards, the Georgia Distinguished Foreign Service Medal, the Georgia National Guard Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Boar's Head) and the National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star.  We are honored to have BG Blackstock offer his "Reflections. 

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​Honoree Organization-The Cobb Veterans Memorial Foundation
The Cobb Veterans Memorial Foundation is committed to serving military veterans by building a memorial for all veterans and their families as a way to say “thank you” for their service and sacrifices, no matter where or how they served, starting right here in Cobb County, Georgia.