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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, as we have done for the past 72 years.
The Officers and Board of the NMDA, along with our Patron Members and Member Organizations, encourage you to attend this ceremony honoring our Veterans and hope you find the experience uplifting and meaningful. 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. |
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Event speakers
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Keynote Speaker: BRIGADIER GENERAL DIANA HOLLAND
Brigadier General Diana M. Holland assumed command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, South Atlantic Division on July 18, 2017. During her command, Brig. Gen. Holland led the South Atlantic Division’s response to Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017 and Hurricanes Florence and Michael in 2018. Brig. Gen. Holland’s military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Bronze Star (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (with four Oak Leaf Clusters), the Combat Action Badge, the Senior Parachutist Badge, the German Parachutist Badge and the Silver Order of the de Fleury Medal. She was also recently honored as a 2018 Women Making a Mark Honoree by Atlanta Magazine. Opening Remarks: Colonel Taro Jones, Department of Veterans Affairs
Colonel Jones is the Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Administration for the Department of Veterans Affairs and is also currently the Brigadier General for the militia of the District of Columbia and is retired from the D. C. Air National Guard. He has been awarded several honors including the Airmen's Medal, the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal. He is a graduate of Howard University and is married to the former Denise Maria Banks of Tampa Florida. Reflections Speaker: DONNA C. ROWE, US Army Nurse Corps, 1964-1969 Mrs. Rowe entered the Army through the Student Nurse Corp program in 1964 and served as the Head Nurse, Emergency Room in the 3rd Field Hospital, Saigon during the Vietnam War. Her decorations include the Vietnam Service Ribbon and the Army Commendation Medal. Over the years she has been active in community in several organizations including the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, CASA and the Atlanta Regional Commission Environmental Collaborative. She is the first woman inducted into the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame. The origins of GVVA go back to 1985 when several veterans began to meet on a monthly basis. It was not long before they discovered that not only did they have a social club, but that not all veterans were coping in the mainstream of the community. They started helping the less fortunate and began fund raising efforts when the need quickly outpaced their personal capability. The bulk of the resources go to assisting veterans who are in transition due to unemployment or disabilities, providing a safety net until they are back on their feet. They also act as a liaison between the Veteran the the Department of Labor and the Veteran's Administration, as well as providing a scholarship program for Veterans and their immediate families.
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