As people came out to Oconee Veterans Memorial Park Sunday afternoon to commemorate the nation’s armed forces – past and present, living and deceased – it was impossible not to feel a sense of togetherness.

With the flags flying over the memorial wall and the patriotic music playing, veterans donning hats and decorations representative of their service were mixed in among a crowd of civilians. Every so often, a veteran would be approached by what at first glance appeared to be an old friend. Upon further observation, it was simply a fellow veteran saying “hello,” or a civilian stranger – appreciative of the veteran’s service – extending a “thank you.” 

“Veterans form a bond of brotherhood that is difficult to describe to non-veterans. That bond, often closer than family ties, can last a lifetime and transcend all other forms of relationships,” said the event’s guest speaker retired Army Col. Larry Saul. 

Saul, who served 34 years in the military, spoke of his own brotherhood with fellow Oconee County veteran David Williams, who he met in Vietnam.

 “Are any of y’all from Georgia?” Williams had asked a truckload of new recruits arriving in the central highlands of Vietnam 40 years ago. Saul, whose parents had moved to Atlanta just months earlier, said that he was.

“That simple encounter has led to a lifetime friendship that has stood the test of time,” said Saul. “Two men, serving their nation during perilous times establishing a bond that is difficult to describe, if not impossible to explain to civilians.”

The two attended a University of Georgia football game last weekend, where Saul noted the 90 thousand-seat stadium holds more people than there are soldiers, airmen, sailors and marines fighting in Afghanistan right now.

Saul asked the crowd “What is a veteran?” Webster’s Dictionary calls a veteran “one who has served in the armed forces,” which is the same definition the Department of Veterans Affairs uses, but adds “requires 180 days of service to meet the criteria for benefits.”

Saul has his own definition of a veteran. 

“Veterans are unique individuals. They serve their fellow man. They defend their nation. By entering military service, young men and women take on the role of protector and defender,” he said. “They all swear an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic.”

The veterans in the crowd were asked to stand and be recognized, including three veterans from World War II. There are 25 million living veterans in the United States today. Only 20 percent of the veterans of WWII are still alive. 

On the same day as Oconee County’s ceremony, the British celebrated the 91st anniversary of the end of World War I, and for the first time, a living veteran of the war did not attend. The last living veteran of World War I in England died a few months ago. And while France and Germany also no longer have living veterans of WWI, the United States has just one, who is 109 years old.

“We must renew our sense of vigilance or our lives will be less convenient than they are today,” Saul said. “Today, we do enjoy peace and freedom here at home because one million young men and women daily face dangers and sometimes death with a degree of stoicism we cannot fathom.”

In a special moment of silence and prayer by Rev. Larry Davison, the audience was asked to pray for those killed in the shooting rampage at Fort Hood last week.

During the ceremony, Peggy Roberts, wife of the late retired Army Col. John Roberts, who was instrumental in putting together the Oconee Veterans Memorial, was presented with a flag – the first flag to ever fly over the memorial – in her husband’s honor. 

At the ceremony’s conclusion, wreaths were laid upon the memorial, and Taps was played. 

Rev. Davison left the audience with a message to carry with them: “I am trusting that in the future, not only today, but certainly during this week of Veteran’s Day remembrance, America will give its best to you Veterans. God bless you.”

Anna Dolianitis is a reporter for The Oconee Leader. She can be reached at 706-310-1104 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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