By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Soldiers headed to Afghanistan
Placeholder Image
802nd sendoff

What: Sendoff for 802nd Ordnance of the U.S. Army Reserve
When: 3 p.m.
Where: Riverside Military Academy
Also: Beginning at 2:30 p.m., motorcade will take soldiers from Shallowford Road, down Browns Bridge Road to Green Street and on to Riverside Drive
The community will gather Tuesday at Riverside Military Academy to honor a group of soldiers departing for Afghanistan.

The 802nd Ordnance of the U.S. Army Reserve will be deployed Nov. 18 and Billy Hendrix, public relations director for Memorial Park Funeral Home, said he hopes people will come out and support their local troops.

“We’re in a society where sometimes we take things for granted,” Hendrix said. “There’s people out there giving up much more than we’re giving and I think we should come out and say thank you, we support you and we’re with you.”

Hendrix said 100 flags will be displayed on Riverside Drive as a rolling motorcade carries the troops from their unit on Shallowford Road at 2:30 toward Riverside Military Academy.

The group will go from Shallowford Road down Browns Bridge Road to Green Street and on to Riverside Drive.

“We’d like to get some of the local businesses to come out at 2:30 and show their support with their flags as they go by,” Hendrix said.

The rally will start at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Riverside Military Academy and radio personality Martha Zoller will be the master of ceremonies for the event.

Local politicians, including state Rep. Carl Rogers, Sen. Lee Hawkins and members of the Gainesville City Council and Hall County Board of Commissioners are expected to speak.

“It’s to say, ‘Hey, we’re Gainesville, Hall County and we support you,’” Hendrix said. “We know freedom’s not free and we’re here to rally behind and support y’all in any way.”