Virtual Veterans Day Commemoration Ceremony

Join us (virtually) on November 11, 2020 at 11am, as we commemorate the service and sacrifice of all of our nation’s veterans in our annual Veterans Day Ceremony.

Watch Livestream

Thank you, Veterans!

©Ron Sherman, The crowd looks on as Joe Galloway speaks at Atlanta History Center’s Veterans Day Commemoration on November 11, 2016

Veterans History Project

As a Founding Partner of the Veterans History Project, an initiative of the Library of Congress’ American Folklife Center, Atlanta History Center conducts oral history interviews with Veterans to preserve their stories for future generations. This collection includes nearly 800 interviews with both combat and non-combat Veterans, including a broad range of information about each interviewee’s experiences, including family background and upbringing; education; military training; combat experience; unit histories; daily life in the military; officer and enlisted interactions; separation from the military; and post-service life and activities.

For those interested in learning more or participating in the Veterans History Project at Atlanta History Center, please contact Sue VerHoef at SVerhoef@atlantahistorycenter.com.

Annual Veterans Day Ceremonies

Thank you to everyone who has been involved in organizing Atlanta History Center’s Veterans Day Commemoration Ceremony over the past seven years.

Dedication of Veterans Park at Atlanta History Center, May 27, 2013

Veterans Park was created to be a space to reflect on the people who have served—and continue to serve—the United States of America. This commemorative gathering space has been designed to inspire personal reflection, ignite profound connections with veterans and honor the lives of those who have made great sacrifices for our freedom. Seals representing the five military branches remind us of our nation’s continued dedication to freedom and liberty. Beneath the seal of the United States of America lies soil gathered from the following battlefields:

Lexington and Concord
Trenton
Yorktown
New Orleans
Cuba
The Western Front
Omaha Beach
Utah Beach
Central Germany
Northern Italy
Wake Island
Saipan
Midway
Guam
Tinian
Pelelui
Iwo Jima
The Berlin Wall
South Korea
Quan Loi
“China Beach”
Khe Sanh
The "Hanoi Hilton" prison
Iraq
Afghanistan

Photo courtesy of Nicole Gallagher, Veteran Paul Shirley pours sacred soil from the Berlin Airlift.

Photo courtesy of Jessica Raney, Iraq and Afghanistan Veteran SFC Justin Brooks takes part in the Sacred Soil Ceremony.

Sacred Soil Ceremony Participants

  • Richard A. Lester, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, Retired
  • Roland Hawthorne, Descendant, American Revolution
  • Lee Weinstein, Descendant, World War I
  • Hap Chandler, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, Retired, World War II
  • Paul Shirley, Veteran, Berlin Airlift
  • Robert McCubbins, Veteran, Korea
  • Bryan Tate, Veteran, Vietnam
  • Justin Brooks, Sergeant First Class, Iraq/ Afghanistan

Photo courtesy of Jessica Raney, TSgt Audrey Latson (USAF) sings the National Anthem.

    • Scott Delius, Major, Georgia Army National Guard
    • Kelly Caffarelli, President, The Home Depot Foundation
    • J.R. McAliley, III, Chaplain Corps, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy, Retired
    • The Honorable Nathan Deal, Governor of the State of Georgia
    • Honor Guard, 94th Airlift Wing, U.S. Air Force Reserve
    • Audrey Latson, Technical Sergeant, U.S. Air Force Reserve
    • Pete Wheeler, Commissioner, Georgia Department of Veterans Services
    • Max W. Torrence, Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association
    • Tom Crawford, Piper
    • Sheffield Hale, President & CEO, Atlanta History Center
    • Sue VerHoef, Atlanta History Center
    • Ron Sherman, Photographer
    • Jessica Raney, Photographer
    • Nicole Gallagher, Photographer
    • Veterans History Project
    • Sponsor: The Home Depot Foundation

    November 11, 2014

    ©Ron Sherman, Ceremony participants watch as Richard McPhee plays the bagpipes.

    ©Ron Sherman, Brigadier General John King (GAARNG) delivers Veterans Day remarks.

    • Richard McPhee, Piper
    • Dan Holtz, Assistant Commissioner, Georgia Department of Veterans Services
    • Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans
    • Shelly Williams, Georgia National Guard
    • Duane Williams, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Association Georgia Director
    • Chaplain John Pirtle, Captain, Georgia Army National Guard
    • John King, Brigadier General, Georgia Army National Guard
    • Lee Weinstein, Commander, Atlanta World War II Roundtable
    • Sheffield Hale, President & CEO, Atlanta History Center
    • Sue VerHoef, Atlanta History Center
    • Ron Sherman, Photographer
    • Chick-fil-A Corporation
    • Williamson Brothers BBQ
    • USO
    • Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Association
    • Georgia Department of Veterans Service
    • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Atlanta Office
    • Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association
    • Veterans History Project
    • Sponsor: Regions

    November 11, 2015

    ©Ron Sherman, Ceremony participants listen as CSM Bennie Adkins (USA) addresses the crowd.

    ©Ron Sherman, Ceremony participants and attendees pause for a picture with CSM Adkins (USA).

    • Wayne Coleman, Piper
    • Bob Babcock, Vietnam Veteran
    • Timothy Miller, Tenor, Atlanta Opera
    • Mike Roby, Commissioner, Georgia Department of Veterans Service
    • Rabbi Jeff Feinstein, Vietnam Veteran
    • Saxby Chambliss, Former U.S. Senator for Georgia
    • Bennie G. Adkins, Command Sergeant Major, U.S. Army, Medal of Honor Recipient
    • Claude M. Kicklighter, Lieutenant General, U.S. Army
    • Sheffield Hale, President & CEO, Atlanta History Center
    • Sue VerHoef, Atlanta History Center
    • Ron Sherman, Photographer
    • Veterans History Project
    • Sponsor: Regions, Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association, Korean War Association, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Association, Rod Knowles, The Daughters of the American Revolution

    November 11, 2016

    ©Ron Sherman, Tenor Timothy Miller sings the National Anthem.

    ©Ron Sherman, Keynote speaker Joe Galloway gives remarks on his experience during the Vietnam War.

    • 116th Army National Guard Band
    • Wayne Coleman, Piper
    • Scott Delius, Major, Georgia Army National Guard, Afghanistan Veteran
    • Georgia Society Sons of the American Revolution
    • Timothy Miller, Tenor, Atlanta Opera
    • Mary Lou Austin, USO Council of Georgia
    • The Reverend Dr. Robert Certain, Vietnam Veteran, Former POW
    • David Moore, Colonel, U.S. Army, Retired
    • Joe Galloway, Bronze Star Recipient with Valor, Vietnam War
    • Sheffield Hale, President & CEO, Atlanta History Center
    • Sue VerHoef, Atlanta History Center
    • Ron Sherman, Photographer
    • Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association
    • Veterans History Project
    • Sponsors: Regions, USAA

    November 10, 2017

    The AHC Veterans Day Ceremony was not held in 2017 due to the Veterans Day parade in downtown Atlanta.

    ©Ron Sherman, Exhibit curator Sue VerHoef poses with MG James Livingston (USMC) at the More than Self-opening.

    ©Ron Sherman, The entrance to the exhibition More than Self: Living the Vietnam War.

    • Grand Opening of More than Self: Living the Vietnam War exhibition
    • James E. Livingston, Major General, U.S. Marine Corps, Medal of Honor Recipient
    • Sue VerHoef, Director of Oral History and Genealogy, Exhibition Curator, Atlanta History Center
    • Ron Sherman, Photographer
    • Sponsors: Regions, Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association, General Society of Colonial Wars, Anonymous Donor

    November 11, 2018

    Photo courtesy of Kim Link, Members of AVVBA pose with MG Livingston (USMC).

    Photo courtesy of Kim Link, Keynote speaker Dr. Billy Wells delivers remarks for the Veterans Day Commemoration.

    • 116th Army National Guard Band Brass Quintet
    • Cadet Sergeant First Class Jacob Denton, Corps of Cadets, University of North Georgia
    • Cadet Captain Mark Handley, Corps of Cadets, University of North Georgia
    • Cadet Captain Nicholas Hood, Corps of Cadets, University of North Georgia
    • Wayne Coleman, Piper
    • Thomas Jackson, Jr., Ph.D., Executive Director, Georgia World War I Centennial Commission
    • Georgia Society Sons of the American Revolution
    • Timothy Miller, Tenor
    • Hunter Hill, Georgia Senator
    • J.R. McAliley, III, Chaplain Corps, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy, Retired
    • Dr. Billy Wells, Colonel, U.S. Army, Retired, Senior Vice President, Leadership and Global Engagement, University of North Georgia, The Military College of Georgia
    • Sheffield Hale, President & CEO, Atlanta History Center
    • Sue VerHoef, Atlanta History Center
    • Ron Sherman, Photographer
    • Kim Link, Photographer
    • The Daughters of the American Revolution
    • Veterans History Project
    • Sponsors: Regions Bank, Georgia World War I Centennial Commission, Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association

    November 11, 2019

    Ceremony participants gather for a photo.

    Rear Admiral Wendi Carpenter (USN) greets a Korean veteran.

    • 116th Army Band
    • Wayne Coleman, Piper
    • Scott Delius, Lieutenant Colonel, Georgia Army National Guard
    • Atlanta Region, Naval Reserve Officer Training Command
    • Bill Killmeier, Former Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Baritone
    • Bobby Christine, Colonel, Georgia Army National Guard, U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Georgia
    • Chaplain Peek, Major, Georgia Army National Guard
    • Wendi Carpenter, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy, Retired
    • Sheffield Hale, President & CEO, Atlanta History Center
    • Sue VerHoef, Atlanta History Center
    • Ron Sherman, Photographer
    • Veterans History Project
    • Sponsor: Regions, Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association

    Related Exhibitions

    More Than Self: Living the Vietnam War

    Between 1964 and 1975, nearly 3,500,000 men and women served in the United States armed forces in Southeast Asia. Of those, 58,220 died, and 1,602 are still missing and unaccounted for. None returned home unchanged.

    More Than Self: Living the Vietnam War explores their stories and sacrifices through Veterans History Project oral history interviews, objects, and photographs. Each of them has a story to tell, and each story is unique.

    Fields of Battle, Lands of Peace

    Seen through the lens of photographer Michael St Maur Sheil, Fields of Battle, Lands of Peace chronicles the history of World War I through immersive photographer of the land which held the tragic battles. Sheil says of the exhibition, “This collection represents a legacy which I hope will create a gateway to the battlefields themselves, thus encouraging people to visit these historic landscapes during the centennial period and so create awareness and understanding of the events and historical implications of the First World War".

    Atlanta History Center hosted this special traveling exhibition through a unique installation in Goizueta Gardens in 2018.

    See the project’s website or the National World War I Museum and Memorial for more information, including videos and photographs of the exhibition.

    From the Blog: Veterans History

    Fighting On The Home Front: Black Veterans Help Us Tell A More Complete American Story

    Black soldiers have served this country since the Revolutionary War and their stories are vital in creating a more complete, more accurate picture of America’s past.

    Preserving Stories of Sacrifice Through the Veterans History Project

    We collect, preserve, and share veterans’ accounts so future generations can hear directly and better appreciate the realities of war and the sacrifices made.

    Extraordinary Objects: Museums Artifacts and the Acquisition Process

    There are more than 59,000 objects in our collection. Find out where exactly they come from, and what happens when they arrive. Additionally, learn about an important military history acquisition.

    D-Day Remembered

    On June 6, 1944, Allied forces landed in German-occupied France in the largest amphibious invasion. 75 years later we listen to their stories and remember.

    Honor Our Veterans

    This Memorial Day we honor our veterans by hearing from Col. Robert Certain, who bravely fought during the Vietnam War.

    Women in the War Effort

    During WWI, women of all classes, nationalities, and races joined service and military organizations prepared for the battlefront, hospital, and relief effort.


    Explore More Veterans History

    Katherine Landdeck, The Women With Silver Wings

    As a part of Atlanta History Center’s Virtual Author Talk series, Katherine Landdeck discussed her book The Women With Silver Wings: The Inspiring True Story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II. The book follows the story of Cornelia Fort and the just over 1,100 women from across the nation to make it through the Army’s rigorous selection process to be pilots during World War II. The brainchild of trailblazing pilots Nancy Love and Jacqueline Cochran, the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) gave women like Fort a chance to serve their country—and to prove that women aviators were just as skilled as men. While not authorized to serve in combat, the WASP helped train male pilots for service abroad, and ferried bombers and pursuits across the country. Thirty-eight WASP would not survive the war. But even taking into account these tragic losses, Love and Cochran’s social experiment seemed to be a resounding success—until, with the tides of war turning, Congress clipped the women’s wings. The program was disbanded, the women sent home. But the bonds they’d forged never failed, and over the next few decades they came together to fight for recognition as the military veterans they were—and for their place in history.

    Archival Resources

    Interested to learn more about military history? Curious to view Veterans History Project interviews? Visit Kenan Research Center’s Military History archival resources portal to learn more about how to search the archives, view oral histories, and more.

    Atlanta History Center Membership Publication, History Matters

    Read about Atlanta History Center exhibition More Than Self in the Winter 2017 issue.

    Discover Atlanta History Center’s World War I Centennial programming and exhibitions in the “World War One Centennial Overview” and information about veterans-related history within the “On These Dates” piece in the Winter 2018 issue.

    See the Regimental Flag of the 127th United States Colored Troops (USCT) from the Civil War on the cover and read about traveling exhibition Black Citizenship In the Age of Jim Crow, which references the importance of military service to the struggle for equal rights in the Winter 2020 issue.

    See how Veterans Park fits into Goizueta Gardens in the Summer 2020 issue.

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