Stephens County Marks Veterans Day

Stephens County marks Veterans Day.

The annual observance took place on Friday morning at the new pavilion at Camp Toccoa at Currahee Mountain.

This year’s guest speaker for the event was retired United States Marine Corps Major Ed Gerstner, who organizers say was on the last helicopter out of Saigon just before the Vietnamese captured the city.

Gerstner talked about his experience in Vietnam and said he salutes all of those who served in Vietnam and all wars.

This Veterans Day observance marked the first major event at the new pavilion located at the Camp Toccoa site at Currahee Mountain, where paratroopers trained for World War II.

Camp Toccoa at Currahee President Gary Bellamy said the group is pleased to welcome the event to the site.

“This facility as well as all the surrounding land we have here, we view it as it belongs to the world,” said Bellamy. “We are just delighted to have you here today to share this with us.”

Friday’s Veterans Day observance also included a special reading, a 21-gun salute, and the playing of “Taps.”