U.S. Soldiers and Marines greet spectators during the annual Fourth of July parade.
 (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Alex Licea )

Guardsmen Help Celebrate Independence Day

While most everyone else was out enjoying food, the fun and the fireworks, some of our fellow Georgia Guardsmen was participating in several of this year's Independence Day events.

There were several Soldiers, for example, who took part in the annual WSB Salute 2 America Parade in downtown Atlanta. 

Among them were Master Sgt. Bruce Pike, Staff Sgt. Lisa Taylor and Pfc. Michael Lambert, all of Newnan's 201st Service and Support Battalion; and privates first class Laura Southwell and Blakely Weaver, both of Company C, 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation stationed at Marietta's Dobbins Reserve Air Base.

A color guard from Joint Forces Headquarters in Ellenwood presented the colors before the parade began. Also, three UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, assigned to 171st Aviation flew over the parade route along Peachtree Street, while three others conducted a fly over of Lenox Mall later in the evening. 

Georgia's Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. David B. Poythress, introduced the three UH-60s as they fly over the mall. 

In other July 4 events, Col. Maria Britt, Georgia Army National Guard chief of staff, was the keynote speaker at the Tallapoosa Medal of Honor Park. She also helped dedicate a monument recognizing the contributions of military women. A parade followed the ceremony.

Guardsmen also participated in Loganville's Fourth of July celebration.