The annual Veterans Day Ceremony will be held on Monday, November 12, as the federal government is honoring the occasion with a holiday on that date. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own portable seating and dress warmly.
Category: announcement
September 11 remembrance ceremony
The September 11 Remembrance Ceremony was held on September 11, 2018.
The Great Falls Connection carried a story about the event, which can be seen by clicking on the image below.
Click here to see a flyer regarding the event.
Memorial Day Ceremony, May 28, 2018
On Monday, May 28, at 11 o’clock a.m., the annual Memorial Day ceremony was held at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial to honor those who gave “the last full measure of devotion” in service of freedom. Longtime Vienna resident and World War II “civilian veteran” Rita C. Stead delivered the keynote address on the meaning of Memorial Day. The event also included patriotic songs, a raising of the flags by Boy Scout Troop 55, a wreath laying, and a bell-ringing and name-reading for natives of Great Falls killed in battle.
The Great Falls Connection published an article about the event, which can be seen by clicking the image below.
A flyer for the event can be found here.
The Freedom Memorial is located behind the Great Falls Library at 9830 Georgetown Pike. The ceremonies are open to all. Parking is available in the library parking lot. In case of rain, ceremonies will move to the library meeting room. Limited seating and shelter will be provided. Attendees are encouraged but not required to bring portable chairs.
Veterans Day Ceremony to be held indoors
Due to the cold-weather forecast, the Veterans Day ceremony scheduled for this Saturday, November 11, 2017, at 11 am, will be held in the library meeting room.
Veterans Day Ceremony, November 11, 2017
The annual Veterans Day Ceremony will be held at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial (behind the library) this upcoming Saturday, November 11, 2017, at 11 am—the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. A flyer is below. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will move indoors to the library meeting room.
You can visit our Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/greatfallsfreedommemorial/
September 11 Remembrance Ceremony
On Monday, September 11, at 7 o’clock pm, the annual September 11 Remembrance Ceremony was held at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial. Great Falls lost six residents to the attacks on September 11, perhaps the highest casualty rate in America. The ceremony honored them and all who sacrificed on that day and in its aftermath.
The event opened with a presentation of the flag by a detachment of the United States Marine Corps. The audience recited the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Boy Scout Troop 55, and sang the National Anthem, led by Erin Gantt of the Washington Choral Arts Society. The keynote speaker, Great Falls resident Jim Roberts, President of Radio America and founder of the American Veterans Center, shared vivid audio from his station’s radio broadcast on 9/11, his recollections of the terrorist attacks, and his thoughts on the lessons to be drawn from them. The audience lit candles in remembrance of each of the September 11 victims from Great Falls, while trumpeter Steven Pastore, also of Great Falls, sounded Taps.
The Great Falls Connection carried a story about the event, which you can read by clicking on the image below.
View and share pictures and video about the event here. A video of the entire event can be seen here:
The Freedom Memorial is located behind the Great Falls Library at 9830 Georgetown Pike and hosts three ceremonies each year, on Memorial Day, September 11, and Veterans Day. The ceremonies are open to all. Ample parking is available in the library parking lot. In case of rain, the ceremony moves to the library meeting room. Limited seating is provided. Attendees are encouraged to bring portable chairs to all Freedom Memorial ceremonies, particularly Memorial Day.
Upcoming events
June 14, 2017 – Flag retirement ceremony. Bring your old flags to be retired in accordance with the Flag Code.
July 4, 2017 – 5K race, 8 am
September 11, 2017 – September 11 remembrance ceremony
November 11, 2017 – Veterans Day ceremony
Memorial Day Ceremony 2017
On Monday, May 29, at 11:00 am, the annual Memorial Day ceremony was held at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial to honor those who gave “last full measure of devotion” in service of freedom, including at least 25 citizens of Great Falls. The keynote speaker was longtime Great Falls resident Robert D. Vickers, Jr., former CIA National Intelligence Officer, Vietnam Veteran, and present chairman of the Fairfax County Tree Commission, who discussed his tour of duty in Vietnam and its aftermath. The event also included patriotic songs, a raising of the flags by Boy Scout Troop 55, a Marine Corps color guard and taps bugler, a wreath laying, and a reading of the honor roll and bell-ringing for each of the 25 known Great Falls natives who have fallen in defense of our country. Red poppies were distributed to the audience to betoken gratitude to all whom Memorial Day serves to honor.
Share and view pictures and videos of the event here.
The Great Falls Connection carried a story about the event, which you can read by clicking on the image below.
Great Falls Connection reporter Fallon Forbush created a moving video about the event:
A video of the entire event appears below.
Veterans Day Ceremony, November 11, 2016
On Friday, November 11, at 11:00 AM, the annual Veterans Day ceremony was held at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial. The ceremony honored all who have served our country in the Armed Forces. The event included a Marine Corps color guard, patriotic songs by the Langley Madrigals, and remarks by two-star Army General Julie Bentz. The audience included a special guest, Howard Jester, a resident of Great Falls and World War II Army combat parachutist.
At the conclusion of her speech, Major General Bentz presented a flyer with helpful information for veterans, available here.
A flyer about the event is available here.
Share and view pictures and videos of the event here.
The Great Falls Connection carried a story about the event:
