Johns Creek will honor military veterans with a free ceremony Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Veterans Memorial Walk inside Newtown Park.
The event runs from 9 to 10 a.m. at 3150 Old Alabama Road. It will take place rain or shine, according to the City of Johns Creek.
Mayor John Bradberry will deliver remarks alongside Tommy Clack, a Vietnam veteran and nationally recognized veterans advocate. The program also includes recognition of local veterans, a Presentation of Colors by the Johns Creek Veterans Association (JCVA) Color Guard and a memorial wreath presentation at the Soldier's Cross.
The city is hosting the ceremony in partnership with the JCVA, according to the city's event page.
Who is Tommy Clack?
Clack served as an artillery forward observer with the 25th Infantry Division's "Wolfhounds" during the Vietnam War, Appen Media reported. He volunteered for U.S. Army service in 1966 and rose to the rank of captain over more than three years.
On May 29, 1969, Clack was injured in an explosion on the Cambodian border, losing three limbs and sustaining internal injuries and hearing loss. After 33 operations, he finished college at Georgia State University. He has traveled as a public speaker since 1970.
Clack has received more than 200 honors for his service, including the Daily Point of Light Award from President George H.W. Bush. He is a member of the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame.
After the ceremony
Attendees can stay to tour the Veterans Memorial Walk and its replica Vietnam Wall. The 250-foot replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial bears the names of more than 58,000 service members who died in Vietnam, according to the city's parks page. Formerly a traveling exhibit, the wall's permanent home is inside Newtown Park.
The five-acre memorial walk also features a hardscaped trail, granite monuments, a fountain, a gazebo and benches.
Getting involved
The JCVA, a nonprofit service and social organization, invites veterans of any U.S. military branch who live in or near Johns Creek to join. The group meets at 6 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month at the Park Place Senior Center in Newtown Park. The city's Recreation and Parks department can be reached at 678-512-3200.
Saturday, Nov. 7, is a packed day on the city's calendar. The Diwali Celebration follows that evening from 4 to 8 p.m. at The Boardwalk at Town Center, 11362 Lakefield Drive, with food, performances and a drone light show at 7 p.m.
