From Staff Reports
ANDERSONVILLE
May 21, 2007 11:22 pm
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Memorial Day ceremonies at Andersonville National Historic Site are planned for Sunday, May 27.
A commemorative program will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the National Cemetery with a selection of patriotic music performed by the Fort Benning Infantry Center Band, with the ceremony scheduled for 2 p.m. The featured speaker at this year’s annual observance will be Gen. Johnnie E. Wilson, (Ret. Army), who is currently the president and chief operating officer of Dimensions International, Inc., an Information Technology company specializing in Information Integration.
State Rep. Mike Cheokas, D-Americus, of the Georgia General Assembly will introduce Wilson. Master of ceremonies will be Fred Boyles, superintendent of Andersonville National Historic Site. Edward DeMent Jr. vice-commander with the American Ex-Prisoners of War will recognize all veterans in attendance and the Rev. Gary Boyles of Andersonville United Methodist Church will give the invocation and benediction during the program.
Boy Scout and Girl Scout Troops from numerous troops in the region, the staff and volunteers of the historic site, and Dooly County High School JROTC will place American fags at each of the nearly 18,000 headstones in the National Cemetery on Saturday morning, prior to the Memorial Day observance.
This year’s program theme, “”Echotaps Worldwide,” commemorates the easily recognized military bugle called “Taps.” Today, “Taps” is sounded at memorial services, wreath-laying ceremonies, and funerals. “Taps” beckons its listeners to remember patriots who served our country with honor and valor.
As is tradition, the laying of wreaths will be conducted by various patriotic and civic organizations assisted by the Americus-Sumter High School ROTC. Military personnel representing the U.S. Marine Corps from the Marine Corps Logistic Base and the U.S. Air Force from Robins Air Force Base will provide the Color Guard and 21-gun salute for the program.
Gen. Wilson entered the Army in August 1961 as an enlisted soldier, attaining the rank of staff sergeant before attending Officer Candidate School (OCS). In 1967, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Ordnance Corps. He earned a bachelor of science degree in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and also holds a master of science degree in Logistics Management from the Florida Institute of Technology.
His military education includes completion of the Ordnance Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Army Command and General Staff College, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
During his distinguish career, he held a wide variety of important command and staff positions culminating in his last assignment as the Commanding General, U.S. Army Material Command, where he was responsible for the Army’s Wholesale Logistics, Acquisition and Technology Generation Operations. He also served as the Deputy Commanding General, 21st TAACOM and based on his wide experience with leading soldiers, also commanded the Ordnance Center and School responsible for the training and professional development of thousands of soldiers, NCOs and officers every year.
Following this successful assignment, Wilson served as the Chief of Staff, AMC, where he was responsible for resource and personnel management for a workforce with over 80,000 military and civilian members. From 1994 to 1996, Wilson served as the deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Department of Army, where he was responsible for worldwide logistics.
Over the years, he has received numerous military and civilian awards. In addition, he serves on several boards and associations of companies.
Memorial Day weekend activities will also include a “Memorial Ride,” from Byron and a Memorial Ceremony sponsored by U.S. Military Veterans Motorcycle Club at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 26.
The commemoration will conclude with the 28th Annual Memorial Day Mass, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Diocese of South Georgia. The Mass is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, May 28.
The general public is invited to attend this annual service and the picnic following the service. For more information about this and other events at the historic site, please contact the Andersonville National Historic Site at (229) 924-0343. Or, refer to the following websites: www.nps.gov/ande (for general park information).
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