Veterans Day 2021 was a tale of two cities in Bryan County.

In Richmond Hill, the city held its annual formal observance of Veterans Day on Nov. 11 at J.F. Gregory Park – complete with speeches from Mayor Russ Carpenter, VFW Commander Steven Asplund and Col. Peter Moon, commander of Fort Stewart’s 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team.

Richmond Hill High School seniors Savannah Legg and senior Christina Eweama participated in the event, with Legg singing the National Anthem and Eweama performing TAPS, and Carpenter and Col. Moon laid a wreath at the Veterans Memorial. There, the Richmond Hill Exchange Club honored several veterans with bricks at the Memoria.

The event drew around 150 people, many and part of the Army’s famed Red Ball Express. Family members of Mr. Strickland came from Kansas to help put up the flag.

But, organizers say it’s getting harder for volunteers to maintain the display. That’s why they’ve asked “all who have a cross and flag downtown to please contribute $10 as a maintenance fee to keep the flags pristine as possible. To help, see Pembroke Flags” on Facebook or” American Legion Post 164” page, also on Facebook. There is a link to the committee’s GoFundMe page on the Pembroke Flag page.

Click on the pictures below to view the gallery. Photos by Jeff Whitten.