Dalton Memorial Dedication

This Fourth of July is special for soldiers and veteran's from North Georgia. Dalton citizen's are dedicating Veteran's Memorial Park today. Soldiers from Catoosa, Murray and Whitfield counties have their names engraved on a memorial wall that is a part of the park. Many families and military representatives came to honor veterans those still serving.

The names of over three hundred veterans and soldiers from the Dalton area are engraved on the wall in honor of their service. Norma Dietz is waiting for the name Brian Lilly to be added to the list.

"If he is over there or wherever he is I can go by there and know that he is remembered," says Dietz.

Brian Lilly is Dietz' nephew and right now he is serving his third tour in Iraq. Today she and other military families listened to veterans while they shared stories of their time in the military and expressed how important it is to be remembered.

Family's buy the granite plaques and those dedication bricks are permanently placed memorial wall as a way to say thank you. Today many people recognized their own names on the wall.

"The national memorials they are wonderful but these are special because they are from the families," says Dietz.

The land for the park was donated by the city of Dalton. While families can remember their loved ones enjoyed the Independance Day dedication, they still miss their soldiers.

Dietz's nephew has been gone for three months misses yet another holiday all she can think about is when he will come home.

"Holidays like this are bittersweet you know its to honor him and the veterans that have gone before but they are still in danger," says Dietz.