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TODAY'S ISSUE
Founder gives background of Fallen Heroes Memorial
By Carolyn Everett Buice
Buford
Special to GwinnettForum.com

MAY 23, 2003 -- When Ron and I visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Savannah in January, 1993, we had no idea of the journey we were about to take. As we read the names of Chatham County's fallen heroes, we were moved to tears by the humility we felt and remembered the solemn phrase seen on many t-shirts: "All Gave Some; Some Gave All". It was at that moment we knew what we had to do. The non-profit organization, Gwinnett's Fallen Heroes Memorial Committee, Inc., was soon formed and fund-raising efforts were underway.

Soon after, on a Spring night in April, 1993, another hero made the supreme sacrifice while protecting and serving. Gwinnett Police Officer Chris Magill was killed by a drunk driver on Interstate 85.

My mind wandered back to the tragic murders of three more Gwinnett County Police Officers some 29 years earlier on April 17, 1964----Marvin Jesse Gravitt, Jerry Reed Everett and Ralph King Davis. Our community was stunned and heartbroken. Jerry was a relative of mine, and I will never forget the horrible suffering by his mother and father; his brothers and sisters; and his wife and three small children who would never have the opportunity to know him as "Daddy".

The following April, the cruelest of months for Gwinnett County Police Officers, the father of a classmate was brutally gunned down and left to die on the roadside. Left to mourn the loss of Suwanee Police Chief James Ivan Knick, Sr., was a wife and two children: Jimmy and Linda. Their lives were forever changed.

We all have happy as well as painful memories of our high school years. Someone once said, "All friends are special, but there's something special about the friends you make in your youth." When those friends donned their military uniforms and left us to fight in a faraway jungle, our prayers went with them. When word came they were lost forever, a small light extinguished itself inside of us; our innocence was shattered.

Ron was a pallbearer for one dear friend, Richard Anthony "Dicky" Parker. Don Roy Wood was the first from our class to die. Don, a Marine, gave his life September 28, 1967. Dicky was the second. A proud U.S. Army soldier, Dicky died August 24, 1968. On September 13, 20 days later, the last of our classmates, Jerry Edwin Jarrard, a proud Marine, died in that faraway land. All were from North Gwinnett High School; all from the Class of 1966.

There are many more stories of heartache and loss that can be told from some we knew and many we didn't. Research brought forth stories of the five Etheridge brothers from the Harbins Community and the two Stevenson brothers from the Lawrenceville area who died during the War Between the States. Many stories like these unfolded over the years.

After eight years, many fund-raisers and lack of community support, the funds for this memorial did not materialize as we had hoped. Soon after the day which forever changed America's history, September 11, 2001, chairman F. Wayne Hill decided it was time to build this memorial. We are grateful to Chairman Hill. Without him, this memorial would still be only a dream.

Mrs. John R. Cooper, whose son John R. Cooper, Jr., is among the names, told us once, "I know this won't bring him back, but thank you for remembering." Our sincere prayer is that this memorial will bring comfort to those families whose loved ones' names appear on this wall. May God bless each and every one of them.

ELLIOTT BRACK
Salvation Army has a bigger presence in Gwinnett County
By Elliott Brack
editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com

MAY 23, 2003 -- The opening Monday of a new Georgia and Metro Atlanta office for the Salvation Army near Oakbrook Parkway in Norcross nearly happened some 35-40 years ago.

About the late 1960's, the Salvation Army bought undeveloped land north of at what was then Norcross-Tucker Road at the new Interstate 85. Today we know that as Oakbrook Parkway Business Park. The Army had visions of creating a new campus for their training school, and offices for Atlanta.

For one reason or another, the Army decided against building on the site, and eventually sold their land. There was speculation at that time that the land would some day be a mall, and also rumored that Rich's was eyeing it. All that vanished, of course, in the early 1980's when Scott Hudgens announced he would develop a mall at Pleasant Hill Road and I-85, eventually Gwinnett's first mall, Gwinnett Place.

Meanwhile Oakbrook Parkway land changed hands several times, and today, of course, is a busy industrial park. Along what was once mostly pine trees on Jimmy Carter Boulevard near I-85, there are also retail establishments, and surely, lots and lots of traffic.

Salvation Army offices are at 1000 Center Place, north of Jimmy Carter Boulevard off Live Oak Parkway. Offices there house some 165 workers. Both the Georgia Divisional and Metro Atlanta Area Commands are in this building. The Georgia Division is headed by Major Dalton Cunningham, and is the administrative headquarters for the various centers, thrift-stores and local offices throughout the state. Major Casey Cunningham, Dalton's wife, heads the women's organizations in the state. These offices moved here from Seminole Avenue, off Ponce de Leon Avenue.

Also at the Center Place office is the area commander, who supervises the Metro Atlanta Area Salvation Army offices. This is led by Major Larry Broome and his wife, Major Debra Broome, who is the women's ministries secretary.

There are other Salvation Army facilities in Atlanta. The Temple is located off Druid Hills Road, and also houses the Southern Territorial headquarters, covering 16 southern states. The territory is headed by Commissioner Phil Needham, brother of Walt Needham of Gwinnett. Then down off Metropolitan Avenue in south Atlanta is the College Officer Training site for the Southern states.

Though Gwinnett now sports a new presence for the Salvation Army, that's not all that is happening in the Salvation Army world in Gwinnett.

Nearing completion on Sugarloaf Parkway is a new Salvation Army center for Gwinnett County. It is replacing older offices on New Hope Road in Lawrenceville.

The new facility is located near Richards Middle School on Sugarloaf Parkway, which is between U.S. Highway 20 and Five Forks-Trickum Road. It is scheduled to be dedicated on June 25.

The new center is nearly finished, being hampered by the rains of recent days. It consists of approximately 22,500 square feet. Besides local service offices, it has chapel which seats 232 people. There is also a fellowship hall, with attached commercial sized kitchen. The adjacent gymnasium has a regulation high school basketball court and other facilities for activities.

Plans call for the Gwinnett Center to move to the new facility on Sugarloaf Parkway the first week in June. The first worship service is set for June 29. Currently more than 100 worshipers overflow the New Hope Road location each Sunday.

Coupled with the new headquarters facility in Norcross, it brings new impact of the Salvation Army to Gwinnett.

FEEDBACK
5/23: Will put up a fight over Hope Scholarship determination

Editor, the Forum:

Just dare to make the HOPE Scholarship dependent on family income, not student achievement, and I will gather the troops to get each and every currently elected state official thrown out of office, bar none!

-- Brian F. Luders, Duluth

5/23: Amazed at definations which were termed "inadequate"

Editor, the Forum:
.
It never ceases to amaze me how politicians and car salesmen never seem to change, even in today's environment.

Headlines in the Gwinnett portion of AJC recently: "Principals get orders for tighter discipline." And "Regular error checks part of 'new' regime."

The article implies that definitions were inadequate (other school systems did not seem to have a problem). The article would lead you to believe that the principals were not reporting the correct numbers and that they are to be held responsible for the accuracy of their schools. When have they not been responsible for their actions?

How about what went on behind the closed door sessions of the Board? Now a "committee" will be implemented to do a review. What good will come out of this? Perhaps we'll get another agency to insure that everyone is doing their job?

-- Lee Baker, Lilburn

NEWS
Lots of activity in Duluth during Memorial Day weekend

On Saturday, May 24 Downtown Duluth will play host to a series of events to commemorate Memorial Day. All events will take place in or around the Duluth Festival Center and Amphitheatre.

For early risers the American Legion, a veteran's organization dedicated to community service, is providing a pancake breakfast from 8-11 a.m.

At 9 a.m. the annual Stars and Stripes 5K Run/Walk will begin. The race will begin and end at the Town Green, and runners and walkers of all ages welcome to participate. Registration is $18 the day of the race.

The City of Duluth's Veterans Memorial Service, held each May since 1989, is moving this year from Friday evening to Saturday at 4 p.m. and will be followed at 6 p.m. by a free concert by the Army Ground Forces Band.

The City will provide an appropriate backdrop for all of these events with its commemorative flags and markers that line City streets each year for Memorial Day.

Norcross to get grant for Livable Centers Initiative

The City of Norcross will receive $17,000 in Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) funds from the Atlanta Regional Commission, to be matched with $10,000 in city funds. The funds will be used to develop design guidelines for the downtown area and will constitute the first funding award from the completed Norcross Town Center Study.

The goal of the LCI plan is to create a live/work/play atmosphere, improve pedestrian facilities, and beautify and revitalize downtown Norcross and its surrounding neighborhoods. The design guidelines will be completed by December 2003 and will serve as a foundation for future downtown streetscape and beautification projects. For more information about the design guidelines or improvements planned for downtown Norcross, contact Ms. Lauren Blaszyk, Economic Development/Main Street Coordinator, at 770-449-4084.