Sons, Daughters and Children of the American Revolution Showcased in Peachtree City July 3 Parade

 The streets of Peachtree City were lined with residents and guests on July 3rd as everyone waited for the annual tradition of kicking of Independence Day celebrations in "Peachtree City" style.

Members of the Marquis de Lafayette Sons of the American Revolution Chapter Color Guard started the parade off by the firing of their muskets which rallied the crowd for one of the biggest parades in the metro Atlanta area.

Joining the Sons of the American Revolution on their float were members of the Augustin Clayton, General Daniel Newnan, Fayette Starr’s Mill and Pulaski Daughters of the American Revolution Chapters, and members of the Button Gwinnett Chapter Children of the American Revolution.

The Marquis de Lafayette Chapter Sons of the American Revolution is chartered in Fayette County.

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Fayette County Schools Prepare for Veterans Day Celebrations A Long Standing Tradition Continues in Brooks

Public schools throughout Fayette County will recognize and honor the community’s veterans and active duty military personnel on Veterans Day (November 11) with breakfasts, special programs and receptions.

One of the largest and longest-running Veterans Day celebrations takes place at Brooks Elementary where the school’s students honor veterans with songs, music and messages of “thanks” during a patriotic assembly followed by a parade through the town of Brooks and a picnic at the school. This annual tradition is in its eighth year.

The Veterans Day celebration has become a tradition that the Brooks community holds near and dear to its heart. Because of the current economic situation, cuts in the school’s transportation budget put the performances of the Sandy Creek High Air Force JROTC Color Guard and the Whitewater High marching band in jeopardy. The Brooks Elementary student council turned to the Brooks Town Council for help.

“One by one, out of the goodness of their souls, these individual councilmen signed over their quarterly paychecks to Brooks Elementary. It was a spiritual moment indeed,” says Pre-K teacher Dana Sams, one of the organizers of the celebration. “Next a business person offered to pay for a large banner in the town square announcing the program, a local minister offered his church’s assistance and a teacher wrote a personal check. There wasn’t a dry eye in the Town Hall. If you don’t think that Mayberry, USA exists, then you need to come to Brooks, Georgia and visit our community school. This is America at its finest.”

More than 100 local veterans and their families have received hand-written invitations from the school’s fifth graders. Special letters of thanks and well wishes have also been sent to Lt. Daniel Berschinski of Peachtree City, who is currently recuperating at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington D.C. He lost both legs and sustained other injuries after stepping on an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan. He is a 2002 graduate of McIntosh High.

“His family has already indicated how touched they have been by the letters and cards that Brooks has already sent; and we’ve only just begun,” says Sams.

The honored veterans, along with the school’s students, parents and staff, and a total of 18 red wagon floats and banners, will parade through downtown Brooks with Mayor Bobby Butler (a Korean War veteran) leading as grand marshal. This will be Butler’s last year as grand marshal before his tenure as mayor ends in December.

Hungry parade participants will gather back at the school to enjoy an All-American picnic lunch of hot dogs and all the trimmings. Students will have an opportunity to listen to veterans tell stories from their military experiences as the celebration winds down.

“Children sense the gravity of what it means to have freedoms here in America that like-aged children in other countries do not have. They get the special privilege of shaking hands and sharing a hot dog with a real life hero or heroine,” says Sams.

If you plan to go, here is the schedule for the celebration: 8:30 a.m., reception; 9:30 a.m., program; 10:15 a.m., parade; 11:11 a.m., moment of silence followed by the All-American picnic lunch.

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Registration Now Open for PTC July 4 Parade

Registration is now open for residents, businesses and organizations in Peachtree City for the annual July 4th parade. Fayette County residents, businesses and organizations registration opens June 8.

Residents and organizations of Fayette County will pay $25 while businesses will be pay $50 for the entry fee. Only those who are in Fayette County are eligible to enter the parade.

There is no online registration. Registration is done in person at The Recreation Administration Office at 191 McIntosh Trail or call 770-631-2542.

The fireworks will begin at dusk at the City Hall Plaza.

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Peachtree City Announces Grand Marshal for July 4th

In 1963 the Chick-fil-A® Chicken Sandwich was invented. In 1977 their freshly squeezed Chick-fil-A® Lemonade was introduced. In 1982 Chick-fil-A was the first chain to sell nuggets nationally.

In 2008 the President and Chief Operating Officer of Chick-fil-A, Inc., Dan T. Cathy, will serve as the Grand Marshal for the annual Peachtree City July 4th Parade. This is Dan’s first time serving as Grand Marshal in any parade, and an experience he looks forward to.

Chick-fil-A® was founded by Dan’s father, S. Truett Cathy, but Dan has been the President & COO of Chick-fil-A, since 2001. Mr. Cathy strives to provide customers with the most exceptional service. Perhaps this is why he lives by his own quote, “I work in customer service.”
People may love the restaurant for their chicken nuggets and waffle fries, but in 2007 Restaurant & Institutions magazine chose them as the winner of “Choice in Chains” for the 13th time in 14 years. In 2004 the chain was chosen “Best Drive-Thru in America” by QSR Magazine and later named as the highest rated quick-service chain in the south by J.D. Power and Associate’s.

Dan, a native of Jonesboro, GA, has chosen to expand his duties as President. You will probably not find him in the local Chick-fil-A restaurants. He chooses to travel a majority of the time. He attends Grand Opening ceremonies, spends the night in parking lots, and visiting numerous chains. Dan says, “I’m having the most fun I have ever had at Chick-fil-A.” This comes as a “no” surprise since he used to sing songs for customers and radio commercials for the chains Dwarf House Restaurant in Hapeville, GA at age nine.

Mr. Cathy leads a busy life. He is a devoted husband, a father of two, a business man, an instrument-rated commercial pilot, a marathon runner, a trumpet player and a motorcyclist. His main goal in life is to see the business his family built succeed. The Chick-fil-A Corporate Purpose: “To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us. To have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.” Maybe this is why Chick-fil-A has become a national chain and a multi-billion dollar entity. You can find more information and interesting facts about the restaurant chain, Chick-fil-A at www.chick-fil-a.com.

The parade begins at 9 a.m. on Friday, July 4. “We are already on a wait list, and have some unique entries this year” says Ashley Alonso, parade coordinator. It begins on Peachtree Parkway near the Braelinn Golf Course and will proceed north on Peachtree Parkway, crossing over Crosstown Road, turning left onto McIntosh Trail and will disperse at Huddleston Elementary School and McIntosh Trail Recreation Complex. The fireworks are scheduled to begin at dusk.

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PTC Releases Map of July 4th Route and Information

The Peachtree City Recreation Department has released a map showing the parade line up, the water station locations and the porta john locations. “We thought it would be a good idea to inform everyone ahead of time where water stations would be, where the parade will start, and where the porta johns will be located,” says Ashley Alonso, parade coordinator.

The parade will begin at Village On The Green and continue north on Peachtree Parkway. It will turn left onto McIntosh and disburse into the Recreation Department and Huddleston Elementary School parking lots. There will be three water stations along the route. They will be located at Braelinn Road and Peachtree Parkway, Loghouse Road and Peachtree Parkway, and at Crosstown and Peachtree Parkway.

All parade participants need to be in line no later than 7:45 am if they want their entry judged. Judging will begin promptly at 8 am and the parade will begin at 9am. Spots will be marked and parade staff will be available to help line the participants up and guide everyone in the right direction. Everyone needs to be ready no later than 8:45 am. “This is going to be a great parade with unique entries and a lot of floats,” says Alonso.

This year there will be a total of 31 porta johns, including two that are handicap accessible. The porta johns will be scattered along the parade route and throughout the city. They will be at City Hall, all along the Parkway, Battery Way, in front of the fire station, Dover Square and by the Wyndham Hotel.

The 700-800 foot fire safety zone will affect Picnic Park and Drake Field. Those areas will be prohibited for spectators. The All Children’s Playground will remain open for play until 8 pm. At this time, all persons must be cleared from the area. All other areas at City Hall will remain open for viewing. The Fire Department will hold the Fire Expo at Drake Field from 2 pm until 4 pm. At that time all citizens will be asked to clear the area. Alonso says, “There will be a variety of food vendors and music by Cedar Hill at City Hall for your enjoyment.”

In order to ensure a safe environment for residents viewing the fireworks presentation, a buffer of 700-800 feet in all directions from the area of discharge must be maintained. All safe areas will be marked by red or yellow security tape, placed in the area by July 3rd. Even though much of the Picnic Park area is affected, the All Children’s Playground will remain open for play until 8 pm. At that time, all persons must be cleared from the area, since this is in the safety zone and no patrons can view fireworks from that area, to prepare for the show which begins at dusk. The safe zone is based on the requirements of the fireworks contractor.

The Fire Department reminds residents that no consumer fireworks are allowed to be used, sold or possessed on any city-owned or controlled property.

For more information please contact the Recreation Department at 770-631-2542 or visit our website at www.ptcrecreation.org or on the City website at www.peachtree-city.org.