Tim Clesen was one of many Forsyth County military personnel who attended the Veterans Day Ceremony on Friday in Cumming.

“We want to support all our veterans,” said Clesen, who is on active duty in the U.S. Navy.

The annual observance was held at 11 a.m. by the city’s Veterans War Memorial.

Clesen said he had gone to an event at his son’s school Thursday night and brought his wife and 4-year-old daughter Friday.

“My wife’s active in [Daughters of the American Revolution], so I wanted to support her,” Clesen said. “My daughter’s very young, but we’re always trying to teach our kids about veterans, the military and all the freedoms we have in our country thanks to them.”

Thursday night, the North Forsyth High Marine Corps JROTC honored veterans and commemorated the Corps’ 236th birthday in a ceremony at the school.

The patriotic event in the football stadium paid tribute to all five branches of service.

It was the 14th year the 237-member unit, which won the Marine Corps Reserve Association Honor School Award for the 2010-11 school year, put on the community event.

On Friday, master of ceremonies Richard Knight with Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9143 said children always play a big role in the ceremony.

“Veterans always tell me that some of their favorite parts of the program are those done by the children,” Knight said.

During Friday’s ceremony, members of the Forsyth Christian Home Educators Learning Cooperative recited patriotic readings and members of Christian Fine Arts of Forsyth sang a song honoring veterans.

They also presented handmade thank-you cards after the ceremony ended.

Members of Boy Scout Troop 245 and Forsyth Central High School’s Flash of Crimson band also took part.

“Children like these are really the reason we served and why our current forces are serving, to make sure they, the future leaders of our country, will go on with freedom and without fear,” said retired Army Lt. Col. Peter Rodda.

Rodda, the event’s keynote speaker, encouraged those in attendance to continue supporting veterans and active-duty military personnel beyond Friday.

“We’re a most generous people,” he said. “I encourage you to reach out wherever soldiers are and provide assistance.”

He said financial donations to organizations such as the VFW, American Legion and Vietnam Veterans of America are important, but more significant are donations of a personal nature. 

“Time spent visiting veterans in their homes or at veterans’ hospitals is priceless,” he said. “I encourage you to visit wounded veterans and let them know you care.

“Whenever you see a veteran, stop and shake their hand and thank them for all they do.”

Also participating in Friday’s event was the Forsyth County Fire Department Honor Guard, Forsyth Pipes and members of the DAR.

Cumming Mayor H. Ford Gravitt gave the opening and closing remarks.

“As we all know, this is the day set aside to recognize and support our military men and women who give us freedom and democracy so we’re able to do this,” Gravitt said.

“We definitely can’t say enough in appreciation for these veterans … not just today, but every day, we should thank you.”