Area Memorial Day Observances

Barnesville Memorial Day Observance

American Legion Post #168 announces the upcoming Memorial Day Observance for the Barnesville Community. The program will take place at Veterans’ Plaza at the corner of E. Main and N. Arch streets from 11:00 am – 12:00 Noon.

The Memorial Day Observance will be co-emceed by American Legion Post #168 Commander James Misner and Post Adjutant Retired Sergeant First class Stacy Moore. 

Also featured will be the honor guards from the Bowen Blakemore VFW Post #2792 and American Legion Post #168.

Guest speakers will include BHS Junior and American Legion Auxiliary Americanism Award winner Roselyn Anderson and the Honorable Jake Hershberg, Mayor of Barnesville.

Retired Major General Gregory Batts

(Bruce Yarnall photo)

The featured speaker at the Observance will be Barnesville resident and local veteran Retired Major General Gregory Batts.

Major General Gregory W. Batts is the former Assistant Adjutant General of South Carolina. He received his commission as an Infantry Second Lieutenant in May 1979 through the Army ROTC program at Wofford College, where he was a Distinguished Military Graduate. Throughout much of his military career he served as a traditional Citizen-Soldier in the South Carolina Army National Guard while pursuing a civilian career with the Charleston Police Department, from which he retired in October 2003.

Major General Batts’ key assignments include Deputy Commander Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix (Kabul Afghanistan), Commander Communications Task Force Spartan (Bagram Afghanistan), and Commander 263rd Army Air and Missile Defense Command.

He was promoted to Major General in September 2012 and was appointed as the Assistant Adjutant General for South Carolina in February 2014. While serving as the Assistant Adjutant General, Major General Batts simultaneously served with United States Northern Command, Colorado Springs, Colorado, as a Special Advisor for Senior-Level Civil Support Operations and Disaster Response Training. He retired effective 1 March 2017 after 37 years and 9 months of service.

Major General Batts earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from Wofford College in 1979, a Master of Arts degree in Education from the Citadel in 1994, and a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the United States Army War College in 2004.

Major General Batts’ formal military schools include the Infantry Officer’s Basic Course, The Infantry Officer’s Advanced Course, the Command and General Staff Officer’s Course, and the United States Army War College.

Major General Batts has earned the Distinguished Service Medal, Three Legion of Merit Medals, the Bronze Star Medal, and many other awards and badges, to include the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge, and the Parachutist badge.

A meal will follow immediately following at the American Legion Post Home at 317 East South Street.

Other Community Observances and Programs

Batesville, Monday, May 26: A parade will take place at 10:00 followed by a service at the cemetery. Batesville Mayor Mandy Bishop will be the featured speaker.   

Beallsville, Friday, May 30: A traditional Memorial Day Services will take place Friday, May 30 at 11:00. The event will take place at the post and Gold Star Memorial weather permitting. A meal will follow at the post home, 52651 Broad Street.    

Belmont, Monday, May 26: The Parade lines up at the former school property on Brown Street, 8:30. Parade moves at 9:00. Service at Belmont Cemetery, 9:30 with Belmont County Commissioner Vince Gianangeli as speaker.  

Bethesda, Monday, May 26: A parade will line up at the corner of Lake and Virginia streets at 10:30. The parade will move at 11:00 and move towards the municipal building on Main Street. A service will follow at the Veterans Memorial Park.    

Following the service, meals will be available at a Chicken BBQ at the firehouse.