(Lawrenceville, Ga., Nov. 9, 2020) – Gwinnett County’s annual celebration of America’s veterans will be adapted to a virtual Veterans Day Ceremony and Salute to the Flag to keep residents safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pre-recorded ceremony will premiere Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. and will feature the usual elements of the County’s Veterans Day event—remarks, a keynote speech and honor guard activities—along with elements of Flag Day, including raising a flag previously displayed at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, to make up for a ceremony canceled this summer due to the pandemic.

County Administrator Glenn Stephens will emcee the ceremony with remarks delivered by Board of Commissioners Chairman Charlotte Nash and District Commissioners Jace Brooks, Ben Ku, Tommy Hunter and Marlene Fosque, as well as U.S. Reps. Hank Johnson, Rob Woodall and Jody Hice.

Col. Richard H. White, a Norcross native and Vietnam veteran, will be the keynote speaker at this year’s ceremony. White’s numerous awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal for Valor and the Combat Infantry Badge. During 31 years of active duty in the U.S. Army, he commanded 13 units in Infantry, Special Forces, Aviation and Recruiting. In 1997, he retired from active duty and was later inducted into the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame. Col. White is a charter member of the Georgia Military Veteran’s Hall of Fame and currently serves as director and chairman of the board.

The ceremony will include the traditional appearance of the Gwinnett County Combined Honor Guard, joined by representatives from the Lawrenceville and Snellville police departments. Performances of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Taps” will also be featured, and members of the Sons of the American Revolution will fire a three-volley salute.

The ceremony can be viewed online beginning at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 at TVGwinnettLive.com, on the County’s Facebook and Twitter pages @GwinnettGov and on the County’s Vimeo page. The ceremony also will be televised beginning at 11 a.m. on TV Gwinnett, the County’s local government access cable channel. It also will run periodically on the channel over the coming weeks and be available on-demand at TVGwinnett.com.