Alpharetta Ends Public Funding For Old Soldiers Day Parade

ALPHARETTA, GA — After being sued by individuals affiliated with the Sons of Confederate Veterans, the City of Alpharetta voted to end public funding for the city's annual Old Soldiers Day Parade.

In action taken during the Monday city council meeting, the Alpharetta City Council approved a resolution to cease funding for the annual Old Soldiers Day Parade. A recent review of events funded in whole or in part by the city noted that the city’s costs for the 2019 event amounted to more than $20,000.

“Sadly, a wonderful event that brings the people of Alpharetta together to celebrate United States veterans has become a platform for outside groups to champion their own personal agendas,” Mayor Jim Gilvin said. "So, under these circumstances it is no longer appropriate for the city to use taxpayer money to fund such an event.

“While we sincerely hope private organizations will continue to host the parade, recent lawsuits by individuals affiliated with the Sons of Confederate Veterans have caused additional financial burdens to Alpharetta taxpayers while creating unwelcome distractions which defeat the whole purpose of public support for an event intended to unite our community in celebrating the heroes who make this great nation possible.”

In August, a federal judge ruled that the Confederate battle flag was not able to be flown at the parade, AJC.com reported.

"The Roswell Mills Camp 1547 Sons of Confederate Veterans was given the option to appear in the parade if they didn’t fly the flag, but the group refused, saying no one would recognize them without it," the AJC reported in August. "Tim Pilgrim, Georgia division commander of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, said they will continue to fight the city and hope to fly the battle flag at next year’s parade."

Pilgrim told the paper the group was "not going to take this violation of our First Amendment rights.”

"U.S. District Judge William M. Ray II said it was the last-minute nature of the Confederate group’s lawsuit — not the merits of case — that caused him to side with the city," the paper reported.

The Confederate group told the paper they had participated in the parade for about 15 years and flown the flag without a problem. Now, he said, the city is against the flag because they claim it is divisive.

“We know it’s a lie because we know our history and heritage,” Pilgrim told the paper. “If you’re offended by the battle flag or anything about the Confederacy, you need a history lesson.”

City spokesman James Drinkard told the paper that the city wasn't comfortable with the flag after a man drove through a crowd at a rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017, killing a woman. The rally was in support of the removal of a Confederate General Robert E. Lee statue.

The Old Soldiers Day Parade began years ago as a tribute to local Civil War veterans, but was discontinued after a few years, the city said.

"A few years after the conclusion of World War II, in 1952, a small group of Alpharetta men wanted to recognize local war veterans, started having a parade through Downtown, and Old Soldiers Day was reborn," the city said. "Today, the local tradition lives on as a way to celebrate and honor all war veterans, especially those from Alpharetta, who have defended the rights and freedoms enjoyed by everyone in the United States of America. Along with the program and parade, this celebration will also feature floats, high school bands, entertainment, children’s activities, and prizes. With so much to celebrate, take this day to recognize the living memory of American War Veterans."

City leaders stated that they would welcome the event’s continuation if an organization seeks a special event permit to run the Old Soldiers Day Parade absent public funding.

The Alpharetta American Legion Post 201 sponsors the parade every year, but Commander Pete Esker said the club will need to decide if it wants to continue to do so.

"We are obviously disappointed in (Monday) night’s vote to end a nearly 70-year partnership to honor America’s veterans and active duty military," Esker said. "The Post’s officers, board and members will decide about our role in the future of any parade without the participation of the City of Alpharetta. In the meantime, on behalf of the 800 wartime veterans of Alpharetta American Legion Post 201, we thank the people of Alpharetta who have participated in, supported, attended and enjoyed the parade since 1952.”