Patriot Day Ceremony Set For Friday In Canton

CANTON, GA — Cherokee County’s annual Patriot Day Ceremony commemorating the 20th anniversary of the attacks on the United States will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 10.

The ceremony will take place at the Public Safety Memorial at Rotary Park between the historic courthouse and the Justice Center.

The keynote speaker will be retired U.S. Army Sgt. Major Dan McNeal. McNeal’s military service spans three decades, including several years in the Navy before he joined the U.S. Army as a senior non-commissioned logistician. During his three decades of military service, the Canton resident has had many domestic and overseas assignments including Naval Special Warfare Unit Three in Bahrain, Naval Special Warfare Unit Ten Rota in Spain, and Combined Joint Taskforce Horn of Africa in Djibouti. His combat deployments include Iraq, Afghanistan, and East Africa. His final assignment was as the Army component senior enlisted leader, Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa. He has been awarded 36 medals and ribbons during his service to the country.

After retiring, McNeal connected with the National Cemetery Administration to serve his country differently. Today, he is a program specialist managing the headstone and marker contracts for 41 national and state cemeteries throughout the southeast.

“When we were considering keynote speakers, we wanted to choose someone with local connections who has proudly served our country,” said Chief Marshal Jamie Gianfala, who serves on the event planning committee. “I know Sgt. Major McNeal and thought he would make an excellent keynote speaker for the 20th anniversary of 9/11.”

This year’s event will feature music from the Cherokee Chorale and the Cherokee High School Band of Warriors. Cherokee Fire Lt. Cheri Collett will perform special music on the bagpipes. The Cherokee County Multi-Agency Honor Guard will present the colors.

“For 19 years, we have remembered that fateful Tuesday in September as we said we always would,” Assistant Fire Chief Eddie Robinson said. “The committee put a lot of thought into this year’s event as it commemorates the 20th anniversary of 9/11/01. We hope you will join us for this special event.”

The event is free and open to the public, and it is a rain or shine event.