(Above) Veterans and citizens of Augusta and the Central Savannah River Area lined both sides of Broad Street to see the Augusta - Central Savannah River Area Veterans Day Observance parade held Nov. 11. (Right) Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Foley, U.S. Army Signal Center and Fort Gordon commanding general, is joined by Staff Sgt. Casey Deidrich, a redeployed Soldier assigned to Fort Gordon, during the ride down the Veterans' Day parade route. Photo by Charmain Z. Brackett Although he's only 13 months-old, Emmerson Pohlman eagerly waved a miniature American flag his mother, Toni, gave to him prior to the start of Tuesday's Veterans Day parade in downtown Augusta.

"His dad will be so proud," said his mother, who rode on the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center float. Emmerson's father, Staff Sgt. Paul Pohlman, is currently serving in Iraq.

Children from Curtis Baptist School also lined the streets of downtown Augusta and waved flags in honor of those who have served and are serving.

Numerous Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps units from schools such as Hephzibah, Butler and Cross Creek High Schools and the Academy of Richmond County marched in the parade, which featured Soldiers from Fort Gordon and Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Foley, U.S. Army Signal Center and Fort Gordon commanding general.

Photo by Charmain Z. Brackett The parade was one of many observances in the Augusta area.

Col. John Dewey, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command capabilities manager for tactical radios, spoke at the first event of the day at the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home.

He gave a brief history of the day which began as a remembrance of the signing of the armistice ending World War I on Nov. 11, 1918. President Dwight D. Eisenhower changed the name of the day to Veterans Day in May 1954.

Dewey gave a personal thank you to the veterans at the nursing home who have paved the way for today's military.

"You taught me loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage," he said.

Now, he and others pass on those "traditions" and "espirit de corps" to those who follow.

Photo by Charmain Z. Brackett (Above) A baby enjoys the parade. (Below ) Fort Gordon Soldiers fire the 21-gun salute at the All Wars Monument Veterans Day observance where Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Foley, U.S. Army Signal Center and Fort Gordon commanding general spoke. "The strength of our Soldiers comes from the strength of those who went before us. I publicly thank you," he said.

Fort Gordon supported many of the Veterans Day activities in the area Tuesday including Col. John Holwick, Fort Gordon garrison commander speaking in North Augusta and Foley as the speaker at the Veterans of All Wars monument.

Photo by Bonnie Heater Photo by Charmain Z. Brackett (Above) Members of the Fort Gordon Youth ChalleNGe Academy leave the parade route to listen to speakers at the Augusta-CSRA Veterans Day Observance Nov. 11 at the "All Wars Monument." (Below) Rev. Andrew Menger gives the invocation at the Veterans Day observance at Heroes Overlook and Memory Walk on Nov. 11 at Riverwalk and Tenth Street in Augusta. The U. S. Army Signal Corps Band provided the music for the event. New plaques which were placed earlier in the day in the newly built wall at the site were dedicated for U. S. Coast Guard Capt. Randolph Ridgely and Sgt. Frank Gresham. Both served in World War I. A plaque was also placed for Marine Corps Lt. Col. Edwin Pollock who served in World War II. Photo by Bonnie Heater