FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                (Milledgeville, GA) February 4, 2016 - General James Edward Oglethorpe founded the Colony of Georgia at Yamacraw Bluff, near the present-day Savannah, on February 12, 1733.  This event officially began the settlement of the last of the 13 original British colonies in North America.  This territory would eventually become the State of Georgia.

            To promote greater awareness of this historic moment, for more than 30 years, Georgia Military College has hosted a formal ceremony for the public signing of the Georgia Day Proclamation.  The ceremony will take place on Thursday, February 11, 2016 in the North Wing of the Capitol Rotunda in Atlanta beginning at 12:00 p.m. and will last approximately 15 minutes.

            Participating in the official ceremony will be Governor Nathan Deal; LTG William B. Caldwell, IV, U.S. Army (Ret.), President of Georgia Military College; the GMC eighth grade class; the GMC High School Marching Band; the GMC Junior College Color Guard; the Junior College Regimental Commander, and Regimental Staff of the 137th Corps of Cadets. 

In 1976, under the administration of Governor George D. Busbee, a 1944 graduate of GMC junior college, Georgia Military College was invited to perform a ceremony in the Statehouse celebrating Georgia Day.  Each year since that time GMC has presented an Honor Guard and hosted the ceremony.  It has become a well-established tradition and Georgia Military College is honored and proud to be able to provide this service to the State of Georgia.

 

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By:  Janeen Garpow (478-445-0206)