The overcast weather did not dampen the mood of the 130 people, attending a special ceremony at the Oconee River Greenway Park and River walk on Saturday. The occasion was a memorable for two reasons - one, because this was the 40th reunion of the Baldwin high school class of 1969, and two, because of the special dedication the group held in honor of their deceased classmates. This year’s donations went to the Oconee River Greenway Park in Milledgeville.
This particular group of people, most of whom were born in 1951, have been donating contributions to their memorial fund for the past 30 years. “In celebration of our 10-year-reunion in 1979, we established our Memorial Fund,” said Laura Agee, chairperson of the BHS class of 1969 Memorial Committee.
At that first reunion funds were donated to Walter Williams recreation park. Ten years later, in 1989, a dedication ceremony and donations honored Baldwin High School. In the last year of this past century, the class held its 30th reunion.
“We decided to hold these funds until the ORGPR could be completed,” explained Agee.
At the dedication ceremony the classmates and their families, as well as the first-grade teacher of many of the students, prayed with Milledgeville’s Mayor Richard Bentley and honored the deceased members of the class. Senator Johnny Grant gave a touching speech, remembering his, and most of the guests childhoods in town, in an era when “…our parents made this country the most powerful in the world. Milledgeville in the 1950’s and 60’s was wonderful.”
Dwight Riddle, who represented the Woodmen of the World society, said:“Laura (Agee) invited us and asked if we could donate a flag poll for the official entrance of the river walk. It is such an honor for us to do that.” The flag poll is only a part of the donations this class presented to Major General Peter Boylan, president of the Oconee Greenway Foundation. The BHS class of 1969 also donated a flag, and the lighting features which will keep it illuminated at night. The flag, flag poll and lights will be placed at the new, official entrance to the Greenway park and river walk on Green Street.
“It is now 2009 so in celebration of our 40th class reunion we are presenting our final memorial donation,” said Agee.
“We are honored to present the Oconee Greenway Foundation with this check of $4,220.”
Gen. Boylan, who received the check, thanked all who helped raise the donations.
“The one thing our community did not have here (at the park), is presentation of freedom and of who we are,” Boylan said.
“Your contribution is very thoughtful. This flag will help people, when they come here, to reflect on our nation, on who we are, and on what we leave to our children. I am proud to accept your gift to the Greenway, to this community, to yourselves. I am proud to be an American.”
The ceremony ended with Agee reading the names of the 23 deceased classmates of BHS class of 1969. This was the last memorial dedication ceremony for this class.
