10 The Georgia Department of Defense held its annual Memorial Day observance ceremony May 27, 2021, at Clay National Guard Center in Marietta, Georgia. U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Thomas Carden, The Adjutant General of Georgia, presided over the event. “Today we gather like so many times before to honor our fallen,” said Carden. “They are American heroes, men and women from all walks of life, that gave all of their tomorrows for our today.” The observance ceremony took place at the memorial wall on Clay National Guard Center. The memorial wall enshrines plaques of 43 Georgia Army National Guard Soldiers who died while supporting combat operations after 9/11. All 43 names were read aloud in a roll call during the ceremony, followed by the playing of “Taps.”