Georgia

Georgians can see Vietnam Memorial locally

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“The Wall That Heals” is open for visitation at Veterans Memorial Park at 651 Hyden Tyler Road in Chatsworth, Georgia from now until the end of the week.  The portable version of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C. gives smaller communities a chance to see the monument.  On Sunday, May 15, there will be a closing ceremony before the mobile war memorial is moved to its next location.  Chattanooga’s WRCB has the story:

Vietnam Veterans Memorial visit North Georgia

Harvey Roach served in Vietnam from 1967 through 1969.

He remembers difficult days when he returned home to Georgia.

“We were called baby killers, we were spit on, you name it,” said Roach.

He also remembers the lives lost- brothers and sisters he plans to honor by visiting the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Chatsworth.

“When they set the wall up, it’s going to get emotional,” said Roach.

Tim Tetz with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund says the traveling wall allows everyone who was touched by Vietnam to remember what happened 50 years ago.

“This gives an opportunity for someone who lost a love one who served there, to pay their respects to their name and remember their sacrifice,” said Tetz.

The wall constructed of powder-coated aluminum will make 35 stops through December.

Tetz says for some, the wall offers healing.

“This is called: “The wall that heals.” When our founder came up with the idea to build a national memorial for our Vietnam veterans he realized there would be some healing there, but didn’t realize how much,” said Tetz.

Tetz has been carrying the stories of people who served in Vietnam since 1999, including the four people from Murray County who died in the war.

He says the mobile wall gives those who haven’t had the chance to visit the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C., the chance to honor the 58,307 men and women who died…

The wall will return to Georgia Nov. 16-20 in Woodstock.

General Assembly creates fintech study group

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Atlanta's Transaction Alley

Map of Atlanta-area fintech companies

On the final day of the legislative session last month, the Georgia House of Representatives approved the creation of a new financial technology committee.  The study committee will examine possible incentives such as tax breaks for financial technology companies and payment processors in Georgia.

Lawmakers noted in the text of Senate Resolution 883 that over 70 percent of all financial transactions processed in the United States are actually processed by companies headquartered in Georgia.  Georgia’s “Transaction Alley” is responsible for 40,000 jobs plus another 40,000 related support jobs.  Sen. Brandon Beach (R-Alpharetta) and Elena Parent (D-Atlanta)—the senator for the district I live in—were among the cosponsors.

Study committees like this tend to schedule a few hearings where they talk to industry experts and a couple of state government officials.  They come up with reports that often become the basis of legislation in the upcoming year.  I would predict that this study committee may come up with some tax incentives for financial technology companies to locate or remain in Georgia.  They could design these along the lines of Georgia’s successful film tax credit.  The committee may also encourage venture capital investments into fintech startups.

Georgia honors 19 Vietnam combat Marines

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Viet Marines

This is part of a broader, overdue program to thank over 200,000 of Georgia’s Vietnam veterans for their service.  From the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer:

Georgia recognizes Vietnam vets who served in Marine Corps

  • 19 Marines from the Chattahoochee Valley were presented a State Certificate of Honor and lapel pin for service in Vietnam
  • The recognition is part of the state’s program to recognize 234,000 Georgia veterans who served in armed forces during Vietnam
  • Program started a year ago as part of the 50th anniversary of the war

Minutes after he was presented a Certificate of Honor on Saturday, David Icard of Buena Vista recalled the night he saw five Marines severely wounded during a mortar attack near Da Nang in South Vietnam.Icard, 69, wasn’t welcomed home in April 1967, but he’s thankful to be among soldiers who returned alive from the war.

“They were all protesting,” he said as his plane landed in San Francisco. “Anybody that served didn’t feel too good about it.”

During a ceremony at the Marine Corps Detachment at Fort Benning, the Georgia Department of Veterans Service recognized Icard and 18 other Marines for their service in Vietnam. The recognition is part of the state veterans service program and Gov. Nathan Deal to honor 234,000 Georgia veterans who served in the armed forces during the war.

Mike Roby, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Veterans Service, joined state Sen. Ed Harbison, a Vietnam War veteran in the Marines, to recognize members of the Marine Corps League.

“I think it’s long overdue,” Roby said of the ceremony. “I think it is something we should have done a long time ago. It is an honor to be part of recognizing the service that they gave in Vietnam.”

Since the program started last year as part of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, Roby said the veterans service has presented more than 10,000 certificates and 8,500 lapel pins.

“Our goal is to reach all 234,000 Georgia veterans who served during that time,” he said…