The Reunion
Currahee Military Weekend 2018 has come and gone.
Our Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce once again partnered with The Stephens County Historical Society, in cooperation with The City of Toccoa to host the 19th Annual Currahee Military Weekend as we welcomed hundreds of visitors to our town. As always, the weekend was an amazing collaborative effort by our community.
What started out as a military reunion in 2000 for the men that trained at Camp Toccoa during WWII, has now evolved into a reunion not only of the few remaining Camp Toccoa Veterans, but also their families, re-enactors, history buffs and our community as we honor and remember all who served and sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy in our Country today.
The City of Toccoa kicked off the weekend Thursday evening with a good crowd gathered at the Ritz Theatre to hear Joe Gransden, performing songs of Sinatra & Friends, setting the stage for all which was to follow.
Early Friday morning a dedicated group Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce volunteers gathered at the Elks Lodge and EMT cook-pits in town (as they do every year) with the goal of having a fun time while successfully cooking, packing, delivering and serving one thousand chicken BBQ plates. Mission Accomplished! All while the Stephens County Historical Society was hosting a room full of history enthusiasts at a book-signing of Veterans and local authors. There were also several living historians and encampments in the downtown area and at the museum, as well as re-enactments everyone enjoyed.
Friday evening The Chamber then hosted 240+ guests, all dressed in 1942 attire, dancing the night away, to the live entertainment by The David Fry Quartet at our Annual USO Swing Dance at Reflections at Lake Toccoa. Then we woke early Saturday for the Currahee Challenge where we welcomed 230 athletes to run the 5k/10k event up Currahee Mountain.
The Annual Veterans Parade made it’s way down Doyle Street featuring our Veterans, the Original Men of Currahee, as well as our Stephens County High School Marching Band & Auxiliary and JROTC, many re-enactors and others including a replica of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, all to show honor and respect to our veterans. Followed by a live re-enactment on our Main Street. Saturday evening was a celebration as over 130 guests gathered at the Veterans Banquet. Private Vincent Speranza was the keynote speaker. He was a 501st paratrooper who joined the group after D-Day because he was too young to enlist. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and is famous for delivering beer in his helmet to his comrades who were hospitalized during the war. Needless to say, his stories were captivating as well as entertaining.
The 19th Currahee Military Weekend wrapped up at the Camp Toccoa Memorial Sunday morning, where there were 75 in attendance to honor and remember our veterans.
The Chamber of Commerce, Historical Society and City of Toccoa would like to thank all our Currahee Military Weekend sponsors, along with countless volunteers, who made it all happen ...such a wonderful community effort! We are grateful for the faithfulness, enthusiasm and hard work from everyone involved.
This place we call home holds such a special place in the hearts of so many. What a wonderful place to live, Toccoa.