Augusta, GA

Local veteran says ‘tradition’ helps carry on remembrance

Published

2 years ago

May 27, 2024

Press Room

Local veteran says ‘tradition’ helps carry on remembrance

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – On Monday, around the nation, we honored fallen service members.

It’s a day to remember for those throughout the area who served. Memorial Day allows us to take a moment to reflect.

Making sure no one lost in the line of duty is American Legion Post 178 Commander Grant Whiteley’s message on Memorial Day.

The post hosted dozens for a lunch which then turned into a ceremony.

MEMORIAL DAY COVERAGE:

“I am one about traditions. We have a lot of members that passed away and there’s one way to honor them every year,” said Whiteley.

The ceremony included naming every veteran a part of the post who has passed.

“A lot of those names were, you know, a buddy of mine here,” he said. “Had I not had this ceremony today. I wouldn’t remember them. Every time I hear their name during the ceremony. I remember. I remember who they were what they did, and a lot of them did a lot for this post.”

Following each name, a bell rang.

“All those names, we had rang a bell,” he said. “It let them know we’re thinking about them and we’re praying you know, and that they’re not forgotten.”

The playing of TAPS was followed by a prayer on their outside lawn full of white crosses representing each fallen soldier from the post.

“That’s what it’s all about, you know, so we don’t forget. There are too many things going on today. There’s no more tradition. They don’t remember you know, people hardly go out to the cemetery anymore,” Whiteley said.

Whiteley says it’s important to keep traditions moving forward. He says it’s all about not forgetting those who paid it all for our freedoms.

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Augusta, GA

Local group holds 4th annual walk against autism

Published

11 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

Local group holds 4th annual walk against autism

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – April is Autism Awareness Month, and one local group raised awareness with a walk in Augusta on Sunday.

The fourth annual autism walk was hosted by Moving Over Mountains Against autism at Lake Olmstead Park.

All proceeds from the walk support autism awareness initiatives.

We spoke with the CEO and founder of the group, Deidre Roberson, who said this year they are dedicating the walk to their photographer, who died recently.

Roberson told us what she looks forward to the most.

“I look most forward to seeing the different people every year. We always meet different people, new people, and they come from all over the CSRA, so Washington, Wilkes, Carolina,” she said.

There were also several vendors providing resources to families.

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Augusta, GA

From Augusta roots to Nighthawks leader: Nolan Belcher comes home

Published

23 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

From Augusta roots to Nighthawks leader: Nolan Belcher comes home

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)- Augusta University baseball is in a three-game series matchup against the University of North Georgia.

AU is currently down in the series 0-2 after a close loss Friday and a loss Saturday.

But we aren’t focusing on the Jags, we’re going to take a look at North Georgia’s head coach, Nolan Belcher.

He is an Augusta native who began his career at Greenbrier and Augusta Christian.

He won three state championships, which then led him to play for the South Carolina Gamecocks.

There he won back-to-back national championships and finished runner up in 2012.

His coaching career began after that where he eventually joined the Peach belt Confrence, coaching at USCA and GCSU.

Now in his first season as head coach for the Nighthawks, he is happy to come home and coach in front of his friends and family.

“I’m very fortunate that I got family that, one is still around and they can come watch me do what I love. And, they’ve shown me, nothing but support throughout my whole coaching career and even back on my playing dates are very thankful and appreciative for everything they’ve done for me.”

AU and UNG will have their final series match on Sunday.

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