Bremen BRIDGE Festival and 5K to Help Combat Drug Usage in West Georgia

Saturday, May 9
On-site registration for 5K Run/Walk and Children's Bike
Ride: 7 a.m.
5K Run/Walk: 8 a.m. ($10 donation/entry fee benefits BRIDGE)
Children's Bike Ride: 9 a.m. ($5 donation/entry fee benefits
BRIDGE)
Festival Booths Open: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Drug Awareness Presentation: 12:15 p.m.

The City of Bremen will host its second-annual Bremen BRIDGE
Festival and 5K Run on Saturday, May 9 from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Interested participants in the 5K run/walk and children's bike
ride can register on-site at 7 a.m.

The festival will include more than 30 community exhibitors and
food vendors, a classic car show, inflatables and an arts and
crafts area. The event will also feature live performances by
more than 20 local artists.

This annual family celebration benefits BRIDGE, a West Georgia
program designed to Build Recovery in Drug Gripped Environments.
Visitors will have the chance to learn about living healthier
with on-site information booths and complimentary basic health
screenings, as well as a drug awareness presentation.

Bremen Public Service Building
516 Tallapoosa Street East
Bremen, GA 30110

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Bremen BRIDGE Festival to Help Combat Drug Usage in West Georgia

/PRNewswire/ -- The City of Bremen will usher in summer with the Bremen BRIDGE Festival on Saturday, May 9. This annual family celebration benefits BRIDGE, a West Georgia program designed to Build Recovery in Drug Gripped Environments. The theme of this year's event is "Bremen is building a BRIDGE and working to get over it." Activities will include a 5K Fun Run, a children's bike ride with bike safety course, a children's arts and crafts area, live performances by local artists and churches and food vendors. Visitors will also have the chance to learn about living healthier with on-site information booths and complimentary basic health screenings.

"It's important that we teach our children the benefit of living well, including saying no to drugs," said Dr. William Parrish, a physician with Primary Care of Bremen and an event sponsor. "It's an issue that affects the entire community, but is also one we can help resolve together."

Georgia, with its extensive network of highways, large coastal line, and airport connections is a major location for drug trafficking. In smaller communities, such as Bremen, the effects can be devastating.

"Programs such as BRIDGE enable us to work as a community to both improve the health and help prevent relapse for those affected by drug abuse," added Dr. Parrish.

Proceeds for the Family Fun Day will go in support of BRIDGE. Activities will take place in downtown Bremen at the Public Service Building from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Activities include:

-- 5K Fun Run with prizes for top finishers ($10 donation/entry fee)
-- Children's Bike Ride and Bike Safety Course ($5 donation/entry fee)
-- Children's Craft Area
-- Kid's Play area including Inflatables
-- Festival Food Vendors
-- Live musical performances
-- And more...



To become a sponsor, vendor or to register for the fun run or ride, please call 404-961-2230 or email interest to: bridge@co-pinteractive.com. Additional information is available at www.co-pinteractive.com/clients/bridge.

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Bremen Post Office to be Named for Local Fallen Soldier

Bremen Post Office to be Named for Local Fallen Soldier
House Passes Gingrey Legislation to Honor the Late Sergeant Paul Saylor

The U.S. House of Representatives today unanimously passed legislation introduced by Congressman Phil Gingrey (R-GA) that will honor the late Sergeant Paul Saylor by designating the post office located at 101 Tallapoosa Street in Bremen, Georgia, as the “Sergeant Paul Saylor Post Office Building.” Sergeant Saylor heroically gave his life for our country on August 15, 2005, while on patrol in Mahmudiyah, Iraq when the vehicle he was traveling in rolled over into a canal. He was 21 years old.

“Our nation will be forever indebted to Sergeant Paul Saylor,” said Gingrey. “I know he is here with us today, and I would like to say: Thank you, Paul. Your spirit lives on and you will never be forgotten.”

This legislation had nearly fifty co-sponsors, including every Member of the Georgia Congressional Delegation.

The legislation now awaits action in the Senate.

Below, please find the video, audio and text of Congressman Gingrey’s remarks. To watch the video, click here.

Remarks by Congressman Phil Gingrey
on H.R. 6092, designating the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 101 Tallapoosa Street in Bremen, Georgia, as the “Sergeant Paul Saylor Post Office Building”
July 8, 2008

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6092, a bill I introduced to honor the life of Paul Anthony Saylor by designating the post office in Bremen, Georgia as the Sergeant Paul Saylor Post Office.

Mr. Speaker, thankfully we are at a point today where the Iraqi government is proving to be more and more capable of securing its country and where al-Qaeda terrorists are on the verge of being completely routed. We can all agree that the road on which we have traveled has been anything but smooth. Indeed, we have lost 4,166 of our nation’s greatest treasures in Iraq.

They are not just statistics, Mr. Speaker — there is a story behind every one of the brave men and women who have died serving our country in the Global War on Terror. I have come to know Paul’s story well over the last three years.

Paul Saylor’s story is indeed one of courage, kindness, generosity, and devotion to his family and to his country. Paul was a beloved son to his parents, Jamie and Patti; a beloved brother to Little Jamie; and a beloved nephew to Linda Kirkland. He enjoyed playing high school football with his older brother and was known for his smile and his caring heart. Since Paul’s death, many have spoken of his penchant for standing up for others being bullied, and for picking people up when they were down. It is testament to the affection that others had for Paul that of the 5,000 citizens of his hometown, over 1,500 attended his funeral.

Mr. Speaker, it was Paul’s sense of duty that led him to join the Georgia National Guard following his attendance at North Georgia College and State University. Upon joining, Paul had no idea he would be called upon to defend our freedom in Iraq, but when he was, he bravely answered that call. He served our nation in Iraq as a member of the Georgia National Guard’s 48th Infantry Brigade. Paul lost his life on August 15, 2005 while on patrol in Al Mahmudiyah, Iraq, when the vehicle he was traveling in rolled over into a canal. He was 21 years old.

Sadly, Mr. Speaker, upon being returned to his family, Paul’s remains were in a state of advanced decomposition, and he was not able to be viewed by his family for a final goodbye. His family has since worked tirelessly to improve the treatment of the remains of all fallen soldiers to ensure that no family has to experience a similar fate.

As I have worked with Paul’s family to address the shortfalls in the mortuary process, I have visited the mortuary facility at Dover Air Force Base, as well as a mortuary affairs collection point in Iraq, to evaluate current processes and procedures and identify areas where improvements could be made. Those efforts led to the inclusion of a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007, which requires that all medical personnel be trained in remains preservation prior to their deployment.

This training is carried out in the medical training facilities at Ft. Sam Houston and the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. On a recent visit, I was able to determine that the Army is solemnly carrying out this duty. While we could never do enough to support and honor Paul’s sacrifice, it is the least we can do to ensure that we can honor the remains of our fallen heroes with the dignity and respect they deserve.

Our nation will be forever indebted to Sergeant Paul Saylor. I know he is here with us today, and I would like to say: Thank you, Paul. Your spirit lives on and you will never be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me today in honoring Sergeant Paul Saylor.

Vote yes on H.R. 6092.