Old Soldiers Day

Soon after guns were silenced in the War Between the States, Confederate soldiers living in and around old Milton County (now part of Fulton County) wanted to remember their fellowships. They established a time during each year when they could bivouac for several days. The purpose was to respect that fellowship, founded during the tragic time when families became divided over different philosophies. They came by horseback, on foot and by horse and wagon, meeting in a small town called Alpharetta.

Many were bivouacking (camping without tents) in Alpharetta when the young soldiers of World War I returned home. Our best evidence indicates that during 1920, an elderly Confederate soldier invited these “younguns” to assemble to the rear and parade with them down Alpharetta’s main street.

As days past by swiftly, the old soldiers’ physical capabilities lagged far behind their spirit, as did their desire to continue the tradition. In 1924, the reunion was abandoned. Twenty-eight years later on a Sunday afternoon in June, 1952, a group of men gathered. They were vitally concerned with veterans and their loved ones and unanimously agreed that Old Soldiers Day should be more than a memory.

(Downtown Alpharetta 1924)

These gentlemen, veterans themselves,  sounded the bugle that would again rededicate the first Saturday in August, as a living memorial to veterans of all wars. This historical significance is why Old Soldiers Day Celebration will always remain personal to all veterans.

(Old Soldiers Day Celebration Group) 

Since 1952 until recent years, Old Soldiers Day included events such as 8K Runs and Alpharetta’s only annual parade. In addition to the veterans of American Legion Post 201 members, many organizations joined the fun. Rotarians, Shriners, North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (NFCC), Alpharetta Business Association (ABA), Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Association (ACVA), the Boy Scouts of America and more, added their own blend of creativity throughout Alpharetta’s streets.

 The parades came to a screeching halt, thanks to the COVID-19 outbreak. As our town gained back its sense of “normal”, Old Soldiers Day Celebration slowly opened its own doors for camaraderie once again. The celebrations at this time, no longer include a parade. However, as things progress, we’ll be sure to include them on our calendar of events. Stay tuned and keep the memory alive!