Georgia National Guard sergeants Travis Fizer, of

Georgia National Guard sergeants Travis Fizer, of Douglasville, and Maynard Parrish who resides in Forest Park stand vigil for those gathered honoring the fallen in the rotunda of the state capitol, Tuesday. Georgians, National Guardsmen still actively serving the state and those who have given their lives in defense of our country, were honored during a special morning Memorial Day ceremony today by Georgia Governor Nathan Deal, before peers and citizens. Memorializing the more than 6,800 who have given their lives since September 11, 2001, key note speaker, Col. Bruce Chick, Georgia Department of Defense director of domestic operations, called the moment a somber time and that "each figure represents the life of a father, a mother, a brother, a sister, sons and daughters." Chick deployed with the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team to Iraq in 2005-2006. "They were family. They were your family. They were MY family!" (Georgia Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Tracy J. Smith)