TIFTON — Gone, but not forgotten, the service members lost in the Vietnam War can still watch over a new generation, thanks to the efforts of their comrades.

On June 6, the Cumming chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America honored six Georgia military officers killed during the Vietnam War, ensuring their memory continues through scholarships awarded to six students.

In the eighth run of the ceremony, the veterans association awarded $2,500 to six students from across Georgia to honor the sacrifice of the fallen officers.

Among the men recognized is U.S. Army Corp. Herman Fred Ivey of Lenox, honored through the scholarship presented to Ava Miller of Forsyth Central High School.

Marty Farrell, chairman of the selection committee for the VVA Cumming chapter, said the honored service members and students are selected annually by the five-person committee, with students being selected through an extensive application process.

In addition to the expectations of high academic performance, school community involvement and volunteer experience, potential applicants are asked to submit an essay explaining why they believe freedom isn’t free, and are required to have a relative who has served in the military.

“It’s a very difficult task, because as a general rule, the young adults who apply for this scholarship are all top-notch students,” Farrell said. “In my opinion, every one of them would deserve a scholarship if we had the funds to do it.”

Farrell said the committee typically tries to pair the honored service members with students whose relatives are from the same branch of the military, if possible.

Scholar students were presented with a certificate and photo of the officer for whom the scholarship was named.

Samantha Schoenfeld of Forsyth Central High School received the scholarship connected to U.S. Air Force Sgt. Larry Richard Todd of Chamblee and will put her scholarship toward attending the University of Georgia.

Gabe St. George, homeschooled, plans to attend Georgia Tech through the scholarship gifted to him in honor of Columbus’s U.S. Army PFC Joel Ray Kelly.

Olivia Edge from Denmark High School received the scholarship in honor of U.S. Army SP4 Joseph Champion of Decatur and is set to attend the University of Georgia.

Grace Humphries, also of Forsyth Central and also planning to attend UGA, received a scholarship honoring U.S. Army SP4 and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Donald Ray Johnston of Columbus.

Lane Cassidy will go from Lambert High School to Clemson University, with a scholarship honoring USMC Major John “Jack” Gallagher of Savannah.

And through the scholarship honoring Corp. Ivey, Miller plans to make her way to the University of Georgia.

Farrell said his chapter did its best to invite the relatives of the honored individuals, bringing together four of the six fallen to see their loved ones be remembered for making the ultimate sacrifice, including Faye Bailey, Ivey’s sister.

“Having relatives of those who were killed in Vietnam – by locating them, inviting them to the ceremony to attend, to me, is very important,” Ferrell said. “I want these families to know that more than 50 years after their relative made the supreme sacrifice that they are not forgotten.”

Bailey recounted how satisfied she was with the ceremony, proud that her brother is still remembered 60 years later.