Randall Smith memorial details finalized

VW independent/submitted information

PAULDING — Details have now been finalized for the memorial service for Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith, according to Paulding County Sheriff Keith Landers. Smith, who was a victim of the July 16 shootings at the Navy/Marine Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee, was originally from Paulding.

Doors will open for the memorial service at 9:30 a.m. this Saturday, August 1. There will be two entrances to the event: one off Emerald Road and one off Water Street.

“Everyone attending this service will walk through metal detectors,” said Sheriff Landers. “Safety of the people attending this memorial is my number one concern.

Sheriff Landers also suggested that women leave handbags and large purses in their vehicles, and added that all attendees and bags will be subject to search.

“Absolutely no weapons will be allowed on the school property,” the sheriff added,

For area residents interested in riding motorcycles with the multiple support clubs, there will be a staging area at First Christian Church, 1233 Emerald Road in Paulding, beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday. The motorcycles will depart from the church at 10 that morning, while the motorcycle route will travel south from the church on Emerald Road to Caroline Street, turn west onto Water Street and then north on Water Street to the designated parking lot.

“I look forward to a large turnout from our citizens to show their respect for Petty Officer Smith and his family,” said Sheriff Landers. “Parking is going to be our biggest issue to overcome due to the construction in the immediate area.”

The media staging lot will be the northwest corner of Caroline and Water streets. Media will enter the lot off Caroline Street and will need to provide credentials at the sheriff’s command truck and receive a media pass to enter the media area in the gymnasium.  Those who do not intend to be in the designated media area in the gymnasium will not need a media pass.