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ALBANY, GA --
A tribute is being paid to veterans as the Broad Avenue Bridge is decommissioned before it is demolished.

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) asked The American Legion Post 30, and other local organizations with the Veterans Coalition including the VFW and Marine Corps League, to help with a ceremony that removes the original dedication plaques from the bridge. The old Broad Avenue Bridge was originally dedicated to World War I veterans.

Because of this, the American Legion says they are paying tribute to that era by having the ceremony on Feb. 11 at 11 a.m.

"World War I was over at the 11th month, 11th day, 11th hour; we would have liked to done it in November but they (GDOT) weren't ready so we're going to do it at 11 o'clock on the 11th day," says Charles Nicholson, Finance Officer at the American Legion Post 30 in Albany.

The American Legion says the ceremony will include a 21 cannon salute and the last public performance of the Albany Marine Corps Band. Nicholson says the band will play selections from the World War I era.

The plaques removed from the old bridge will be removed and refurbished Feb. 11. Once the new bridge is built, Nicholson says one set of old plaques will be placed on the new bridge alongside new plaques while the other old set will be in a local museum which is not determined yet.