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Salute Pictorial - Veterans and Chefs!
| | Top row left to right - Picture 1 Vietnam veterans Joe Tyson and Johnnie Mosley, Picture 2 Eric Cantu, Vietnam veteran and chairman of this year’s Salute! festival, speaks at the dedication of the new memorial to fallen Vietnam veterans, Picture 3 Ironclad Stewfest Judges rate the stews, bottom row - Rolling Thunder motorcycle riders a national organization formed to maintain the country’s awareness of POW/MIA issues were on hand for the Tribute to America's Veterans.
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Salute weekend to honor America’s veterans begins Friday
By Lee Raynor
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Veterans of past and recent wars will be honored this weekend in the annual three-day Salute! A Tribute to America’s Veterans.
The festival begins Friday and continues through Sunday. Most events will be held in downtown Kinston, although one is scheduled at Lenoir Community College. All activities are free.
The college will hold a memorial service at 11 a.m. Friday to pay tribute to American men and women who have served their country, whether in war or in peace.
An exhibit of photographs, memorabilia and aircraft built to scale is open now at Community Council for the Arts, 400 N. Queen St., and will continue through Saturday. The council is open from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Also on Friday, American Legion Post 43, 300 N. McLewean St., will hold a memorial service at 11 a.m. at the post.
The time and day are significant. Veterans Day, officially celebrated as a federal holiday, is held on Nov. 11 and memorial services generally begin at 11 a.m.. The time and date, 11 a.m. on 11/11, mark the date and time of the signing of the World War I armistice. Veterans Day originally was known as Armistice Day. The nation’s official Veterans Day observance is held at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11 at Arlington National Cemetery when the president places a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns.
The National Sojourners Chapter 329 will hold a flag history ceremony at 6 p.m. Friday at Tiffany West Park, by the Walk of Honor, on Herritage Street.
The big Salute parade begins at 11 a.m. Saturday. Marchers will begin at Peyton Avenue, go down Herritage Street and end at Neuseway Park.
Opening ceremonies for the festival begin at noon at the park. Former radio personality John Moore will be the master of ceremonies. Retired Army Brig. Gen. Mildred Inez Croom, who grew up in Kinston, will be the honored guest. Croom was only the second female ever to attain the high rank.
A vendors fair, children’s activities and plenty of music will highlight the remainder of the afternoon. Entertainment will include a children’s choir, USO troupe, Elvis impersonator Bill Stoval, Hank Williams’ Bama Band, Big Daddy Rhythm and the Heavyweights, other children’s entertainment, and a Boy Scout encampment.
The second annual Ironclad Stewfest will begin about noon on Herritage and Gordon streets. Up to 30 of the areas best cooks will be preparing stews, soups and other culinary concoctions to compete for the best chef award. Bowls of soup will be available to the public. Stewfest will also hold a raffle for interesting prizes. Listen to bluegrass music and watch as re-enactors demonstrate their skills.
The Cultural Heritage Museum, 242 S. Queen St., will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, with exhibits on black military history.
The most anticipated event of the weekend is the free stage show at Grainger Hill Performing Arts Center, 300 Park Avenue. Mary Beth Dawson and Dance Etc. each year put on a show that elicits tears and laughter from the audience. Singers and dancers, all local talent, put forth an extraordinary effort to honor veterans. This year, Dawson will be joined by a troupe from the USO. TV personality Alan Hoffman will emcee. Although the show is dedicated to veterans, who have a special reserved section in the auditorium, everyone is invited. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. and the show begins at 7 p.m. Arrive early to get a seat.
Korean War veteran Stan Sierzchula, a former Marine who survived some of Korea’s fiercest battles, will be the guest speaker at 11 a.m. Sunday for a memorial service hosted by American Legion Post 43 at the post.
From 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Harmony Hall will pay tribute to Gov. Richard Caswell, Kinston’s and America’s Revolutionary War hero. The historic house, at 109 E. King St., will display some of its priceless memorabilia during the tribute. The community is invited. |
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