November 8-11, 2014

David Woodruff, Gary Marlar, and Rick and Susan Herrera were guests on the spectacular Bill Sahadi, “All Things Moore County” Show and talked about the meaning of Veterans Day and upcoming Veterans Weekend events occurring in Moore County in November.  The following events all take place during the “Veterans Weekend” and each is open to the public.  The events are to honor Moore County’s 10,000+ veterans and to raise funds to support the approximately 1,400 veterans living in Moore County who are in need of assistance.  Information regarding all “Veterans Weekend” activities, to include a parade application can be found at www.sandhillsveteransweekend.com and www.sandhillsMOAA.com .  Concert tickets can be purchased and donations to the Veterans Putting Challenge can be made on line at www.sandhillsMOAA.com .  Concert tickets can also be purchased at the Arts Council of Moore County, Cross Roads Ford-Lincoln, Ed’s Gun Shop, 5 First Bank locations across the Sandhills, The County Book Store, Weichart Town and Country of Southern Pines and Pinehurst, and the Pinewild Country Club.  First Bank is a proud sponsor of Veterans Weekend.

• At 10:00 a.m., Saturday, November 8, “Veterans Weekend” will kick off with the Southern Pines Veterans Day Parade parade in uptown Southern Pines that is sponsored by CrossRoads Ford Lincoln of Southern Pines. It will be the 2^nd annual parade to honor veterans since the 1922 Armistice Day Parade.  “Veterans Weekend” is an observance established by a September 23, 2013 joint proclamation signed by the Mayors of Southern Pines, Aberdeen, and Pinehurst.  The three town councils each passed a resolution for Veterans Weekend 2014 to again honoring veterans.  The parade is being organized by veterans, for veterans, and will be all about honoring veterans, present and past.  The parade will last approximately 1 hour and the parade route will be similar to the Southern Pines Holiday Parade.  It will begin at the intersection of NW Broad Street and W Vermont Ave and proceed along Broad Street to Massachusetts Ave, where it will cross the railroad and proceed back up the other side of Broad Street and finish at Broad Street NE and E Connecticut.  The parade will feature “distinguished” veterans including veterans of the Dec 7, 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor; the Bataan Death March which began April 9, 1942; and the June 6, 1944 invasion of Normandy.  The parade will also feature veterans from the Korean War, Vietnam, Cold War, Desert Storm and Desert Shield, Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.  Just as important as our veterans are their families, so the parade will also feature Blue Star families, whose veterans are currently deployed, and Gold Star families whose veterans made the ultimate sacrifice for this great nation.

• At 10:00 a.m., Saturday, November 8, the Veterans Memorial Committee will host a Veterans Day Ceremony at the Moore County Veterans Memorial in Carthage. Refreshments will be served after the ceremony which is open to the public, and all citizens – especially veterans – are encouraged to attend.

• On Saturday, November 8, in front of O’Donnel’s at 133 East New Hampshire Ave in Southern Pines, Chapter 62 of the Special Forces Association will hold a race and chili cook-off to raise funds for a scholarship fund and emergency relief for local family members of fallen Special Forces soldiers. The race will start at 9:30 a.m. and the chili-cook off begins at 11:00 a.m.  The Ride, Run, & Drink race is a physical and challenging combination of a 5K run and a 17K bike ride.  The chili cook-off will begin following the race.  Contestants include restaurant owners as well as backyard chili alum.  The chili cook off is open to the public with an entrance fee of $5.00 (kids12 and under eat free).
• On Saturday afternoon, November 8, at Aberdeen Lake Park, there will be a new event sponsored by the town of Aberdeen and the Aberdeen USO. The event begins at 1 p.m., two hours after the parade ends.  It will include amazing exhibits that will tell the story of the history of the Airborne at Camp Mackall and Ft. Bragg, and there will be a pictographic and written history of the Airborne at Camp Mackall, and the connection to the two USO locations in Aberdeen.  There will also be displays of WWII paratrooper uniforms of US, Allied and Axis paratroopers and other seldom seen items such as a Norden Bombsight and more.   Also expected is an encampment of Civil War re-enactors and a National Guard military vehicle and equipment display.  There may also be a paratrooper jumping into Aberdeen Lake Park.

• At 5:00 p.m., Sunday, November 9, in the Robert E Lee Auditorium at Pinecrest High School, award winning performing artist Todd Allen Herendeen returns for another rousing and amazing performance. Todd Allen Herendeen plays sold out shows all over the country.  If you attended last year’s concert (or know someone who did) you know what a great entertainer Todd is and what a fun-filled, outstanding performance he presents with rock and country hits from the 60’s to the 80’s.  The expenses associated with the concert are fully funded though sponsorships from the community, including from USAA and Weichert Realty.  So, when we sell out the Robert E Lee Auditorium, we could net over $20,000 to support the estimated 1,400 needy veterans in Moore County.  General Admission tickets are priced at $15.00 and reserved section seats are $20.00.  A complete listing of ticket outlets and concert news is at sandhillsveteransweekend.com or  www.sandhillsmoaa.com.  Tickets may also be purchased on the MOAA website.  Funds raised by the 90 minute Patriot Pop Concert will be disbursed among the Moore County organizations that are assisting veterans in need; whether serving, separated from the service, or retired.

• At 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, 11 November, at the Pinehurst Village Hall, The Sandhills Chapter of the Military Officers Association of American will host a Veterans Day Ceremony for the local community. The event Guest speaker will be Major General Jimmie Jaye Wells, Chief of Staff, US Army Forces Command at Fort Bragg.  As is the tradition on this honored day, we will proudly recognize the veterans of each major era/conflict in the audience and have a formal wreath laying by Major General Wells and Mayor Nancy Roy Fiorillo in honor of all veterans of this great nation.  The ceremony will include the Union Pines High School NJROTC color guard, The Golf Capital Chorus, and Detachment 1001of the USMC League.  After the ceremony, the Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 7318 will serve light refreshments.  The ceremony is open to the public and all citizens – especially veterans.  All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

• At 1:30 p.m., Sunday, 11 November, The Sandhills Chapter of the Military Officers Association of American will host the 2^nd Annual Veterans Putting Challenge at the Mid Pines Golf Club in Southern Pines. Nine foursomes of veterans from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and subsequent conflicts will begin with a shotgun start on the Mid Pines practice green and putt for the championship.  The tremendous event is will benefit the Moore County Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter #83 and their mission to serve the veterans in Moore County.  This event is free and open to the public.  Lunch will be available at Mid Pines prior to the event.  Donations to assist the DAV in their mission to serve our veterans may be made by credit card at sandhillsMOAA.com .