Salute the heroes in Sunday’s Patriot march

ROANOKE RAPIDS — AMVETS Post 101 will honor Valley area veterans with its eighth annual March of Patriots  down The Avenue Sunday. The community is invited to join in the celebration of America’s heroes on the eve of Veterans Day 2009.

Jean Reaves, who is helping to coordinate the event, says it’s not too late to participate. “Just show up and be there,” Reaves says.

Lineup for the march begins at 2 p.m. at Kirkwood Adams Community Center at 11th and Hamilton streets. However, festivities honoring veterans begin much earlier.

“We will start our day at 8:30 a.m., at Calvary Baptist Church,” says Reaves. Both services at the church — one at 8:30 a.m., and the other at 11 a.m., will honor area veterans.

Reaves’ husband Mike will deliver comments honoring POW/MIAs and Reaves herself will deliver remarks about the growing role of women in the military.

After lineup, the march steps off promptly at 3 p.m., going down Roanoke Avenue with the Color Guard from the Sons of the American Revolution in the lead. “We thought having them in the lead was appropriate,” Reaves said, “because that’s where it all began, really.”

The procession, including members of area Scout troops and Junior ROTC Units, will move down Roanoke Avenue from 11th to 7th Street where the march becomes a gathering at Veterans Park. Patriotic music and military songs will highlight the park’s Veterans Day festivities.

Additionally, Army Master Sgt. Bonnie Jones of Littleton will speak. The names of local veterans and active military duty personnel will be read as well.

Anyone wishing to participate in the march may call AMVETS Post 101 at 252-535-0336.

The Lakeland            Singers concert

Rosemary Baptist Church will host The Lakeland Singers performing an encore concert of “With Liberty & Justice for All” at 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 7. The public is welcome to this free, patriotic concert. A donation may be made to benefit the Roanoke Valley Dallas Jones Veterans Center.

northampton county

The annual Veterans Day ceremony in Northampton County is planned for Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. in Courthouse Square.

Michael Eason, a member of the U.S. Army Reserves, will be the featured speaker. The public is encouraged to attend.

veterans center

The Dallas Jones Roanoke Valley Veterans Center will honor America’s veterans with a special ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. Brig. Gen. David Johnson will be the featured speaker at the event at the Center in Becker Village Mall. The Gastonettes will provide the music.

flag retirement ceremony

In honor of Veterans Day, a flag retirement ceremony will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 14, at Centennial Park, 7th Street and Roanoke Avenue in Roanoke Rapids. The ceremony is being co-sponsored by Boy Scout Troop 146, AMVETS Post 320, AMVETS Post 101 and the Halifax Resolves Chapter NCSSAR. If you have an American flag in need of retirement, deposit it in the AMVETS flag box in Veterans Park or the SAR flag box in the Dallas Jones Roanoke Valley Veterans Center in Roanoke Rapids. Individuals attending the ceremony are urged to bring any unusable flags and present them before or after the ceremony. The public is invited. For more information contact Ken Wilson at 252-537-5406 or boxcar27870@embarqmail.com.