Six days commemorating Memorial Day will be held at River Falls Park in Weldon this year.
Remembrance on the River will be held from May 20 to 25 and is described by Jean Reaves, commander of AMVETS Post 101 and president of the NC AMVETS Service Foundation, as a recognition, remember and honor event for the fallen. “Our mission is to give honor to our war heroes and to tell their story and ensure all citizens understand history and the importance of the service to God and country that every service member provides.”
The event is a partnership between the service foundation and Weldon Mills Distillery and will include a variety of traveling memorials.
Those memorials include the Tunnel to Towers 9-11 Memorial, the North Carolina Vietnam Wall and the war on terror flag.
(For more information or inquiries about sponsorship opportunities contact Reaves at 252-673-6495. Donations are being accepted through the service foundation to bring the traveling displays to the event. A list of sponsorship levels may be found in the PDF attachment located at this link. Donations are tax deductible)
The North Carolina Vietnam Wall is made to replicate the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, Reaves said, and contains the names of those from the state who perished in the conflict.
Memorial.
The event will have displays of Vietnam memorabilia and a display of local memorabilia from the Roanoke Valley Veterans Museum as well as a Remembrance Field of Flags.
As this event takes place, the annual Memorial Day observance at Cedarwood Cemetery in Roanoke Rapids will take place at 10 a.m. May 25.
Reaves said Soldiers Bourbon, produced by Weldon Mills Distillery, will be unveiled. There will be tours and tastings. Proceeds from the bourbon will go toward Gold Star Families and Wounded Warriors.
Reaves said Weldon Mills owner Bruce Tyler, a veteran, “is committed to his fellow veterans.”
The foundation is the charitable fundraising side of AMVETS. “We support many AMVETS programs such as JROTC, Americanism Youth Essay Contest, serving our veterans with trained service officers to give professional support to access benefits and healthcare, community support and many other forms of support to our troops and veterans.”
Reaves said Remembrance on the River can serve as a destination stop for bikers headed to D.C. for the Ride to Remember, which was known as Rolling Thunder. “Bikers will know we are there and can stop for rest and renewal. They can visit the memorials, the Field of Flags, and relax with other veterans.”
Arrangements have also been made for riders needing sleep or showers.
In addition to the memorials, there will be music, food trucks and vendors on hand.
