Veterans Day activities

Parade highlights Veterans Council events

The Randolph County Veterans Council invites veterans, their families and the public to participate in activities designed to honor the service of all those who have served, and are currently serving, in the U.S. Armed Forces. 

The Veterans Council agenda looks like this for Friday, Nov. 11:

- 12-3:30 p.m. / FREE HOT DOG LUNCH FOR VETERANS — Veterans are invited to drive through the parking lot at Bicentennial Park in Asheboro to receive a free hot dog lunch. Lunches will also be delivered to veterans in local nursing homes. The lunches are funded by the Honoring Our Veterans organization and Wayne Thomas Chevrolet. Local businesses are encouraged to send someone to pick up lunches for their veteran employees who might not be able to come by in person due to work requirements.

- 12-2 p.m. / FLAG RETIREMENT CEREMONY — Boy Scout Troop 527 will conduct flag retirement ceremonies at Bicentennial Park to dispose of U.S. flags which are no longer serviceable due to being worn, tattered or torn. The public is invited to bring such flags for proper, respectful disposal.

- 4 p.m. / VETERANS DAY PARADE — The annual Veterans Day parade will be held in downtown Asheboro. The parade will kick off at 4 p.m., starting on Church Street, proceeding to Sunset Avenue and ending at the Veterans Memorial on Worth Street.

For more on these activities, contact Rob Wilkins, Veterans Council Commander, at 336-430-8371 or parade coordinator Lucky Luckado at 336-498-7146.

Luminary service begins after parade ends

The Pilot Club of Asheboro will present its annual Veterans Day Luminary Service following the Veterans Day parade. 

Luminaries are $5 each. They may be purchased following the parade or by mailing a check made out to the Pilot Club of Asheboro, POB 3107, Asheboro, NC 27204. Please include veteran’s name, branch of service and the name, address and phone number of the person placing the order.  

The service will begin with the lighting of luminaries at 5:30 p.m. 

The program includes:

— Invocation by Rev. Fred Huffstetler.

— Presentation of colors by the SW Randolph HS JROTC.

— Music by Tim Green.

— Speaker District Attorney Andy Gregson or Randolph County.

— The reading of names of all honorees.

— A 21-gun salute and Taps by the Randolph County Honor Guard. 

Visitors are also encouraged to bring canned foods for CUOC. 

Monies raised will go to fund Pilot Club community projects. For more information, call 336-963-3889 or email lcovington@triad.rr.com.

Field of Honor on display Friday-Sunday

ASHEBORO — From Friday-Sunday, Nov. 11-13, the baseball field at South Asheboro Middle School will once again be transformed into the Field of Honor with 500 US flags posted in perfect rows and columns in tribute of heroes. 

The joint project by the Asheboro Rotary Club and the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce lets members of the public sponsor one or more of the 500 lined up in a perfect rows and columns in recognition of veterans, active duty service men and women, first responders, and other personal heroes or heroines.

Raised funds benefit the Asheboro Rotary Club Scholarship Fund and the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber Charitable Foundation. 

Throughout the weekend, community members can visit the Field of Honor display and walk among the flags, and sponsored flags will be tagged with the names of both the sponsor and the hero to whom each is dedicated.

The public is welcome to visit the field at any time from 9 a.m. Friday through the end of the closing ceremonies Sunday afternoon.

- FRIDAY, NOON / OPENING CEREMONY — The opening ceremony will be led by Master of Ceremonies Larry Reid and will feature:

— Presentation and retirement of the colors by the Asheboro High School JRROTC.

— National anthem by Marcus Lowery.

— Fly over by Jerry Jeffers.

— Invocation by Pastor Travis Cooke.

— Keynote speech by Dr. Robert Shackleford.

— Benediction by Pastor Dean Pollard.

- SUNDAY, 3 P.M. / CLOSING CEREMONY — The closing ceremony will be led by Master of Ceremonies Larry Reid and will feature:

— Presentation and retirement of the colors, 21-gun salute and Taps by the Randolph County Honor Guard.

— Reading of names on flags by members of the Asheboro Rotary Club.

— America the Beautiful sung by Cynthia Price.

— Bagpiper John Davis.

— Purchased flags can be collected and taken home after the closing ceremony concludes.

The cost to sponsor a flag is $40. Other sponsorship opportunities:  

— Freedom Sponsor $250 (includes 2 flags).

—Field Sponsor $500 (includes 4 flags).

— Hero Sponsor $1,000 (includes 8 flags).

— Patriot Sponsor $2,000 (includes 16 flags).

Volunteers will be available from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sunday for flag purchases.

For information on how to purchase flags, contact Amy Rudisill at the Asheboro-Randolph Chamber at 336-626-2626 or email amy@ashranchamber.com.

Veterans, guest get in free this week at Zoo

ASHEBORO — In honor of Veterans Day, the North Carolina Zoo is offering free admission for military personnel and retirees and free admission for one accompanying guest during Military Appreciation Week, Nov. 7-13.

oo hours during this week are from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., with the last admission being an hour before closing.

The special discount is available to active duty, reserve, veteran, and retired military personnel from all military branches and is only available for admission purchased onsite.

To receive the discount, please bring any of the following:

— US Veterans ID.

— Military ID.

— DD-214 with Photo ID.

— State driver’s license with veteran indicator or military identifier.

— VA, VF or American Legion issued ID