thedrifter
09-04-03, 11:15 AM
Salute to Our Heroes begins with prayer, downtown procession
September 03,2003
TIMMI TOLER
DAILY NEWS STAFF
With well-known entertainers such as LeAnn Rimes and Billy Bob Thornton set to perform, the free concert Salute to Our Heroes has generated a lot of buzz among the community. But organizers want the public to know that there is much more going on Thursday during the day-long celebration hosted by Project Care and II Marine Expeditionary Force to honor area service members for their contributions during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"The whole day at its heart is all-encompassing to honor our troops and those who supported them," says Glen Hargett, community affairs director for the city of Jacksonville.
The day begins with "Time to Give Thanks," an 8 a.m. non-denominational service at L.P. Willingham Park.
"The service will be a time for the community to give thanks for so many prayers that were answered while our troops were away," says Hargett.
Speakers include Lt. Gen. Henry "Pete" Osman, commanding general of II MEF, and Dwayne Snowden, pastor of the River of Life church in Jacksonville. Mark Waters will sing "God Bless America."
At 10 a.m., the moving tribute "Salute to the Troops" will commence in downtown Jacksonville. A procession of representatives from several Marine Corps units (II Marine Expeditionary Force, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, 2nd Force Service Support Group, 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Marine Corps Air Bases East and Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune) will travel down New Bridge Street, passing community members and local high school bands stationed along the procession route.
The procession will converge at the presentation site, also on New Bridge street located between Warlock and Bordeaux Streets (next to the Q-92 radio station) where members of the Jacksonville City Council and the Onslow County Board of Commissioners will issue proclamations to the Marine units.
Following the moving tribute, a free barbecue picnic will be held at the New River Shopping Center at the former Piggly Wiggly building.
"The entire community is invited to attend," says Hargett. "We're preparing to feed about 10,000 people that day."
The barbecue is being donated by the North Carolina Pork Council and is being prepared by the New River Baptist Association. Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown will cook a pig on site, and hotdogs and hamburgers will also be served. The USO Troupes, an all-volunteer group of performers, will entertain the lunch-time crowd with patriotic-themed music and singing.
Hargett says shuttle services will be set up and will begin running at 7:30 a.m. to assist community members in getting to the day's events.
"This day is to honor and salute our troops who were deployed and those that also worked hard here at home," says Hargett. "It's also a way to say thanks to the community for providing a support system to those troops and their families."
For information, call Project Care at 347-3141 or visit www.mccslejeune.com.
http://www.thelibertynews.com/details.cfm?StoryID=15653
Sempers,
Roger
:marine:
September 03,2003
TIMMI TOLER
DAILY NEWS STAFF
With well-known entertainers such as LeAnn Rimes and Billy Bob Thornton set to perform, the free concert Salute to Our Heroes has generated a lot of buzz among the community. But organizers want the public to know that there is much more going on Thursday during the day-long celebration hosted by Project Care and II Marine Expeditionary Force to honor area service members for their contributions during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"The whole day at its heart is all-encompassing to honor our troops and those who supported them," says Glen Hargett, community affairs director for the city of Jacksonville.
The day begins with "Time to Give Thanks," an 8 a.m. non-denominational service at L.P. Willingham Park.
"The service will be a time for the community to give thanks for so many prayers that were answered while our troops were away," says Hargett.
Speakers include Lt. Gen. Henry "Pete" Osman, commanding general of II MEF, and Dwayne Snowden, pastor of the River of Life church in Jacksonville. Mark Waters will sing "God Bless America."
At 10 a.m., the moving tribute "Salute to the Troops" will commence in downtown Jacksonville. A procession of representatives from several Marine Corps units (II Marine Expeditionary Force, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, 2nd Force Service Support Group, 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Marine Corps Air Bases East and Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune) will travel down New Bridge Street, passing community members and local high school bands stationed along the procession route.
The procession will converge at the presentation site, also on New Bridge street located between Warlock and Bordeaux Streets (next to the Q-92 radio station) where members of the Jacksonville City Council and the Onslow County Board of Commissioners will issue proclamations to the Marine units.
Following the moving tribute, a free barbecue picnic will be held at the New River Shopping Center at the former Piggly Wiggly building.
"The entire community is invited to attend," says Hargett. "We're preparing to feed about 10,000 people that day."
The barbecue is being donated by the North Carolina Pork Council and is being prepared by the New River Baptist Association. Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown will cook a pig on site, and hotdogs and hamburgers will also be served. The USO Troupes, an all-volunteer group of performers, will entertain the lunch-time crowd with patriotic-themed music and singing.
Hargett says shuttle services will be set up and will begin running at 7:30 a.m. to assist community members in getting to the day's events.
"This day is to honor and salute our troops who were deployed and those that also worked hard here at home," says Hargett. "It's also a way to say thanks to the community for providing a support system to those troops and their families."
For information, call Project Care at 347-3141 or visit www.mccslejeune.com.
http://www.thelibertynews.com/details.cfm?StoryID=15653
Sempers,
Roger
:marine: