Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/894958
NOVEMBER 1 - 7, 2017 UCW 15 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM e Vietnam War was a divisive one. But what is unquestionable is the human heart of those in military service. Retired Staff Sgt. Patrick J. Moore is one of those men. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1959 and served for 30 years. At the time of the Vietnam War, he was an E-6 torpedo man aboard the U.S.S. Bang. "It's hard on a submarine, and you go to sea for three or four months. But I had the best camaraderie there has been with the crews on submarines. I had the best," he said. Reflections like these are necessary to hear and important in understanding the veteran point of view. For the upcoming fifth annual Heroes Homecoming, events will take place throughout Cumberland County from Nov. 1 to Nov. 12. Heroes Homecoming honors the sacrifices of all military veterans, but each year it turns its focus to a specific conflict in our nation's history. is year, Vietnam War veterans are the honorees. According to John Meroski, president/CEO of the Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Vietnam veterans were chosen as honorees once again because "we can't thank them enough." Here is the schedule of events: Saturday, Nov. 4 e annual Fayetteville Veterans Day Parade will start at 10 a.m. It will take place downtown on Hay Street, with Cumberland County students and Viet- nam veterans in attendance. At 2 p.m., the Museum of the Cape Fear is hosting "A Soldier's Heart: Understanding Vietnam Veterans' Ex- periences through Oral History," led by Dr. Cyndi Briggs. Her discussion will focus on stories she collected from Vietnam veterans over the years. Sunday, Nov. 5 From 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Hope Mills Veterans Memo- rial, a memorial ceremony and flag display will take place to honor Vietnam veterans. Retired Lt. Col. Walt Brinker, a Vietnam veteran, will be a guest speaker. Monday, Nov. 6 At the Hope Mills Lake at 5 p.m., there will be a veteran's bench dedication. Tuesday, Nov. 7 From 1 to 4 p.m., the Museum of the Cape Fear will host a meet-and-greet with Vietnam veterans. Lt. Col. Walt Brinker will lead a presentation on his experience with PTSD and what other veterans can do to deal with their trauma. Wednesday, Nov. 8 Starting at 4 p.m., Millstone 14 will present a mili- tary-themed movie night free of charge for veterans and their families. Call (910) 354-2124 for details. ursday, Nov. 9 From ursday to Sunday, Nov. 12, the Airborne and Special Operations Museum will host the traveling replica of the Washington ,D.C., Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Also known as e Moving Wall, it lists the names of all who perished during the Vietnam War. ASOM will honor Gold Star Families in a Vietnam Veteran pinning ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 9. Also at 6:30 p.m., a Yellow Ribbon Tribute dinner will be hosted at the Spring Lake Recreation and Parks Building honoring Vietnam veterans' families. Friday, Nov. 10 U.S. Armed Forces veterans and their families will be honored at the Eastover Community Center. ere will be refreshments and speakers, starting at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11 ASOM will show "On the Air: A Tribute to Bob Hope and America's Heroes" and "Hello Vietnam: A Tribute to Bob Hope and America's Heroes." Show- ings will take place at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Sponsored by the Freedom Biker Church and Roll- ing under, the first Heroes Homecoming Motorcy- cle Rally takes place from noon to 8 p.m. It will start at Fort Bragg Harley-Davidson and make its way to e Moving Wall dedication ceremony at ASOM before ending at Festival Park. ere will be food trucks, tattoo and beard contests, speakers, bands – and a VIP tent for all Vietnam veterans. ASOM's e Moving Wall dedication takes place at 1 p.m. on the parade field. It will feature speakers such as Ray Scrump, who is a former prisoner of war, and Jim Hollister of Rolling under. Sunday, Nov. 12 From 1 to 3 p.m., ASOM will host a discussion and book signing with Mark Bowden. Bowden is best known for "Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War." He will discuss his latest book, "Hue 1968: A Turning Point of the American War in Vietnam." Several other events will take place throughout the entirety of Heroes Homecoming. is includes exhibits at both the Hope Mills and Cumberland County Public Libraries, a Vietnam War display at the Visitors Center at the North Carolina Veterans Park, and an exhibit called "Hugh's Crate" at Mu- seum of the Cape Fear. According to Meroski, FACVB has also set forth a Missing Man Table Initiative, with more than 200 businesses and organizations pledged to participate. e Missing Man Tables will honor those missing in action or who were prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. "When I say Heroes Homecoming, brought to you by the communities of Cumberland County, it really is," said Meroski. "It goes to show when you have an overarching, pure, good deed, people are going to rally around it." All Heroes Homecoming events are free and open to the public. Visit www.heroeshomecoming.com to learn more. Heroes Homecoming: Honoring America's veterans by LAUREN VANDERVEEN COVER STORY LAUREN VANDERVEEN, Contributing Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com. (910) 484-6200. Heroes Homecoming honors all of America's veterans. This year celebrates Vietnam War veterans and their sacrifice with events like The Moving Wall, a tribute to Bob Hope, book signings, parades, ceremonies and a communitywide Missing Man Table initiative. Center photo features WWII veteran Pfc. Fred "Paul" Dallas (left) and Grilley Mitchell of the Hope Mills Veterans Advisory Commission (right).