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: https://www.epageflip.net/i/125344
Days of Glory Round Up by STEPHANIE CRIDER This community knows first hand what it means when a news anchor announces Locals hear all the time about the impact that the Army has on the greater that an IED exploded overseas or that a plane or helicopter went down or that there Fayetteville area. The installation has been a part of the local landscape since 1918 was a training accident. Scattered throughout the community are kids sitting in when Camp Bragg (named for the Confederate general and North Carolina native classrooms, playing sports, taking music lessons, playing video General Braxton Bragg) was established as a field-artillery games and riding their bikes with Gold-Star kids. Husbands training area. Today, more than 55,000 soldiers are stationed and wives throughout the Sandhills are singing in choirs, at Fort Bragg and according to the post more than 60 percent volunteering and sharing offices with the widows and widowers of them live in the communities surrounding the post. That of the fallen and the husbands and wives of the wounded. equates to about 35,000 soldiers, many of them with families, Business owners are reaching out to wounded warriors in interacting and making a direct impact on businesses, schools transition. Organizations throughout the community are and other institutions in the area. In addition, about 25,000 providing resources and service to military members and military family members live on post and presumably spend families making hard transitions and tough decisions. time and money in the communities surrounding Fort Bragg. How do you say thanks for that? How do you say thanks for In dollars, Fort Bragg estimates that in 2011 the installation knowing that every one of the 55,000 plus service members on had an impact of more than $12.9 billion on the communities Fort Bragg is willing to make these same sacrifices if the time surrounding the installation. Globalsecurity.org estimates that comes and for the generations who have served our country Fort Bragg and Pope Army Airfield generate about $2 billion in The Field of Honor is just one way that retail sales for Cumberland County. Local industry has credited Cumberland County honors the military each May. honorably and made sacrifices of their own? While showing gratitude is something people do in personal Fort Bragg with shielding the local housing market from the big ways throughout the year, as a community it is an honor to show military men and drop in property values and the increase in foreclosures experienced recently in other women, past and present, how much the community appreciates them and their areas of the country. families. That is why each May Fayetteville/Cumberland County spends an entire month Perhaps the bigger impact is the people that Fort Bragg brings to the area. They celebrating and thanking soldiers, veterans and their families with a 31-Day Salute. come from all over the world with new ideas and outlooks and they bring with them One of the most stunning sights during the celebration is the Field of Honor. Each traditions and passions that they share with the people around them. Some stay for a year the public is invited to purchase an American flag to place in the field from May short time and then move on. Others stay and make the Sandhills their home. They all 12 to June 30. Every flag displays a large yellow ribbon identifying the honoree as well leave a mark on some level and their ideas and traditions are absorbed into the local culture and celebrated at festivals like the International Folk Festival, 4th Friday and the as the person or group doing the honoring. Flags cost $25 and can be purchased at Dogwood Festival. We pray with our military neighbors, celebrate holidays together and www.faydta.org. The month of May is filled with activities including special exhibitions and talks at local museums. Local music groups are performing forge lasting friendships. throughout the community, as well. Local businesses are offering The residents of Fayetteville and Cumberland County understand all too well the military discounts throughout the month, too. sacrifices that the military members and their families make on behalf of our country. Find out more about the 31 day salute Military members stationed in the area live in the communities that surround Fort STEPHANIE CRIDER, Editor. COMand the many events included in this Bragg, attend local churches, send their kids to area schools and shop and eat at local MENTS? Editor@upandcomincelebration at www.31daysalute.com. establishments. They volunteer, serve on boards and often leave their families here gweekly.com when duty calls. 2012-2013 Season Cumberland Oratorio Singers Low cost, hassle-free brand building that keeps your customers loyal! SONG OF DEMOCRACY with the Fayetteville Symphonic Band Thursday, May 2, 2013 • 7:30 P.M. Reeves Auditorium at Methodist University Tickets DW WKH GRRU VHDVRQ WLFNHW 6WXGHQWV RI DOO DJHV DGPLWWHG )5(( RI FKDUJH 9LVLW RXU ZHEVLWH DW ZZZVLQJZLWKFRVRUJ 6SRQVRUHG %\ (910) 307-0312 Louis Feraca President of US Logoworks 20 UCW MAY 1-7, 2013 www.uslogoworks.com 4200 Morganton Road Fayetteville, NC 28314 This project is supported by the Arts Council in part by contributions from businesses and individuals, and through grants from the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County and the North Carolina Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Cultural Resources. UP & COMING WEEKLY www.upandcomingweekly.com WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM