With February here, we start planning our Veterans Outreach Event Days. On Friday Feb. 13, the Veterans Community Outreach Center will be open from 9 a.m. till 3 p.m. The Veterans Benefit Administration from Fayetteville will be on site from 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. to answer questions and assist with benefits. We will have refreshments available for our veterans.
Veterans can come talk with the representatives from VBA or just come and fellowship with other veterans. They can watch a movie and have a snack or two. Depending on participation this event may be monthly or bimonthly.
This is the first of our Veterans Outreach events and hope to have many more.
We will be having a Veterans Stand Down on Saturday March 28 from 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. With this event we have invited several organization for a representative to be present or have information on site, such as: the Veterans Benefit Administration, McMullen House for Heroes, Nicole Hopkins, LCMHC at the Pasture, Oak Island Elks Lodge, Wreaths Across America, Honor Flight, Honor and Valor Foundation, Patriots Heroes and Horses, Cape Fear Life Care, The Wall That Heals-In Memory Program, Columbus County VSO, and Rep. Brenden Jones. And we hope others that have been invited will attend. We are looking forward to each of these representatives bring valuable information to our veterans and their families.
This time last year we were in full speed ahead mode for The Wall That Heals arrival. The Wall That Heals is an emotional sight to see, to honor, remember, and heal for the men and women that gave the ultimate sacrifice.
The In Memory Program they offer is a great tribute to the ones that came home from Vietnam and have passed since. Families can submit an application, picture and DD214 to this program for free.
The families are then invited to Washington, D.C. in June of each year to a ceremony to honor the inductees. The families are recognized and recognized in the ceremony.
Their participation includes reading the name of their loved one. This is an emotional, heartfelt ceremony.
Last year we had 26 Veterans honored from Columbus County. The application deadline is March 29. Families can apply online at www.vvmf.org/In-Memory-Program or we have applications at the Veterans Community Outreach Center. So far out of the 10 that have been nominated from North Carolina, two are from Columbus County.
The Wall That Heals also offers the Vietnam Veterans Registry were veterans can preserve their legacy, upload and share stories, connect with others who served during the Vietnam Era, and connect with those names that are on The Wall and in the In Memory Program.
The Veterans Memorial Park of America is located at 6354 James B. White Hwy S., Whiteville. Everyone with the Park is excited about being able to bring these services to our veterans. This will assist with travel times, because it is here in our community.
These events can get the healing that some need to move forward.
