Remembrance on the River will be held beginning Thursday and run through May 30.
It is an event which will be held at River Falls Park in Weldon and one which is sponsored by the North Carolina AMVETS Service Foundation and Bruce Tyler of Weldon Mills Distillery.
The goal of the event is to reflect, recognize and offer respect to the fallen members of the military and their families.
Tyler is a retired army veteran who served 27 years in the active army, reserves and North Carolina National Guard.
Commissioned as an MP and subsequently as a JAG officer, Tyler and his business partner Michael Hinderliter began making Soldier's Cut bourbon with a goal of raising funds for Gold Star Families. “This project is very important to Bruce, as his sister became a Gold Star widow after her husband and his Blackhawk crew were shot down in Afghanistan,” said Jean Reaves of AMVETS Post 101.
As part of the Memorial Day weekend commemorations, Tyler, a motorcyclist, will join the national Ride to Remember riders as they ride into Weldon Thursday. The AMVETS Riders are expected to arrive in Weldon around 11 Thursday morning.
Included at Remembrance on the River will be North Carolina Vietnam Traveling Wall which is owned by AMVETS Post 906 in Southport.
The War on Terrorism Memorial, which is based in Chesterfield, Virginia, will be on display as well as the North Carolina National Guard History and Static Display and the John Dixon Vietnam Historic Display.
The memorials and displays will be open Thursday through next Sunday and are free to the public.
Those attending are invited to participate in a living memorial — the field of flags. The memorial will be built throughout the weekend as visitors, with a small donation, place a flag to help the field grow. “Flags can be placed in honor of, or in memory of your buddy, your unit, your ship, your family member, or all veterans who served. It is your flag to place and identify as you wish.” At the end of the weekend the field of flags will be dismantled and taken to various veteran cemeteries to be placed on veteran graves for Memorial Day.
All funds from the field of flags will go directly to projects in support of Gold Star Families. This project will be targeting North Carolina Gold Star Families and assisting in paying off home mortgages.
Bikers headed to Washington as part of the annual Ride to Remember are expected to stop in Weldon.
The event is a volunteer and community project. For more information on making a donation or volunteering follow the link to the event’s website.
