May 10, 2010
UAW Veterans Celebrate and Honor Memorial Day
No Greater love hath man than to lay down his life for a friend.
UAW Local 2069 Veterans Committee cordially invites you and your guests to attend the 19th Annual UAW Veterans Ride for Freedom Memorial Ceremony/Run to the Wall.
On Saturday, May 29th, at 8:00 a.m., the front lawn of the union hall of UAW Local 2069 (across from the Volvo Truck Plant) will be filled with veterans from all eras and hundreds of patriots from all over the New River Valley. The Ride for Freedom Ceremony includes posting of the colors, live music, Amazing Grace on bag pipes, taps and a 21-gun salute to those who gave the greatest measure of sacrifice--their life, for the principles of Freedom, God and Country.
The ceremony is as important as the Ride for Freedom/Run to the Wall, as it’s here we get to share with the community our support for our military, our veterans, as well as pay homage and reverence for those who gave the supreme sacrifice.
Keynote speakers in this year's ceremony will be, Mrs. Sharon Plichta, a Vietnam veteran from Galax, who served our country in the 71st Evac Hospital in Pleiku from 1966 to 1970. The 71st Evac was situated in a very active and hostile area and were frequently the object of enemy attacks. During the period of November 3-24 1967, the hospital experienced one of its most demanding tests as a mass casualty situation existed as a result of battles at Dak To. There were over 1600 admissions and 1359 patients were evacuated. During the Tet Offensive in 1968, the 71st received 1670 casualties from Dak To, Kontum and Hue. Mrs. Plichta will have a powerful testimony as she shares some of her experiences as nurse during Vietnam. Over 265,000 women served during the Vietnam War, all of them volunteers. Over 10,000 served in combat with their brother soldiers. We look forward and are privileged to having this great American hero share the morning with us and set the tone for the Memorial Day weekend.
Also speaking, is a fine example of the "America's Greatest Generation", Mr. William "Bunk" Austin of Radford Va. Mr. Austin served our country from 1943-1946 in the Pacific Theater of WWII. Involved in the invasion of Tinian Island, "Bunk" served with the 4th Marine Division/18th Defense Battalion. Bunk was part of the security measure on Tinian Island where the Enola Gay was kept secret. Still thriving and loving life like a Marine, at 86 years old, Bunk loves to spend his time speaking to area school children inspiring others and often gives lectures at the New River Community Collage history classes. We're very proud and honored to have both our speakers and welcome them into the UAW Veterans Ride for Freedom Family.
The Veterans Committee also recognizes Memorial Day as we also host the Ride for Freedom/ Run to the Wall. This is the annual ride to our nation's capital after the ceremony. We're proud to host 200 + strong from the NRV and area states who will participate with over 700,000 other patriots in the national POW*MIA Rally, Rolling Thunder XXIII®, and pay our respects and remembrance at the sacred grounds of our country's war memorials. It’s an exciting weekend, but not one without honor, reverence and respect to those who laid down their life for the freedoms we all enjoy here in the greatest country in the world.
Over the many years, we have had the opportunity to share special memories and bring many of our citizens together to honor our American service men and women who gave their all. We, too, feel veterans are our greatest citizens and provide us the freedom to assemble on this grand morning, as they provide all our freedoms. This responsibility we do not take lightly. We take great pride and we're humbled to have another opportunity to share this wonderful morning with the NRV and hope you will also take the moment to experience the UAW Veterans Ride for Freedom Memorial Ceremony and Run to the Wall.
The one hour ceremony will be on Saturday, May 29th, at 8 a.m. sharp, rain or shine. The Ride for Freedom/Run to the Wall will depart the union hall at 9:30a.m. sharp.
So Proudly, We Still Serve.
Mark C. Peterson
Chairman, UAW Local 2069
Veterans Committee |
