For The Catastrophically Injured
15th Year of Volunteer Service to Community
OPERATION TOTAL RESTORATION
"The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten."
Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of The United States of America
7th Gene Vance Jr. Day 2018
Honoring the legacy of American soldiers who returned home from
the longest ongoing war in US history, remembering the fallen and supporting the wounded
OFFICIAL OBSERVANCE
Armed Forces Day, Saturday May 19, 2018
Monongalia County Courthouse Plaza, Historic Square
243 High St, Morgantown, WV 26505
***In the event of rain the ceremony will be held in City Council Chambers***
389 Spruce St. Morgantown, WV 26501
All residents and visitors to Morgantown are invited to join us on
The Square to show their support and respect for the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform.
These sacrifices afford us the freedom we cherish as Americans on this day,
in this great land, and that those men and women never be forgotten.
LIVE Music on The Square starts 10:00 AM
**FEATURED MUSICIANS**
Eric Lewis
The Others - Jon Smithers and Nick Larson
11:00 AM CEREMONY
The ceremony will be held in the Plaza
**In the event of rain the ceremony will be held in City Council Chambers**
389 Spruce St. Morgantown, WV 26501
Welcome
Master of Ceremonies Command Sergeant Major Dennis Riggs
Command Sergeant Major 2nd Battalion 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Posting of Colors
West Virginia Army National Guard
The National Anthem
Sung by United States Army Staff Sergeant Samantha A. Wolfe
West Virginia Army National Guard
Prayer
Pastor Shelly Barrick Parsons
Reading of “The City of Morgantown Annual Gene Vance Jr. Day PROCLAMATION”
The Honorable Bill Kawecki
Mayor, City of Morgantown
Reading of “The State of West Virginia CITATION”
Delegate Barbara Evans Fleischauer - WV House of Delegates
State Tributes and Greetings
Senator Joe Manchin III
Regional Coordinator Justin S. Ray
Senator Shelly Moore Capito
Representative Heather Lile
Governor Jim Justice
Thom Kirk, Deputy Secretary of Military Affairs and Public Safety
Congressman David McKinley
District Director Rod Rogers
President E. Gordon Gee - West Virginia University
Steve Riffon, Interim Director of WVU Veteran's Affairs
State Command Sergeant Major Phillip R. Cantrell
West Virginia Army National Guard
CEREMONY
Reading of “Names of the WV Fallen"
Read by Command Sergeant Major Dennis Riggs
Command Sergeant Major 2nd Battalion 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Wreaths will be placed in Tribute to the Fallen
Laying of Wreath I
City of Morgantown - Mayor Bill Kawecki
Special Guest Greg Carden
DAR Gold Star Presentation and Laying of Wreath II
National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR)
Jane Larke, WVDAR State Organizing Secretary and Joan R. Gibson, Woodburn Chapter Regent
Laying of Wreath III
National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR)
Elizabeth Ludington Hagans - Col. John Evans Chapter
Susan Arnold, Regent
Laying of Wreath IV
National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR)
Colonel Zackquill Morgan Chapter
Rebecca Davis, Regent
Special Guests
The West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety (DMAPS)
Thom Kirk, Deputy Secretary of Military Affairs and Public Safety
West Virginia University Office of Veteran Affairs
Interim Director Steve Riffon, CAPT USAF (Ret.)
The Gene Vance Jr. Foundation
Michael M.J. Minc, Founder and Chairman
HONOR GUARDS
West Virginia Army National Guard
Morgantown Police Dept.
Morgantown Fire Department
Flag Line
West Virginia Patriot Guard
Official Photograph
12.00 PM CYCLE RIDERS GATHER
Monongalia County Courthouse Plaza, Historic Square
243 High St, Morgantown, WV 26505
ALL SKILL LEVELS! ALL AGES WELCOME
Morgantown to Masontown 26 mile Round trip
Helmet is required. Bring water and a snack.
An informal gathering to pay Tribute
To The Fallen, Support the Wounded
And Honor ALL Defenders fighting
America’s Longest Ongoing War in History
Ride to the Memorial in Masontown for a Candle lighting and Moment of silence.
CONTACT Shane - Shane.leiggi@gmail.com
All Ages Welcomed. PUBLIC/MEDIA EVENT
Subject to Change
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