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"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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 EVENT ORGANIZED by

Gene Vance Jr. Foundation 

HELPLINE U.S.A 1.828.287.3239 

care@genevancejr.org

MAIL P.O. Box 912 Rutherfordton, NC 28139

Learn more at

 OPERATION TOTAL RESTORATION 

 AN ALL VOLUNTEER HUMANITARIAN  EFFORT TO HELP THE CATASTROPHICALLY INJURED

This site is created and sponsored by MIKE M INC. GLOBAL BRAND DEVELOPMENT U.S.A. ©2018 The Gene Vance Jr. Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 

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