WOOSTER — Organizer Emily Harris said people can get involved in the annual Wooster Memorial Day event on Saturday in several ways, not the least of which is to attend to honor the veterans.
“This is our way to show our honor and respect for living and deceased members of the Wooster community who have served our country,” she said.
Harris said about 250 people are expected to attend the event, which will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Wooster City Park. The event is sponsored by the Roadrunners’ Extension Homemakers Club, to which Harris belongs.
“The organization has been in existence for 80 years,” she said. “It’s something they’ve been doing since time began.”
She said people are asked to participate in any of four ways:
- As part of the program by leading the audience in a prayer, pledge or song: “I still do have openings on the agenda,” Harris said.
Wooster Mayor Terry Don Robinson will provide the welcome, and Freddie Mark Wilcox, pastor of LifeSong Baptist Church in Greenbrier, will say a prayer.
Robinson said the event is important to the community.
“It honors the people who served and shows respect for the ones who passed on,” he said. “I know they really appreciate it, the ones who come. … You can tell it just brightens their day.
“Lots of people don’t give them the thanks they deserve.”
The Arkansas Army National Guard Governor’s Color Guard will present the flags, Harris said, and attendees will be led in the Pledge of Allegiance and in singing patriotic songs, she said.
- By providing a cash
donation, food or supplies to help with lunch: Harris said it is a tradition that members of the Roadrunners’ Extension Homemakers Club prepare lunch for attendees.
“I’ve got cadets from the Army National Youth Challenge program coming — it’s a second chance for kids who are struggling,” she said. “They came last year, and they do an excellent job. They do the manual labor for us, getting set up.”
Anyone is welcome to create a display that exhibits appreciation for veterans and/or any volunteer activity in the community.
Simply being present shows respect for the opportunity to honor the area’s veterans, living and deceased.
Harris said the club will present three Quilts of Valor. “That’s a nationwide program. I love it.”
She said the Roadrunners’ Club received a $1,000 grant from the Blue and You Foundation to support the program.
Each veteran who comes to the event will receive a ticket, and a random drawing will be held.
“There are three beautiful quilts,” she said. “They are red, white and blue, 100 percent cotton material.”
The quilts were made by about 25 women — members of the club and others. The group worked on the quilts at LifeSong Baptist Church, Harris said.
For more information, call (501) 733-2409 or email Emily@AR-AL.com.
Senior writer Tammy Keith can be reached at (501) 327-0370 or tkeith@arkansasonline.com.