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'A Soldier's Christmas' Fun Run set Nov. 7PALESTINE, Oct 29, 2009 (Palestine Herald-Press - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Several businesses and organizations are working together to sponsor AcaeA"A SoldierAcaea"cs Christmas Fun RunAcae on Nov. 7 as part of an early Veterans Day celebration at Dogwood Trails Assisted Living and Memory Care. Dogwood Trails Assisted Living and Memory Care, Vietnam Veterans of America No. 991, Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America No. 991, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 63, DAVA Unit 63, American Legion Post 85, Crown Home Health Care, Guardian Angel DME and H & W Honda are sponsoring the Fun Run to raise money for the VVA's Adopt a Unit program. The VVA and AVVA adopted a medical unit from Fort Hood serving in Iraq. This unit will be coming home in December. AcaeA"We sent approximately 60 packages in two months, thanks to Anderson and surrounding counties!Acae said Debbie Wesson with the Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America No. 991. AcaeA"After the first of the year, we have some local boys being deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan and we have already started collecting for them.Acae It is vital that the troops know there are people that care about them, Wesson said. AcaeA"They need to know we appreciate all they are doing. They need to know we care about what they are doing and what they are going through. They need to know we will not forget them AcaeEoeover thereAcaea"c and we want them home safe after they finish the job they are sent to do,Acae Wesson said. AcaeA"We are with them in thoughts always and they need to know this.Acae Registration for the Fun Run begins at 8 a.m. Nov. 7. Registration is $15 for the driver and $5 for passengers. Free barbecue will be available for all registered riders. First bike/car out will be at 9 a.m. and last bike in will be at 2 p.m. Trophies will be awarded. Maps for the 82-mile country ride will be given at registration. During the Fun Run, lots of activities will take place at Dogwood Trails Assisted Living for the early Veterans Day celebration. The VVA Color Guard will post the colors at 8:30 a.m. Yesteryear, with Jim Orr and Cecil Crutcher, will perform at 10 a.m. The Nasa Bay Young Marines from Houston will visit at 11 a.m. AcaeA"I encourage all to come meet these young people at 11 a.m.,Acae Wesson said. The Young Marines is a youth education and service program for boys and girls, ages 8 through high school. The only requirement for membership is that the youth must be in good standing at school and not be in trouble with the law. The program educates and inspires the youth within communities by promoting a healthy and drug-free lifestyle through educational and adventurous activities. At 1 p.m., the Palestine Rangers will present an old west show. The East Texas Ramblers, a singing group, will perform at 2 p.m. There will be a silent auction sponsored by the DAV and DAVA with door prizes given away throughout the day, plus a 50/50 drawing. Grimes Sewing Center has donated material for a quilt called AcaeA"Our Colours.Acae The quilt was pieced by Marilyn Tippen, and quilted by June Williams, to be given away in a drawing. AcaeA"The DAV asks all who attends to bring a picnic basket, chairs or blankets and come out and enjoy the day as we celebrate and honor all veterans,Acae Wesson said. Barbecue, cooked by Glenn Conner from Guardian Angel DME, will be available for purchase as well. Winners of the auction, 50/50 drawing and other drawings will be announced at 3 p.m. Winners must be present to win. AcaeA"When you think of all the sacrifices, lives forever changed by things veterans have seen and lost, and all for a country who sometimes did not appreciate, but most did appreciate Acae" when you stop and think of the freedom we do enjoy, all because of a veteran and future veterans, all Americans should celebrate veterans of every horrible war,Acae Wesson said. In addition, the Palestine Resource Center for Independent Living will hold a Cell Phones for Soldiers Cell Phone Collection Drive at the celebration. Cell Phones for Soldiers hopes to collect over 50,000 cell phones to help keep troops connected with their families. The goal is to provide every U.S. soldier with a way to call home for free. The phones are sent to ReCellular and recycled for cash. ReCellular pays Cell Phones for Soldiers enough for each donated phone to provide an hour of talk time for our soldiers serving in the Middle East. Dogwood Trails Assisted Living is located at 1625 W. Spring St. For more information about the early Veterans Day celebration, call Wesson at 903 723-0040 or 903-729-2615 or e-mail [email protected] To see more of the Palestine Herald-Press, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.palestineherald.com/. Copyright (c) 2009, Palestine Herald-Press, Texas Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |