Special Events for Vietnam-Era Veterans

On March 30, 2018 at the Coffee County Fairgrounds a Vietnam-era Veterans Honors Day and Fair will take place. This event is free and open to the public.
Local veteran’s groups want to educate the public, honor the Vietnam-era Veterans and their families, both living and deceased and to entertain all who attend.
Speaking and demonstration events will start around noon. The Ultimate Oldies will be performing at about 1:30 followed by the WannaBeatles (a Beatles shadow group).
Also, on display, will be the “Toy Soldier Project”. Back in May the VFW began to ask the public to help collect 58,479 toy soldiers. One toy soldier for each veteran killed in the Vietnam war. They completed the collection back in November with the help of schools, churches, citizens, veterans and organizations. The dedication ceremony for this will be at a dinner event on March 28th at the Post 10904 building. The completed display will also be available for viewing at the Fairgrounds on the 30th.
Also, there will be displays of art from local schools as well as displays built or made on facts about the war. There will be a running DVD with the photo of every veteran killed in the Vietnam war from Tennessee. There will be special memorial displays to the veterans killed from Coffee County as well as Bedford, Franklin, Grundy, Marion, Rutherford, Sequatchie, and Warren Counties.
Tennessee Valley Health Care will be there to provide medical screenings, Veterans Administration claims processing and to provide health care information. Humana Medical will also be in attendance.
The Manchester Recreation Center partnered with the VFW back on January 1st. They sponsored a “Walk for the Fallen” where participants can register their miles walked in honor of the veterans killed in the Vietnam war. As with the Toy Soldier Project, their goal was to register 58,479 “laps.” The indoor track at the Recreation Center takes 12 laps to equal one mile. So, anyone walking a mile would count for 12 laps.
The Fairgrounds will be open early on March 30th for anyone wanting to participate. They can walk in honor of a veteran, for a school, church or organization, or for themselves. The laps walked there will be added to the total they accumulated at the Recreation Center. Amanda Morton, events director at the Rec Center, will announce the total laps accumulated, as well as the miles, at the Fairgrounds event.
There will be food and t-shirts for sale along with craft vendors and more. The event is free, and they encourage everyone to come out.
More information on veteran’s events go to vfwpost10904.com