GIG LINE
By Marsha M. Brown
Well folks, elections are over and congratulations are in order…but not just to the candidates who won…but rather to the Americans who silently and privately let their voice be heard across the land. To the candidates who weren’t elected, thank you for the interest you had in seeking to serve and for the service you may have already provided our towns, counties and states in the past; thank you for the time you put into seeking an office or position on behalf of our families and for the hope you had for the future; and thank you mostly to the folks who hold the privilege of voting as dear and precious who took the time to stand in line and touch that screen or mark in ‘your’ choice. Those who have fought and given their lives for our right to do so as Americans I feel sure would also thank you.
You know what? There’s something in the air…something different lately. Its like faith is re-building…hope is re-energized and an eagerness to sustain and re-vitalize our core beliefs seem prevalent. Maybe it’s all the bad things that have come against us lately that have made us really sick of it as a nation. But whatever it is, being more engaged, interested and conscience of protecting what we have, what we’re about and the principles we stand upon…well, like many I’m all for it.
This is my favorite time of year…the fall and the very, very special time of celebration of our heroes on Veteran’s Day. It’s a period of remembrance, honor and celebration. It’s about flag waving and applause and looking up into the eyes of veterans even when you’re taller than they are and it’s a place in time when we show how much we cherish the sacrifices of all who have served. And this year folks, there is more going on in Dare County for our vets than I can ever remember! Please make plans to join fellow veterans & family members at the following events:
Saturday, Nov. 8 @ 7pm (Manteo) Program/original drama ‘SALUTE TO VETERANS, Manteo First Assembly, 812 Wingina St. (across from Outer Banks Hotline) Manteo
Sunday, Nov. 9 @ 2pm (Nags Head) Candle Lighting to Honor, Remember and Care, St. Andrews By the Sea, 4212 S. Virginia Dare Trail
Monday, Nov. 10
- Marine Corp Birthday Luncheon @ 12 Noon, $17.50 per person The Currituck Club, 620 Currituck Club Drive, Corolla R.S.V.P. required (252) 564-9225
- Veterans Day Celebration and free lunch 1:00 pm, Dare County Center, 950 Marshall C. Collins Dr., Manteo (space is limited, R.S.V.P. @ 475-9270);
Tuesday, Veterans Day, Nov. 11 – Memorial Services:
- Nags Head @ 11:00 am Town of Nags Head (at flag pole), 5401 S. Croatan Hwy.
- Downtown Manteo (Old Courthouse @ 11:30 am, Dare County Veterans Memorial, 300 Queen Elizabeth Avenue;
- Kill Devil Hills @ 12:30 pm Town of Kill Devil Hills, Veterans Monument Drive
- Southern Shores @ 11:00 am Southern Shores Veterans Garden Town Hall flag pole pavilion, directly in front of the Town Hall, 5375 N. Virginia Dare Trail
- Columbia/Tyrrell County @ 11:00 am Madge L. VanHorne Auditorium for the Veterans Day Celebration hosted by the Scuppernong American Legion Post 182. The Legion invites veterans from all service branches and eras as well as all family members and friends of veterans to come. It will be my pleasure and honor to speak at the event that morning and I look forward to seeing all of you! J
Additional special events beyond Veteran’s Day…
Friday, Nov. 14
Manteo: Nu Blu Concert @ 7pm, Waterside Theatre, (Sound Stage) 1409 National Park Dr., tickets $18 at the door, $12 in advance – preferred seating Gold Circle available @ $30 – proceeds support veterans programs including the Veterans Writing Program. To purchase tickets to see this popular bluegrass band, please call: (252) 473-5558;
Saturday & Sunday, Nov. 15 & 16
Skyco: Writer’s Workshop for Veterans 9:00 am to 5:00 pm @ U.N.C. Coastal Studies Institute, 850 N. Carolina 345, Skyco, N.C. 27981 (sound front). All veterans of any era are invited to attend this second year outstanding event. For further info and registration, please contact Chris Sawin: info@darearts or register online at http://www.obxvwp.org or call: (252) 473-5558.
Note: If anyone has a public event that is not recognized in this list, please understand it was not intentional. All events that honor our veterans are appreciated and should be clearly acknowledged but I have to know about them in advance in order to include them in GIG LINE. J
The holidays are coming fast and guess what? Our local American Legion Auxiliary Post #26 is offering a great opportunity to everyone interested in helping our vets and decorating their door for Christmas! How? They’re current fundraiser offers a fresh green “20-22 Inch Deluxe Wreath w/ Pine Cones, Red Berries and Red Outdoor Bow” for $25 of which $10 will be donated back to the Auxiliary…yippee! (a box for shipping it elsewhere is an additional $6 charge). At the time of order, checks should be made payable to: American Legion Aux. Post 26. But…HURRY… the deadline to order is November 12th. Wreaths will be available to the American Legion Post on December 2, 2014. Their address is: 302 W. Lake Dr., Kill Devil Hills, N.C. 27948 (behind T-Tops west side by-pass).
OK folks, we’ve got a lot going on with places to go and important people to see…veterans, veterans and more veterans! And I can’t wait! (I think I’m a veteran groupie because I love them all!)
Until next time, be happy, be safe and be proud and please invite the veterans you know to a special event that will honor them…take them out for lunch…or just spend time with them! If you have your Dare County Veteran I. D. Card use it for business discounts and check with area restaurants for discounts or a meal they may offer at no charge in honor of your service…its YOUR day ladies and gentlemen…let YOUR light shine.
God bless you all, have a wonderful Veteran’s Day weekend and week beyond and call us if we can be of help (252) 202-2058. Hug each other and look up and smile…because there’s no doubt there’s a lot of veterans looking down on you and smiling back! Stay tuned.