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to be “The Place to Be” for the 15-20 thousand
patriots who attend the parade, this FREE
EVENT —“Parade to the Park” boasts Live Music
from the 82d Airborne Rock Band and another
local band to be announced, a Harley Davidson
led Vintage Car & Bike Show, a Beer Garden, a
Food Truck Rodeo, a Kids Zone that will impress
the toughest critics, the USO Mobile Unit, K2
Solutions Pet-A-Pup, Team Rubicon, Mission
22, local Veteran Support Organizations,
the American Legion Riders and our local
community small business and elected leaders.
The 2019 Sandhills Vet Fest will culminate
Monday, 11/11/11 with the Pinehurst Official
Observance, to be held this year because of the
immense number of patriots that it draws at
Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pinehurst.
So, why do we celebrate Veterans Day? The
United States inescapably entered the Great War
known today as WWI in April of 1917, joining the
Allied Forces made up of the Russians, French,
and the British which were fighting the Central
Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary. This
war involved tens of millions of people from
across the globe, four million of which came
from the United States. Many young American
patriots from the Sandhills of North Carolina
answered this call to duty without hesitation,
and many made incredible sacrifices for the
good of their nation. Nineteen months later,
on 11 November 1918, at 11:00AM in Paris, an
historic event took place that would cease the
fighting. The signing of the Armistice signified,
and to this day commemorates the end of
WWI. It was on this day that the Central Powers
surrendered to the Allies, officially ending the
war. Since the signing of the Armistice in 1918,
there have only been a handful of Armistice or
Veterans Day celebrations in Southern Pines.
The very first parade took place in 1921, and
the last known parade took place in 1941, when
1,200 members of the 209th Coast Artillery along
with their band, marched through Southern
Pines. After the parade the soldiers were given
two hours of leave, which they spent shopping
in the downtown area.
In 2012, at the request of town and local
veteran leaders, the Southern Pines Veterans
Parade was rekindled. A small team of highly
motivated and extremely dedicated veterans led
the charge, and in 67 days, the Town of Southern
Pines had its first Veterans Parade in 71 years.
The late David Woodruff, a son of Southern
Pines and a renowned local historian, wrote,
“with 12% of Moore County’s population being
military veterans, there is no doubt they are
welcome here. In most circles today, Southern
Pines is known as a military town.” David
Woodruff in unison with a few key members,
John Boesch, Gene Maples, Gary Marlar, and
Randy Craven were instrumental in vision,
growth, and evolution of what is known today
as the Sandhills Vet Fest and the Southern Pines
Veterans Parade.
On 9 November 2019, beginning at 09:30AM,
we will be commemorating the 7th Annual
Southern Pines Veterans Parade. We take great
pride in bringing our mission statement to life,
“Support Our Troops and Honor Our Veterans,”
and fulfilling our motto, “For Veterans, By
Veterans.”
The Sandhills Veteran Festival and the
Southern Pines Veterans Parade are a very
planning, labor, and financially intensive
undertaking, and we would like to take this
moment to thank our tremendous veterans,
sponsors and selfless volunteers, for without
that winning combination, there would not be
a Southern Pines Veterans Parade or a Sandhills
Vet Fest.. ☐
Southern Pines first Veteran's Day Parade in 1921.
The late Mr. David Woodruff of Southern Pines.
THE VET FEST 2019 SCHEDULE:
• Saturday, 2 Nov., 11AM, Moore County
Veteran’s Memorial Observance, Carthage.
• Saturday, 9 Nov., 9:30AM to 11AM,
Southern Pines Veteran’s Parade, Sou. Pines.
• 11:30AM to 2PM, Parade to the Park,
Sou. Pines Downtown Park.
• Sunday, 10 Nov., 10AM to 2PM, SF Assoc.
5K & Chili Cook Off, Sou. Pines.
• 2PM, “Field of Honor” Flag Dedication at
West End Fire Dept.
• 1PM to 7PM, Blue-Vass Music Festival &
Car Show, Vass-Lakeview Elementary.
• Monday, 11 November, 11AM, Pinehurst
Observance at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
p.28 The Pinehurst Gazette, Inc. No. 136
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