Fall Festival To Honor Veterans

Oct. 30--All local military veterans are heroes deserving of everyone's respect, said one official.

The sacrifices of area U.S. military veterans and their families will be honored during the Regional Veterans Day Parade and Fall Festival, which will be from noon to 5 p.m.Nov. 8 in the Chaffee Crossing Historic District, 7313 Terry St., said Ivy Owen, executive director of the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority.

The event will feature more than 20 floats, 43 vehicles and more than 320 walkers in the parade at noon, which will be followed by numerous activities such as live music, food, beverages, health screenings, information booths, helicopter rides, Photo-with-a-Veteran sessions, street car trolley rides, a children's area, mechanical bull rides and more, he said.

"We have a lot of fun things on the schedule that will please the crowds, but this honors the veterans," Owen said. "All of the honor we have in us that day is for the veterans, and that is where it should be. All of this is done for the veterans and the service they have provided for this country."

Following the parade, the Veteran Honors Ceremony will feature a flag presentation, the National Anthem, prayer and performances by the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Drum Line and Christ the King Choir, said Lorie Robertson, CCRA director of marketing.

"Three-star Gen. George Crocker, one of our grand marshals, will present the Knowlton Award to J.W. Taylor," she said. "Mr. Taylor is a World War II veteran and former POW. It's a high-level award for his service with the CIA."

Another grand marshal will be Dr. Marlin Hoge, who was a surgeon in Fort Smith for years and celebrated his 100th birthday Oct. 17, Robertson said.

"Mr. Hoge is a World War II veteran who said he was one of the first local people to leave and one of the first people to return home," she said. "It's great to have him with us."

The Fall Festival will include veterans services information booths and the administration of 250 free flu shots; the first 50 shots will be reserved for veterans. Shots will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis, while screenings for blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, BMI and more also will be offered.

Helicopter rides will be available from 11 a.m. to noon and from 1:30-5 p.m., with each ride costing $25 per person, Owen said. Food will include hamburgers, hot dogs, barbecue, chili, roasted corn, funnel cakes, popcorn, caramel apples and soft drinks and beer, he said.

"Members of the River Valley Ale Raisers will be hosting beer-making demonstrations and tasting," Owen said.

Proceeds from the event will go to benefit the Chaffee Crossing Historic Preservation Organization and local veteran organizations, Robertson said.

"We'll have Bingo, and if those who play Bingo can bring canned goods and slightly used blankets, coats, hats, socks and hand-warmers to us, that will be great," she said. "We want to donate those to local veteran support groups, particularly for homeless veterans. It's not a requirement to donate those, but it would be great if people could donate those to us."

Owen said he anticipates the Fall Festival portion, like the Veterans Parade, to become an annual event.

"This is to show honor to the lives of the veterans who were lost and to the ones who are still with us but don't get the respect they deserve," he said. "We have worked hard to make sure people come out and enjoy this in honor of our veterans."

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