If my calculations are correct, this year marks the 20th anniversary of the Salute! tribute to American veterans. The first column I wrote about this celebration of American service personnel appeared on Nov. 11, 2002. The context makes clear that the 2002 celebration was not the first.

Although Salute! has been observed for two decades, the purpose has remained the same: honor and celebrate the citizens of this nation who were willing to put their lives on hold to serve in the U.S. armed services.

“For many veterans, our nation was important enough to endure long separations from their families, miss the births of their children, freeze in sub-zero temperature, bake in wild jungles, lose limbs, and, far too often, lose their lives,” said Eric Cantu, a Vietnam veteran serving as chair of the Salute! board of directors.

“Military spouses have had to endure career interruptions, frequent changes of address, and a disproportionate share of parental responsibilities. The children often had to endure changes in schools, separation from friends, and, hardest of all, the uncertainty of whether or not Mom or Dad will live through their next combat tour,” Cantu added.

Salute! festivities will begin at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 5, with a brick dedication at the Walk of Honor, located in Tiffany West Park on Herritage Street. Following the brick dedication, Sgt. White and the Kinston High School ROTC will perform the ceremony for retiring and disposing of worn United States flags.

At 7:00 p.m. Friday, the Tar River Community Band will perform a musical concert at the American Legion Post 43 on McLewean Street. The event is open to the public. Light refreshments will be available.

The festivities will continue at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 6, with a Veterans Parade at the VA Home on Hull Road. Due to COVID and the need to exercise precautions for the veterans at the VA Home, organizers request the public not attend this year’s parade.

The final event for this year’s Salute! weekend will take place in the rear of the Vernon Park Mall. Weather permitting, at 7 p.m. attendees can watch a collection of clips from previous Salute! shows. This make-shift film will be drive-in movie style. Stay in your car or bring a chair. The choice is yours. Salute! organizers are not charging an admission fee.

On Tuesday, Nov. 9, Salute! invites veterans to a Drive-thru Fair from 10 a.m. through 1 p.m. at Lenoir Community College. Veterans may drive thru to receive resource material from local veteran supporters.

On Wednesday, Nov. 10, the Georgia K. Battle Friendship Club will host a Veterans Luncheon Drive-thru at the Farmers Market parking lot. From 11 a.m. through 2 p.m., veterans may pick up a free bagged lunch. Please remain in your vehicle and allow the hosts to serve you.

The Salute! observance for veterans began in 2000 when Ted Sampley and Mary Beth Dawson planned and presented the first event at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. The following year, they moved the Salute! celebration to Kinston.

Veterans comprise a sizable percentage of the population of our county. According to the Kinston office of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 4,125 – or 9.3 percent – of the county's total population are veterans. Veterans in the City of Kinston represent an equivalent percentage of the city's population – 9.1 percent. The number of Kinston veterans totals 1,467.

This year marks an additional claim to fame since 2021 is the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC. Officials interred the first unknown veteran in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Nov. 11, 1921.

Please make your plans to attend as many of these events as you can. We need to show our veterans and their families just how much we appreciate their service.

Mike Parker is a columnist for the Neuse News. You can reach him at mparker16@gmail.com.