Credit: GI Joe’s Living History Museum and Military Veterans Worldwide. https://www.salute-gijoes.org/museum/

SALUTE, the non-profit organization that runs the GI Joe Living History Museum and the Walk of Honor, began with an idea. The idea was to honor the veterans of Lenoir County for their sacrifices in defending the freedoms of America’s people. Ted Sampley and Mary Beth Dawson, a veteran and dance instructor respectively, got the idea from a SALUTE show in Washington D.C. in 2000. Sampley and Dawson brought the idea back to Kinston after many positive reviews of the show.

Since then, SALUTE has honored the veterans of Lenoir County, including World War II veterans, Purple Heart recipients, and over 4,000 reservists among others. This year’s theme for Veterans Week, which honors all local veterans, is “Our Oath Has Never Expired.”

Those who want to connect with local veterans and visit the museum housing collections from the American Revolution to the present may visit the museum Tuesday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum is located at 1165 Hwy 55/11 in Kinston. The Walk of Honor is in downtown Kinston next to the Farmers Market on the corner of Herritage and King Streets.

The Walk of Honor Memorial is open year-round and pays tribute to Lenoir County veterans from the American Revolution through the present. Bricks in the walk contain information about individual veterans including dates of service and conflict.

With the addition of the Space Force to America’s military, an additional flag and flag pole will be added to this site to include this new branch of service.

For more information, visit the GI Joe Living History Museum site at https://www.salute-gijoes.org/.

Veterans Events Around Lenior

Veterans Week Events

All events are free and open to the public. Contact Carol Cantu at 252-560-0590 for more information.

Friday, November 3, 7:00 p.m. - Tar River Community Concert. American Legion Hall, 300 N McLewean St, Kinston.

Saturday, November 4, 2023, 10:30 a.m. - Brick Dedication Ceremony. Walk of Honor, on the corner of Herritage and King Streets.

Tuesday, November 7 through 11, 2023, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Honoring Our Military Art Displays. Community Council for the Arts. 400 N Queen St, Kinston.

Wednesday, November 8, 2023, Veterans Breakfast by the Georgia K. Battle Friendship Club. Georgia K. Battle Center, 401 Lincoln St, Kinston. (Veterans Only Event)

Wednesday, November 8, 2023, 5:30 p.m. - “Heart of a Nation” Movie Presentation. Neuse Regional Library, 510 N. Queen St, Kinston.

Friday, November 10, 2023, 11 a.m. - Honoring Our Veterans-Students. Lenoir Community College-Administration Auditorium. 231 North Carolina Hwy 58, Kinston.

Saturday, November 11, 2023, 11 a.m. - Veterans Parade. North Carolina Veterans Home. 2150 Hull Road, Kinston.

Saturday, November 11, 2023, 7 p.m. - SALUTE Tribute Show. Kinston Performing Arts Center, Kinston High School, 2601 N. Queen Street.

The list of events and updates are available on the GI Joe Living History Museum Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/gijoesmilitarymuseum/events/.