Published: February 25, 2008 01:43 pm         

Young Marines helping out with Vietnam Veterans' reunion

The Cumberland County Young Marines are working with the Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Committee to make the Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Reunion 2008 a success. The Young Marines will be registering the Vietnam vets at the Cumberland County Complex March 29. They will also keep an updated roster at their registration booth for anyone that would like to check and see if there's a veteran attending they may know.

A schedule of the proposed activities for the two-day event are as follows:

7 a.m. — assembly

8 a.m. — colors

10 a.m. — parade begins. The parade will begin with vehicles at the complex joining up with the Young Marines across from Sister's Restaurant and anyone else that is registered to walk in the parade.

11 a.m. — Community Band performs, followed by the CCHS choir

Noon — opening ceremonies with invocation by Pastor Roger Paavolu; Pledge of Allegiance, guest speakers Lincoln Davis, Tennessee Congressman, and Donald Shanks, assistant national director of the Young Marines.

1 p.m. — Homeland choral group from Alabama will sing.

2 p.m. — Ron Dyer will be singing "Welcome Home" and "Thank You"

2:15 p.m. — Francis Edwards, singer and songwriter from Australia, will be joined in duets with Ron Dyer, Sally Burgess, and Teri St. Neal.

3:15 p.m. — Sally Burgess

3:45 p.m. — Teri St. Neal

4:15 p.m. — To the fallen, John Freeman, Zack Johnson and Chad Van Rys

5:45 p..m. — Rebecca Jed

6:15 p.m. — Tony Colton

6:45 p.m. — Homeland (second show)

7:15 p.m. — Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club and Legacy, MIA/POW round table

March 30

9 a.m. — Sunday service, field style

10 a.m. — Billy Gardner

10:45 a.m. — poets James Price and Judy Gorman King

11:30 a.m. — Heather Wiggins

Noon — Mason Douglas

1 p.m. — Francis Edwards

2 p.m. — Teri St. Neal

2:30 p.m. — Sally burgess

3 p.m. — To the fallen, John Freeman, Zack Johnson, and Chad Van Rys

4:30 p.m. — County Line from Chattanooga

5 p.m. — Jaida

6 p.m. — Homeland (third show)

7 p.m. — Closing ceremony

The Young Marines would like to invite everyone to come out to the parade and to any of the entertainment they would like to see at the complex. Not only will there be entertainment on stage, but there will be Native American demonstrations, arts and crafts and food vendors.

Check out the committee's Web site at www.ccvietnamvets.com to obtain a parade registration form and to hear clips of the performances. Even if you are not a Vietnam Veteran, everyone is welcome.