Honoring Our Vets With The Gift Of Life

On Friday, the Red Cross held its annual Veterans Blood Drive at the beautiful West Oaks Farm Market in Frederick County. It was a chance for donors to give the gift of life and say “thanks” to our veterans for their service to the USA. There were several Veterans resource groups on hand, and Gores Meats was there serving up their famous sausage and burgers to the Vets and donors. The River 95.3 stopped by for a while and to those of you who did…thank you! To find an blood drive near you, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App or log on to https://redcrossblood.org

Honor Our Vets Blood Drive by Gore’s Meats

Friday Nov 10th at West Oaks Farm Market in Winchester, give blood and get a Gore’s Meats breakfast or lunch! Local Military Veterans welcome- our community says THANK YOU with food and by passing on the gift of life! To donate make an appointment at redcrossblood.org code: VetDrive23

Drive runs from 9am-3pm at West Oaks Farm Market, 4305 Middle Road, Winchester. This event is sponsored by Gore’s Meats, West Oaks Farm Market, Navy Federal, American Red Cross & Honor Flight Top of Virginia. For more information check out Gore’s Meats on Facebook or GoresMeats.com

Military Tribute Banner Program comes to Middletown

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The Town of Middletown announced their participation in the Military Tribute Banner Program.

Community leaders from Middletown and other areas of the Northern Shenandoah Valley came up with the plan as part of the Hometown Veterans Heroes Formation Committee.

The project aims to honor veterans who currently are or have been residents of the area with banners hung throughout the town’s Main Street.

The banners will be sponsored by individuals or businesses and hang from Memorial Day to Veterans Day.

Orders are accepted through March 1st.

For more information on the project or how to purchase, click here. 

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

SU breaks ground on The HIVE

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On Veterans Day, roughly 200 people celebrated the groundbreaking for Shenandoah University’s new Hub for Innovators, Veterans, and Entrepreneurs which will be known as The HIVE.

The former National Guard armory will feature innovative technologies such as 3D printers and laser cutters while also providing a workspace for students and community members to explore these and other revolutionary advancements.

The building will also expand services through the Veterans, Military and Families Center to provide support and resources in high demand fields like cybersecurity and data analytics.

Laurel Ridge, local public schools, and other organizations will partner with The HIVE to help expand their services throughout the community.

The 3rd phase will be finished by August of 2024 with the completion of the fourth and final phase contingent on funding.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Fredrick County 8 year old orchestrates a large Veterans Day ceremony

ABC’s News is reporting that 8 year old Austin Riddell inadvertently created one of the areas largest Veterans Day Ceremonies.

The fourth grader attended several Frederick County meetings asking officials to  make Veterans Day an official school holiday.

After being refused his request Riddell informed officials he would not be in school that day so he could hold his own ceremony at Red Bud Elementary School’s  flagpole and everyone was welcome.

The gathering grew so large that it had to be moved to Millbrook high school football field.

Close to 200 people attended the ceremony including Lt. Governor elect Winsome Sears, School Superintend David Sovine, VFW post members, American Legion members and a motorcycle club.

Young Riddell hopes to become a U.S. Senator after he becomes the fifth generation service member in his family.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here. 

Fun Fact November 11, 2021.

It was on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month that the guns fell silent in 1918, ending the war that was expected to end all wars, World War I.  In 1938 Congress recognized the day as Armistice Day.  In 1954, after World War II and the Korean War were over, at the urging of Veteran organizations, Congress amended the commemoration, dropping the word Armistice and adding Veteran so the day would honor all who have and are serving in the United States military.  From 1971 until 1975 Veterans day was celebrated on the fourth Monday of October.  The thought was, because it was a Federal holiday, the long weekend would promote family travel and help boost the economy.  Many states didn’t like the change and celebrated in November anyway.   It became pretty apparent, in a few short years, that most U.S. citizens wanted to celebrate Veterans Day on November 11, since it was a matter of historic and patriotic significance. On Sept. 20, 1975, President Gerald Ford signed another law, Public Law 94-97, which returned the annual observance to its original date starting in 1978.  To all the Veterans I say thank you for your service!  Listen to the podcast here;  https://theriver953.com/lonnies-fun-fact/

SNP is fee free on Thur. 11/11 offering a Healing Waters Fly Fishing Project

On Veterans Day Thursday Nov. 11 the Shenandoah National Park (SNP) will be fee free according to their social media post.

The SNP with Healing Waters Fly Fishing Inc. which supports disabled military personnel and Veterans will also hold special presentations on that date as well.

Fly fishing casting demonstrations will be held on the lawn of the Byrd Visitor Center at mile maker 51 on the Skyline Drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m..

Tables inside the Byrd Visitor Center will have information on Fly Fishing Inc. and their effort to support our Veterans and include fly fishing information as well.

The project is free and open to the public as the park is also fee free that day as well.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.