Roanoke, VA – In commemoration of the Vietnam War 50th Anniversary, a Massed High School Bands Concert will be held on Sunday, Nov. 5, at 4:30 p.m. at the Salem Civic Center. Hosted by the Roanoke Valley Vietnam War 50th Anniversary Committee the event will be free to the public and feature performances of popular songs from the 1960-70s from each of the high school bands in Roanoke, Roanoke County, Vinton, and Salem, as well as patriotic selections performed by a massed band under the direction of Maestro David Stewart Wiley.
In 2015, representatives from the Cities of Roanoke and Salem, Roanoke County, Town of Vinton, and the Association of the United States Army (Stonewall Jackson Chapter) formed a committee to plan events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. The committee has been tasked with holding at least two events a year from 2015 through 2017.
In addition to the Massed High School Bands Concert, for 2017 events included Municipal Wreath-Laying Ceremonies on March 29, at high noon in Lee Plaza, at the Salem Red Sox Veterans Memorial, and at "High Ground" Vinton-Roanoke County Veterans Monument, on the grounds of the Vinton War Memorial. On this day in 1973, the last combat troops were withdrawn from Vietnam. Also planned is a social event, “Saluting Those Who Served,” which will be held on Nov. 17 to honor Vietnam Veterans, their families, and partners who have supported the 50th Anniversary commemorative events.
Events hosted in 2015 included the inaugural public viewing of Vietnam Combat Art from the U.S. Army Center of Military History at Hollins University’s Ballator Gallery and the display of “The Wall That Heals – The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall” at the Salem Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
In 2016, the committee hosted a special night for Vietnam Veterans’ recognition at a Red Sox baseball game at Salem Memorial Stadium, marched in the Roanoke Veterans Day Parade, and supported an exhibit of the Vietnam Combat Art at the Vinton War Memorial with lunch provided for all veterans.
For more information, please contact Wendi Schultz at Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism, 540-777-6326, or email [email protected] with questions.
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