The three-day event will include USO-style performances, golf scrambles, a parade, reunions, memorabilia shows, special events and more. The celebration is being organized under the umbrella of the National Veterans Day Celebration Foundations, a new non profit forming to support veterans’ causes and the Celebration. The event is designed to create economic benefits for host communities, as well as to generate funds to support veterans’ charities. Members of the public interested in supporting the effort are encouraged to send tax deductible checks to the National Veterans Day Celebration Fund, c/o Coastal Community Foundation, 90 Mary St., Charleston, SC 29403 or by visiting the foundation’s website, www.ccfgives.org.
Its founder, Rick Jones, is a principle architect of ChazzFest, which launched successfully in September and will continue as an annual event. ChazzFest brought more than 6,000 spectators to enjoy more than a dozen musical acts at the Family Circle Tennis Center. It also generated charitable donations to three nonprofits: VH-1’s Save the Music, the American College of the Building Arts and the African American History Museum in Charleston.
“We see tremendous opportunity in this region to align our rich traditions with our attractive visitor destination,†said Jones. “We feel this is the perfect place to launch the first national event that honors the brave men and women who have served in the armed forces,†Jones said.
Organizing committee members of the National Veterans Day Celebration include staff members from local, state and federal branches of the government, the Charleston Area CVB, area veterans, numerous area businesses, Patriots Point Maritime Museum, The Citadel, Clear Channel Communications, and others.