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Veterans’ program joins local celebration

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By Robert Pierce, Staff Writer 6:27 PM Saturday, July 4, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Entertainment Group’s Veterans Celebration rocked the Clark County Fairgrounds Saturday, July 4.

In its inaugural year, the event created to thank veterans and active-duty service men and women featured bands, rides, truck pulls and several speakers.

The event was to remind veterans that they are remembered and supported, said Chuck Harris, director of the Springfield Entertainment Group. Harris, a veteran of the first Gulf War who designed Saturday’s program, hopes to have the free event annually on the holiday weekend. Besides the entertainment, the program also set aside time for veterans and elected officials to give their thanks.

“The opening ceremony was the biggest deal for me,” Harris said. “Some of the words they said got me right in the gut.”

Several judges, electedb county and city officials spoke at the ceremony, including Mayor Warren R. Copeland.

“The recent events in Iran should remind us what this day is about,” Copeland said. “We live in a country where people can voice their opinions and march in the streets without being shot.”

Copeland said veterans are to thank for those rights. Assistant City Mayor Karen B. Duncan agreed.

“I thank the veterans for the opportunity to live in a free America,” she said.

At the end of the opening ceremony, the city commission issued a proclamation declaring July 4, 2009 as “Thank a veteran day.”

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