Richmond County’s veterans are being honored with several events this weekend.
Dobbins Heights is holding its annual Veterans Day service at 9 a.m. Friday inside the community center.
The guest speaker is Graylin Covington, a retired Air Force staff sergeant originally from the town.
Several town residents are veterans, including Mayor Antonio Blue.
On Saturday, several local veterans organizations will hold their annual Veterans Day observance at the Richmond County Veterans Memorial Park, across the road from VFW Post 4203.
Carlton Hawkins, of American Legion Post 147, will open the event at 11 a.m., followed by an invocation, presentation of the colors, singing of the national anthem and recitation of the pledge of allegiance.
This year’s speaker is Army Col. G. Bret Batdorff, an Apex native who enlisted in the National Guard while attending college in 1994.
He has been stationed in several states and served in Iraq, Afghanistan and South Korea, and has served as a military judge. Batdorff currently serves as the chief circuit judge for the Army’s Second Judicial Circuit based at Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg).
Click here to see photos from the 2022 Veterans Day service.
Following that service, the action moves to downtown Rockingham for the annual Veterans Day Parade, organized by the VFW Post 4203 Auxiliary.
A kids zone will be set up in the old Food King parking lot, along with a stage with music from the Jonathan Robinson Band starting at 12:30.
The All Veterans Group Jump Team will have a meet-and-greet in the parking lot across from Hudson Brothers Deli, where they will land at 2:15 p.m., just before the opening ceremony in front of the old courthouse. The parade is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m.
There will be more live music after the parade from Mark McKinney & Company back at the Food King parking lot starting at 3:30 p.m.
Click here to see photos from the 2022 Veterans Day Parade.
