By Linda Hagberg
Clay County Progress
Andrews After many months of planning, the Welcome Home event committee finally got to see the fruits of their labor come together Saturday.
The fourth annual Welcome Home – A Tribute To All Who Served became the biggest event held in Cherokee County, with about 12,000 people gathered at Western Carolina Regional Airport.
The day began early, as more than 50 service organizations came to the airport to showcase the services they offer. Some of the tables also contained military paraphernalia from previous conflicts that people could view and ask questions about.
Aircraft lined the runway for people to be able to view as well. Pilots were on hand to talk about how the planes served in the military.
The display of antique and classic automobiles began to roll in for display at the airport. There were more than 100 different vehicles, presented by the Eastern Hotrod Association, that people were able to walk around and admire.
Warm, savory smells permeated the air as chili cook-off participants began heating their wares in hanger A. Eight participants offered a free cup to any one who came to taste the chili, voting for their favorite.
At 10 a.m., the Veterans Parade from Andrews arrived at the airport with more than 50 participants in time for the opening ceremonies to get underway. Chaplain Carl Maxwell of American Legion Post 532 in Hayesville led with an opening prayer, followed by a Presentation of the Colors.
As Annie Lloyd of Hayesville sang the national anthem, everyone in the crowd stopped, took off their caps, saluted the flag or put a hand over their hearts. You could feel unity in the place at that moment.
American Legion Post 532 members Dwight McClure and Philip Cantley demonstrated a flag-folding ceremony, as Commander Joe Buckner explained each fold and why it is folded in this manner. Tommy Hooper and Mitchell Shields were on hand to help support the flag as it was folded.
A flyover happened just as the ceremony ended. After the flag folding, Maxwell introduced John Ivie, sponsor of the event. Ivie thanked the committee as well as everyone for coming to honor veterans.
Maxwell then introduced the guest speaker, MCPO Jason Marino of Robbinsville, an operations chief with the U.S. Navy. He thanked everyone for coming to this event, and said he felt honored to be able to speak at such a great way of honoring veterans.
Lloyd again took the microphone and sang “God Bless America,” signaling the end of the opening ceremonies.
Stephen Phillips and Sherry Raines of “The Morning Dish” at WJRB-FM 95.1 radio took the microphone and spoke with pilots, veterans and others that came for the event. Pilots explained their planes and roles in the conflict in which they were used. There were 20 static planes on display.
One of the planes, a T 34, was offering rides to anyone who wanted to go up after the event was over. The plane took off from the airport 20 times after the show.
At high noon, Alexis Beasley of Andrews came forth and sang the national anthem, as the crowd readied for the 250-motorcycle arcade of Twin Towers/Benghazi riders that entered the airfield and made a trip down the runway. After parking, Dr. Dan Eichenbaum took the stage and did a memorial service for those fallen.
Eichenbaum introduced Major Gen. Maria Britt, U.S. Army (retired). Britt spoke about the sacrifices made and lives lost. Eichenbaum followed Britt by calling veterans to the front with memorial signs to plant, and spoke of remembering those who sacrificed for our freedoms.
Bruno Coltri of the CVMA presented the chairman of the event committee, John Bandy, a Quilt of Valor. He also presented a Sisters of Service shawl to Sherry Raines, director of the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce and a committee member.
Ivie announced the chili cook-off winners, presenting “Great Bowls of Fire” by the Weaver family the first-place prize of $250, and Renee Deweese the $100 second-place honors with her version of “Death By Chili.”
At 1 p.m., the air show, presented by the North Star Air Show group, got underway. Air boss Clint Cottrell brought with him several airplanes: A T-34 Mentor, Harvard, Decathlon (2), AT-11 Kansasan, Corsair, Beech 58 and P-40 Flying Tiger. He had a total of four jumpers for the event.
The jumpers, from the Special Forces Association Green Beret Parachute Team, exited from a Cessna 182 10,000 feet overhead. SFC Bo Kinnison, DOD Mark Hiscott, DOD David Sides and MSG Robert Scott presented the U.S. flag as they came down.
After the jumpers, a Decathlon flown by Charlie Morris took to the sky, and with a trail of smoke performed several aerobatics that wowed the spectators below.
Other planes also performed for the crowd. Gasps from spectators as daredevil stunts were performed by the air team could be heard across the airport.
At the end of the show, Lloyd took to the stage again and sang “Amazing Grace,” while Chris West, pastor of Shepherd of the Hills in Murphy, gave the closing prayer.
“It exceeded all our expectations, although we had a couple of hiccups such as parking and transportation to and from the event. We are grateful for the Cherokee County Schools superintendent, who got two activity buses from Andrews High School to help with shuttling people back and forth to parking. We do learn from our mistakes,” Bandy said. “We also offer thanks to the students from Andrews and Robbinsville schools, who came to volunteer their time to help with this event.”