Andrews – Organizers say Welcome Home – A Tribute to All Who Serve will be the must-attend event of the year.
Scheduled at Western Carolina Regional Airport from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, organizers hope to draw more than 10,000 people. More than 37 vendors will provide goods and services to veterans – from clothing needs to flu shots to dental care – in the Veterans Stand Down booths. Several bands will entertain throughout the day and, of course, there will be a full air show.
“We’ll have a Pit Special, A Chipmunk, a vintage helicopter used in Vietnam, two Black Hawk helicopters and a DC3 that flew into Normandy,” said John Bandy of American Legion Post 532 in Hayesville. The air show will include a special forces parachute team jump.
The event, sponsored by Ivie Funeral Home and hosted by Post 532, is meant to celebrate the service of all veterans as a kind of “do-over” from the ill treatment many Vietnam War veterans received when they returned home from duty. Spectators can tour some of the vintage aircraft and pilots will be available to answer questions.
As a special treat, 90-year-old Scotty Mayfield himself will pass out free ice cream, and Maggie the cow will make a cameo appearance. The yearly Chili-Cook-off takes place later in the afternoon about the time 200 or so motorcycles arrive from the yearly Benghazi/Twin Tower Memorial ride.
“The Benghazi Ride has been an annual ride and event every September in the tri-state area since 2016,” Dr. Dan Eichenbaum said, explaining why the two events merged this year.
“I wanted to have a very special event for the 10th anniversary, and proposed and planned a vintage airplane air show at our airport. It was natural to partner with the Welcome Home event as we are all working for the same goal – to respect and help veterans and honor America.”
The celebration is free to the public, with the exception of the food trucks, which will donate 15 percent of their sales toward next year’s celebration. Because organizers are expecting record crowds, shuttles will be available in Cherokee, Clay and Graham.
For details, visit the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce’s website at cherokeecountychamber.com.