The Forsyth County Tea Party Patriots Alliance is holding an event honoring veterans Sunday.

The Veterans Day Freedom Rally will feature patriotic music, celebrations of America and speeches about our nation’s men and women who have served.

The event begins at 3 p.m. in the Central Park Recreation Center banquet hall.

Though the park facilities are closed due to the holiday, the event room will be open.

Members of one of the county’s tea parties wanted to create a public event in honor of veterans on the national day of recognition, said Bob Frey, a board member of the patriots alliance group.

“There are three speakers that will do speeches in memory of the vets, supporting the vets,” Frey said. “The rest of it is like a celebration party.”

Speakers include: James Campbell, a two-tour Korean War veteran; Sheri Gilligan, a retired analyst from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency; and Roger Fitzpatrick, of the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve.

Musical selections will be performed by Alice Bryan, director of the Sounds of Sawnee Concert Band, and Nancy Smith, the director of music and liturgy at Good Shepherd Catholic Church.

Frey said he’s looking forward to a medley of anthems from each branch of the military. Veterans in the audience can stand up when they hear the song representing them.

The event is free, though donations will be accepted and all collections will go to a nonprofit for “wounded warriors,” Frey said.
“We’re going to pass helmets,” he said.

The freedom rally is not political, Frey said, so any feelings from Tuesday’s election shouldn’t have an impact.
He hopes veterans will attend.

“Most of the people that come to this type of event are World War II and Korea vets that are still around,” he said. “They’re very loyal and very patriotic to the American service system. I think they’re really coming to honor veterans’ service.”