Charlotte Frontier Days Festival Grand Marshal
An outstanding community member or family is selected each year to serve as Grand Marshal of the festival.  The Grand Marshal is someone who has supported the Charlotte area by contributing over and above in many different venues.

As Grand Marshal for the 39th annual festival, the Board of Directors has chosen a ‘Salute to the Armed Forces’in recognition of the sacrifice that our military personnel make in keeping our country free.  Americans have answered the call to protect their homeland and the American way of life since the outbreak of the Revolutionary War.

To quote portions of the speech Tiger Woods gave on Sunday, Jan. 18, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. during the festivities for the presidential inauguration. (It was originally printed on www.tigerwoods.com).

“They come from every walk of life. From every part of our country. Time and again, across generations, they have defended our safety in the dark of night and far from home.
Each day - and particularly on this historic day - we honor the men and women in uniform who serve our country and protect our freedom. They travel to the dangerous corners of the world, and we must remember that for every person who is in uniform, there are families who wait for them to come home safely.
In the summer of 1864, Abraham Lincoln, the man whose memorial we stand, spoke to the 164th Ohio Regiment and said:
"I am greatly obliged to you, and to all who have come forward at the call of their country."
Just as they have stood tall for our country -- we must always stand by and support the men and women in uniform and their families.”

The Charlotte Frontier Days Festival will honor the brave men and women of the United States military in several different ways during the festival.
Wednesday night the Queen’s Pageant will have a patriotic theme and military personnel will be allowed in free of charge when they present their military ID at the door.

Thursday night is the “Military Salute” car show downtown Charlotte.

The Friday, September 11 rodeo performance, sponsored by The County Journal will be Military Appreciation Night.  Spectators, rodeo crew, and contestants are all encouraged to wear red to show their support of our troops – past, present and future.  A military discount is offered all weekend for every rodeo performance.  A military discount of $2 off the regular ticket price is available for each performance with current military ID presented at the ticket office at the fair grounds.  These tickets can not be purchased on-line.

Our Saturday morning parade will continue the military appreciation as many military organizations lead the parade through town.  Following the parade, military apparatus will be on display at the fair grounds and military personnel will be available to discuss the many opportunities available in today’s armed forces.   There is no better way to honor those who serve than to learn about their dedication in times of war and peace than by learning about their experience.

Please, fly the flag with pride, stand tall, and show our military your appreciation for their sacrifices and dedication to this country and to each of us.

Article and Photo credited to Travis Silvas, The County Journal