The Patriotic and Veterans Day Celebration that was scheduled for Nov. 14 at Bryan Honda in Fayetteville has been postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions. The event was organized by the All American Patriot Association to bring members of the community together in a celebration of our nation and our veterans.

AAPA CEO and President Franco Webb said he and his team are working to reschedule the event for a later date, tentatively in December.

“We are looking into two other possible venues,” Webb said. “We’re also looking into ways to scale it down, but still be able to take advantage of the entertainment, raffles and auction items that were donated.”

Although disappointed that the event could not be held in conjunction with traditional Veterans Day celebrations, Webb emphasized that being American and paying tribute to our veterans is something that can be celebrated all year long.

“We really appreciate all the support we received from sponsors, vendors and the public,” Webb said. “Stand strong – the event will go on.”

On Nov. 10, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said the state will remain in Phase 3 for another three weeks because coronavirus cases continue to rise.

In Executive Order 176, Cooper reduced the number of people allowed to gather indoors from 25 to 10. The extension takes effect Nov. 13. This is the second time Cooper has extended Phase 3, which was set to expire Nov. 13.

Phase 3 first began Oct. 2 and allowed bars, entertainment venues, movie theaters and large outdoor arenas to open with some restrictions. Still in effect is the limit of 50 people allowed at outdoor gatherings. The new order is scheduled to expire at 5 p.m. on Dec. 4.

As of Nov. 11, more than 297,000 people in North Carolina have tested positive for COVID-19, and 4,660 have died, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The NCDHHS regularly updates the “Dashboard” on https://www.ncdhhs.gov/ with state and county case number information. It reports that in Cumberland County, there have been 7,953 cases and 108 deaths.

The full text of Executive Order 176 can be read on the NCDHHS website https://files.nc.gov/governor/documents/files/EO176-Phase-3-ext.pdf