Celebrating service members and their families is not confined to one day in Fayetteville and Cumberland County. Although Veterans Day is Nov. 11, events paying tribute have been on-going since the Fayetteville Parade on Nov.5. There are several events scheduled this week in the local area.

Heroes Homecoming Week

Through Nov. 12, the 10th annual Heroes Homecoming Week brings several programs and activities to salute veterans. For a complete schedule of events visit www.heroeshomecoming.com/events/list/.
On Nov. 10, the John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center, in partnership with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, will host a Family Fishing Workshop from 1 to 5 p.m. The workshop teaches families with children the basic skills needed to go fishing, including setting up and casting a fishing rod, catch and release methods, and how to handle a fish. The workshop is open for all experience levels from first-timers to expert anglers. It is a hands-on learning experience with fishing on the center’s stocked ponds. The Pechmann Fishing Education Center is located at 7489 Raeford Road in Fayetteville.

Field of Flags will be placed throughout Hope Mills Veterans Memorial Park beginning at 9 a.m. Nov. 11. The event is in partnership with the Town of Hope Mills Veterans Affairs Committee, VFW Post 10630.
The Fayetteville Woodpeckers will also host their annual United for Veterans event on Nov. 11 from 2 to 6 p.m. at Segra Stadium.
Fayetteville Technical Community College will host a Veterans Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 at the campus gazebo.

Cumberland County Headquarters Library is hosting a history presentation titled “The Defense Capital of the State: Wilmington During WWII” on Nov. 12 at 10 a.m. How did the North Carolina railroad industry, the city of Wilmington, and the Royal Navy team up to defeat Hitler? Find out in the presentation by nationally known military historian and Wilmington native Wilbur Jones. After the presentation, Jones will discuss how he helped Wilmington become America’s first World War Heritage City. The event will take place in the Pate Room. This presentation is in partnership with the Museum of the Cape Fear.

The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic’s second annual Children’s Gala for children of military families will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 12 at Smith Lake Recreation Area. The gala is for children ages 4 to 12 and their families and will include a formal evening with food, music and games. Formal attire is required, and service members are asked to wear their dress uniforms. Space is limited to 150 guests, and admission is limited to military families with children. Call Sharjuan Burgos at the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic to reserve a spot.

DistiNCtly Fayetteville, formerly known as the Fayetteville-Cumberland County Convention & Visitors Bureau, will continue its partnership with Rolling Thunder North Carolina Chapter 1 with the Missing Man Table through the month of November. Table kits are provided to local businesses and organizations to pay tribute to the more than 85,000 American service men and women who remain unaccounted for. The reserved tables and chairs sit unoccupied to represent soldiers who are or have been prisoners of war or missing in action. More information is at rollingthunder-nc1.com.

A special exhibit, “Heroes Homecoming: On the Homefront,” will be on display on the second floor of the Museum of the Cape Fear through November. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. The museum is located at 801 Arsenal Ave.

Field of Honor

The Airborne & Special Operations Museum continues its Field of Honor through Nov. 13. Each flag on display has a tag identifying the veteran it honors and the person who sponsored it. Flags are on display on the parade field of the museum from dawn until dusk at 100 Bragg Blvd. downtown.

On Nov. 10, the museum will show the documentary “The Last of the 357th Infantry” and host author Mark Hager to discuss his book, “The Last of the 357th Infantry: Harold Frank’s WWII Story of Faith and Courage.” Harold Frank will be a special guest at the program, which is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m.

The museum is hosting two exhibits related to World War II through Nov. 13. “Courage and Compassion: The Legacy of the Bielski Brothers” tells of the heroic efforts of three brothers who helped save more than 1,200 people while living in the forest during the war. “Operation HALYARD,” on display in the museum’s lobby, highlights the mission to rescue downed U.S. airmen from Nazi-occupied Serbia near the end of the war.

For more information on events at the ASOM visit www.asomf.org/.