Monument Milestone: Lynchburg veterans group marks 1,000th weekly troop rally
LYNCHBURG, Va. โ Rain, sleet, snow, or shine, the Monument Terrace Troop Rally has gathered every week in Lynchburg since November 2001. Nearly a hundred people showed up for Fridayโs milestone โ the 1,000th consecutive week โ and some have been in attendance since the very beginning. The Vietnam veteran earned two purple hearts and says heโs attended practically every rally because he made a promise when he returned home. โItโs just a place where thereโs a lot of comradery, a lot of respect for the country. We were going to be here.โAs they continue, the group will mark their 20th anniversary in November, around the 1,043rd consecutive rally.
โI feel like heโs flying overโ: Tuskeegee Airman honored in Lynchburg after passing away before 100th birthday
LYNCHBURG, Va. โ The Monument Terrace Troop Rally honored Lynchburg veterans again on Friday. Roy Farrar planned to celebrate with his father, Tuskeegee Airman Alfred Farrar, for his 100th birthday. He died a week ago, so Steve Bozeman and the Lynchburg Veterans Council transformed the troop rally into a memorial service. During the ceremony, Bozeman surprised Roy when he announced he would keep his dadโs memory alive with some paving of his own. As long as Monument Terrace stands, those bricks will be over there,โ he said.
Lynchburgโs Monument Terrace Troop Rally becomes veteransโ weekly tradition
LYNCHBURG, Va. โ Lynchburg is home to one of the longest-running veterans' traditions in the United States. Veterans have gathered for the Monument Terrace Troop Rally every Friday since 9/11. โWeโre with different organizations and have experienced different combat situations," said Daniel Valerio, a 91-year-old Marine veteran who comes to the Troop Rally every Friday. Now, Lynchburg is veteran-friendly.โThe Troop Rally is closing in on 1,000 straight weeks. Stokes said the veterans will occupy Monument Terrace every Friday until troops return home from the Middle East.