By PATRICK HALL
The Wilson Post

In addition to attending the annual Veterans Day parade and ceremony, this year you can help raise money for the Wilson County Veterans Memorial Plaza and Museum by lacing up your shoes and taking part in the first Veterans Memorial Building Fund 5K.

Wilson County Director of Veterans Services Bernie Ash said the idea was one that came up during several fund raising meetings in the past year. On Memorial Day this year, plans were announced to build the Veterans Memorial Plaza and Museum adjacent to the Wilson County Courthouse at 228 E. Main Street.

“Carol (Dedman, assistant veterans services officer) mentioned it in our fund raising committee,” Ash said.

The event will start at 7 a.m. on Nov. 11 with a non-denominational church service led by Pastor James Hambrick and check-in for participants in the 5K walk/run will be from 7:40 to 8:45. The gun goes off for the 5K at 9 a.m. and will end just in time for the Veterans Day parade at 10:15.

The annual Veterans Day ceremony sponsored by the American Legion will begin at 11 a.m. following the parade.

“We don’t have the course yet but it will start and end at the courthouse,” Ash said.

Ash said since the designs for the Veterans Plaza were released last year, the county has raised $19,000, but it needs $1.5 million to build the plaza and museum. County officials have promised no county funds will be spent on the project and that the facility will be built through donations.

You can sign up for the event now and Ash said the entry fee is $12 if you sign up and pay by Thursday, Oct. 11. The entry fee is $14 if you sign up between Oct. 12 and Nov. 2, $17 from Nov. 3 through Nov. 10 and $20 on the day of the event.

Those who sign up before Nov. 10 will receive a special 5K T-shirt and an American flag. On Nov. 10 and Nov. 11, T-shirts and flags will be first-come, first-serve.

“We’re looking for a huge crowd, there seems to be a lot of interest in these events,” Ash said. “If this is successful, we’d like to do this every year.”

Ash said those who are unable to participate are welcome to donate to the building fund and said they are looking for sponsors for the event as well.

To receive a registration form or for more information, you may call event organizer Melani Stephens at 453-8500 or Ash at 444-2460.

Staff Writer Patrick Hall may be contacted at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .