CW Celebrates Armed Forces Day

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Colonial Williamsburg will be hosting several events this weekend to celebrate Armed Forces Day.

 

Armed Forces Day is celebrated the third Saturday in May and honors the service of all the men and women in the Armed Forces. This year’s national theme is “United in Strength,” according to the Department of Defense.

Colonial Williamsburg will honor the country’s military with performances during Drummer’s Call Weekend. There will also be several races and other tribute programs in the historic area over the course of the weekend.

The festivities will kick-off Friday with a performance by the Fifes and Drums with special guests The Mountain Fifes and Drums from Lake Arrowhead, Calif. The two groups will present “Successful Campaign,” an evening of ceremonial military music Friday night at Colonial Williamsburg’s Kimball Theatre. John Moon, former director of music for The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and former drum major of the Brigade of Guards and of the British Army, will host the presentation. Tickets are required for this event.

The Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums will host other events on Saturday that feature fife and drum units from around the United States.

A picnic dinner will be held on the Palace Lawn Saturday evening, which requires reservations. “A Salute to the Nation,” a program that spans 250 years of ideas that have created the unique spirit and identity that defines America, will run Saturday night.

The day concludes with the “Williamsburg Military Tattoo” with a musical march from Market Square to the Capitol and a fireworks display. No ticket is required for this event.

During “To Arms” on Sunday, Colonial Williamsburg will feature a demonstration of soldiers and their field music from various military units active during the American Revolution on Market Square. No ticket is required for this event, either.

Several running events will take place on Saturday and Sunday in the historic area to benefit An Achievable Dream and the Wounded Warriors program. The inaugural “Run For the Dream” half-marathon will take participants through the streets of Virginia’s colonial capital on Sunday. The weekend will also feature an 8K run/walk and a one-mile fun run on Saturday.

For details on Colonial Williamsburg’s weekend programs, visit the organization’s website. For details about the race, visit the “Run For the Dream” website.