Calendar of Events

The community, family, and friends are invited and encouraged to be present upon the return of World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans from their visit to their memorials in Washington, D.C. earlier that day.

“The welcome home for these veterans is one of the most memorable and moving parts of this whole trip,” says Blue Ridge Honor Flight Founder, Jeff Miller. “It means so much to them to have the welcome home they never got when they returned from the war, and it’s an amazing thing for bystanders to witness.” 

Those wishing to attend the event are asked to park at Gate 7 of the WNC Agriculture Center on Highway 280 or at the Advent Health parking lot on Highway 280 beginning at 7 pm.

Parking is free and a complimentary shuttle will be transporting attendees to and from the airport for the event.

Please note that there is no parking available in the regular airport parking lot, however you may park in the WNC Agriculture Center parking lot, or in the Advent Health parking lot located across the street from the airport.

Established in 2006, Blue Ridge Honor Flight’s mission is to transport America’s veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit those memorials dedicated to honor the sacrifices of themselves and their comrades. 

For more information about how to get involved in Blue Ridge Honor Flight, make a donation, or to get a veteran signed up for a flight, please visit the Blue Ridge Honor Flight website at: blueridgehonorflight.com.

May 30th is Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day- a time reserved to honor those who have fought and died for the freedoms we exercise. Many soldiers have paid for our liberties with their lives and it is our honor at Buncombe County Veterans Services to serve their families on Memorial Day and every day.

To serve our Veterans and their families better, we have added a new staff member to the Veterans Services Team. “We are fortunate to welcome Ivan Sarabia to our staff,” says Heath Smith, Director of Veterans Services for Buncombe County HHS. “His years of experience in Veterans Affairs and Patient Advocacy made him an exceptional choice for this role and we are proud to have him on our team.”

Ivan relocated to Buncombe County after establishing himself as an exceptional Veterans Services Officer and Patient Advocate in several states around the region. His motivation to serve the Veteran community is grounded in his personal military experience. Ivan is an Army Veteran with the 101st Airborne Division in Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. He served as a Combat Engineer and served a tour in Afghanistan. “My time in the Army is something I look back on fondly and I’m thankful for the lifelong friendships and lessons I learned while serving,” Ivan says. “However, after leaving the military I faced many hurdles adjusting back to civilian life. Luckily, I was able to connect with other Veterans and healthcare providers at the VA who helped me navigate the benefits that were available to smooth that transition. These experiences fueled my desire and passion to pursue a career in which I could help fellow Veterans.”

Buncombe County is committed to honoring fallen soldiers, veterans, and their families and we want to make sure everyone in our community has a chance to honor them as well. Join the Buncombe Community in solidarity at the following events taking place in our county this Memorial Day.

Heath Smith, Veteran Services Director for Buncombe County Health and Human Services, is participating in the Memorial Day program for the Mayor’s Veterans Council. The event will take place on May 30, 2022, at 3 p.m. at Pack Square Park. The keynote speaker will be Spencer Ellis Hardaway, a retired Army Chaplain who received the Bronze Star and served in Iraq from 2009 to 2010.

Additionally, you can pay tribute to our heroes at the Western North Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain. The sight of 5,700+ graves, each marked with an American flag, is striking and serves as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made to secure our rights. The Memorial Day service takes place at 10 AM on Monday, May 30.

Features legendary songwriters Cindy Morgan, Wil Nance and Jason Sever Cindy Morgan, Wil Nance and Jason Sever are a blend of GRAMMY® nominated, Dove award winning, chart-topping songwriters who’ve penned songs for George Strait, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Brad Paisley, Diamond Rio, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw and many more! Showcasing their mission to support the military community, Operation Song will be presenting a songwriter event at the Tryon Fine Arts Center. District 113 NC State Representative Jake Johnson is scheduled to appear. Operation Song will also be honoring local hero, Major General Jack A. Davis and his family. Major General Davis served in the United States Marine Corps for 37 years. He is a decorated Vietnam Veteran and an active member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Tryon. If unable to attend, please consider a donation at www.operationsong.org or text “SONG” to 615-471-6008. You can also download our app at: https://subsplash.com/operationsong/app! Operation Song is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that pairs Nashville Songwriters with veterans, active duty, and their family members to tell their story through the process of songwriting. To learn more visit www.operationsong.org & like us on socials. Operation Song® is a tax-exempt public charity (federal tax ID #46-5442758). All contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowable by law.