The 2008 Tribute DVD will be available on September 1st, 2008. Reserve your copy today by making a donation now. Cash and checks are being accepted, please call 336.877.2552.

Earn a spot as a sponsor! Click here to view all of the generous sponsors. To all of you who made this past 2007 event happen (and there are a lot of you!!!), my heartfelt appreciation for your part in making Saturday a special day for our veterans and troops! Talking to the veterans and troops reminds me of just how much I have to be thankful for, and I am honored to be a part of thanking them for their service in the Armed Forces.

2007 Event DVD Now Available! Click here to order the DVD of the 2007 Armed Forces Tribute! Proceeds of the sales go to future events and projects.

Prices Include Shipping To Order Locally in Ashe County call 336.977.1427 $10.75 - Youth Small $10.75 - Youth Medium $13.25 - Small $13.25 - Medium $13.25 - Large $13.25 - XL $13.25 - XXL

Mark your calendars for

August 23rd, 2008

16:00 -             Pre-event Fish Fry dinner Friday evening – by Ashe Outreach Ministries

                        Drive to Clifton and enjoy the traditional Fish Fry. Plates for Veterans and Active & Reserve Duty Military are buy one, get one free! OR buy one and get a coupon to donate for another military guest who is here from out of town!

17:00               All displays and booths move into Park for set up

06:00               Country Biscuits & Gravy Breakfast out of town guests – by Winner’s Circle

06:30-07:30     Final booth set up

08:00               Gates Open to Public

08:00-10:00     Hardees sausage biscuits, coffee and juice for donations to Tribute

                        Displays of Patriotism and Support from Ashe County

                        Displays of Military Personnel & Equipment

                        TV interviews by Rebecca Pepin and Jan Caddell

10:30-12:00     Live Satellite Communications with these units:

                         *HSC, 96th Aviation Support Battalion, Combat Aviation Brigade

 Location: Afghanistan – Home Base: Fort Campbell, KY

 Interviewees: CSM Herndon, SFC Daniel Corbett, SSG  Stanley Saunders

                                      Location: Iraq – Home Base: Fort Stewart, GA

                                      Interviewees: LTC MCDowell, 2LT. Tammy Bolds, CWO Lance Loeffler

              Location: Iraq – Home Base: Hawaii

12:00               Begin Smoky Mountain BBQ & Sweetie’s Hamburgers & Hot Dogs

                        Veterans and Military Free – Supporters & Families encouraged to donate $

12:30-14:30     Recognition Ceremony & Lunch

14:30 -             Meet and Greet Distinguished Guests – Photos encouraged

Mark your calendars for Saturday, August 23 at Ashe County Park! Gates will open at 8:00 am, with the live broadcast 10:30-12 noon, and Smoky Mountain Barbeque at 12:30. Sweetie's will also have hamburgers and hot dogs. Veterans and active military are free, while families and supporters are encouraged to donate at least $5 for the meal.

Whether you are a veteran proud of having served our country, active military home on leave, or a patriotic American who wants to say "THANK YOU" to those who have served, you are invited to be part of this non-political, non-partisan day of recognition for those who have given of their time to the United States Armed Forces.

Once again we will honor our World War II Veterans, so please help us locate those who are a part of this Greatest Generation! We'll have helicopters and parachute teams and speakers and live satellite communications with units around the world who are currently serving. Here are some of the planned events:

*Wall of Honor displaying biographies of Veterans, active Military who are serving now, Reservists and deceased Veterans. Businesses, churches, organizations and individuals wanting to sponsor the biographies in the Special Section newspaper can do so for $25 per biography.   

*Quilted stockings will be on display, hand made by the Piece Makers Quilting Guild and other individual quilters. Turn in your names now for your favorite active service member to receive a stocking! Voting for favorites with $1 will result in funds for stuffing the stockings prior to them being shipped at Christmas. 

*Ashe County native artist and veteran created an original work of art that has been transformed into the first ever Pictorial Postmark for Ashe County in support of the 2008 ACAFT. At the Tribute, Drew Martin & the West Jefferson Post Office will be set up to allow you to bring your mail to receive this postmark. You can also contribute to get the commemorative postmark on a Purple Heart envelope with the silk cachet Postmark affixed. These collector's items will be available for 30 days only, per postal regulations. Afterwards, they can only be purchased by other collectors! UPDATE: Full-size prints of the original artwork will be available for donations, with Stephen Shoemaker there to autograph them!