WS Chronicle

Last weekend, HARRY (Helping Advocate Research Respond for You) Veterans Community Outreach Services held its annual celebration to remember our fallen heroes. Originally scheduled for Memorial Day, May 28, the 10th annual commemoration ceremony and picnic was rescheduled for Saturday, June 2, because of the threat of rain on May 28.

More than a dozen veterans representing different branches of the military, including the Army, Marines, Coast Guard, and Navy, were on hand during the celebration held at Fairview Park on Bethlehem Lane. To jumpstart the festivities, Kizzie Walker sang her rendition of the national anthem.

Following the Posting of Colors by the N.C. Civil Air Patrol Honor Guard, Ralph Meadows serenaded the crowd with his rendition “America the Beautiful.” Next, Mayor Allen Joines gave greetings on behalf of the city of Winston-Salem.

In 2014, Joines and other city officials led an initiative that made Winston-Salem a member of the Veterans Housing Network challenge to end veterans’ homelessness in the area. Less than a year later, the city reached its goal.

After thanking the men and women in attendance for their service, Joines said he and is colleagues are still working to ensure veterans in the area have a place to call home. He said, “We can’t forget these individuals.

“…I’m so proud to say that about four years ago, we were selected as one of 27 cities across the whole country who had been certified by the President’s Office that we had eliminated homelessness among veterans,” he continued. “We are really proud of that and we’re not taking that lightly and we’re continuing to do it because it is something you have to do on a regular basis.”

Joines also thanked HARRY founder Ciat Shabazz for her commitment to help veterans in the area. Shabazz started HARRY in remembrance of her brother Harry Smith, a veteran who died of colon cancer that went untreated by the Veterans Administration.

Since starting the nonprofit organization in 2008, HARRY has helped more than 500 veterans obtain employment, housing and much more. Along with the annual picnic and commemoration ceremony for Memorial Day, HARRY also holds giveaways on Veteran’s Day and other holidays such as Christmas and Thanksgiving.

Before serving lunch, each veteran in attendance was recognized for his service while his respective branch’s medley played in the background.

Although the celebration was held a week later than planned, Don Timmons, a Vietnam Army veteran, said you can never have too many Memorial Days.