Organizers of the effort to bring back the three-day Memorial Weekend Commemoration to Woodward Park this year after a six-year hiatus are in need of financial support and volunteers.
The event — that will include everything from a 5-K run, concerts, military displays, flyovers and patriotic flyovers to a drone glow show — is set for May 23, 24, and 25.
The City of Manteca has joined forces with American Legion Post 249 to bring back the event led for more than a dozen years by Pastor Mike Dillman before he retired from overseeing the task.
Mayor Gary Singh has worked to relaunch the endeavor that typically drew upwards of 30,000 people over three days from throughout the north state to the event that has included everything from two traveling Vietnam memorial wall to tributes featuring each of the fallen in the Global War on Terror who were from the Northern San Joaquin Valley.
The goal with the city partnering with local groups is to help assure the event continues in the future.
“It’s a tribute to the fallen and all who have served,” Singh said.
The Manteca earned the reputation among military leaders of being the largest Memorial Day event of its kind west of the Mississippi River.
The event will also include a large car show, helicopter landings, vendors, a kids’ zone, and more.
There will also be a beer garden with the goal of featuring local concerns such as Loma Brewery and Brethren Brewery among others.
Other events are in the process of being organized including a possible breakfast for Gold Star families.
The 7,000 plus crosses that were placed symbolizing each of the fallen in service to the United States in the Global War on Terror were discarded as they were worse for the wear.
That — plus the fact the event will cost well in excess of $100,000 to stage — prompted the idea of selling cross sponsors at $100 apiece.
The $100 donation will help fund the 865 crosses that will be placed as well as assist with other costs of the event.
Singh said donors will be invited, if they like, to help put the cross in place.
There are also other levels of sponsorships
Some cover the cost of specific elements such as the kids’ zone or rental of 400 folding chairs while other are event sponsorship packages.
Sponsorship information plus details on how to donate can be found at the website, thememorialweekend.org.
It is also where those that can volunteer can provide contact information.
Singh noted the event takes hundreds of volunteers to stage.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
