The United States Army Band is part of concert taking place when the Memorial Day Weekend Not Forgotten event returns to Woodward Park.
Organizers of the effort to bring back the event after a six-year hiatus got a big boost on Friday when Supervisor Sonny Dhaliwal presented them with a check from San Joaquin County for $50,000.
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.
The event, in the past, drew as many as 30,000 people to Woodward Park over the three days.
The goal with the city partnering with local groups is to help assure the event continues in the future.
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.
Of those crosses, 674 will represent Californians that died in the Global War on terror. The other 72 — that will have red poppies attached — will repent all of the Manteca residents killed in World War I, World War II, the Korean Warr, the Vietnam War, and the Global War on Terror.
Details on how to donate to the cross effort can be found at the website, thememorialweekend.org.
It is also where those that can volunteer can provide contact information.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
