Mike Honaker of the Virginia State Police will speak at Vinton’s Flag Day ceremony
Vinton–The Town of Vinton will host a Flag Day ceremony and celebrate the first anniversary of the dedication of the “High Ground” Vinton-Roanoke County Veterans Monument on Thursday, June 14, at 11:00 a.m
1st Sergeant Mike Honaker of the Virginia State Police will speak at the Flag Day ceremony at the High Ground Monument in Vinton on Thursday, June 14.
The ceremony will take place on the grounds of the Vinton War Memorial. The guest speaker will be 1st Sergeant Mike Honaker of the Virginia State Police, Area Commander for Pulaski and Giles Counties. He is also a United States Marine Corps veteran and an ordained minister. In September 2001, he served as on-scene commander for several weeks at the Pentagon in the wake of 9/11.
“I thought that I would never experience another moment as profound as 9/11, but then on April 16, 2007, I was called to the campus of Virginia Tech after the shootings there,” said Honaker. “In my twenty-three years with the State Police, I have seen a lot.”
Mike Honaker is the Virginia State Police Area Commander for Pulaski and Giles Counties, a United States Marine Corps veteran, and an ordained minister.
Honaker will be speaking on patriotism and honoring our veterans at the “High Ground” monument on Thursday. He is so devoted to those who have served in the armed forces that he is interrupting a family vacation to speak in Vinton.
Reverend Chris Monroe, who is a pastor at Vinton Baptist Church, will sing the National Anthem and other patriotic music.
The William Byrd High School Jr. ROTC Color Guard will present the colors and play “Taps”.
Vinton author, Florence Bogas will be reading her poem “Symbol of Our Country”, which she composed on the evening of September 11, 2001. She was distraught not only at the carnage that day, but at the memory of all the veterans who had died before in the service of their country.
Her poem is displayed throughout the United States at military academies and cemeteries.
Members of the “High Ground” Vinton-Roanoke County Veterans Monument committee will also speak.
In the event of inclement weather, the Flag Day ceremony will be moved inside the Vinton War Memorial.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, visitors are invited to spend time at the monument and to enjoy light refreshments.
Additional information is available from Mary Beth Layman, Special Programs Director for the Town of Vinton, and member of the High Ground Monument Vinton Vision Committee at 983-0613.
