The Prince William Chamber of Commerce will be honoring veterans and service members at an event on January 24.
According to a release, the chamber will be hosting their annual ‘Salute to the Armed Forces’ luncheon at 3017 Russell Road on Quantico Marine Corps Base from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The event is being hosted by the chamber’s Veterans Council, and several individuals will be speaking, including Fort Belvoir Garrison Commander, Colonel Angie Holbrook and Colonel Joseph Murray, Base Commander at Quantico, and Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, John Harvey.
“Each year the Chamber utilizes this program to honor active-duty service members and Veterans from across the region,” stated a release.
More on the event, from a release:
From the moment guests walk through the doors they will recognize that this event is different from any other business luncheon or awards program. Veterans are given a badge so that fellow attendees know they have served. From conversations over lunch to the remarks from the podium; the room hums with moving accounts of personal connections to the U.S. military. Marine Corps and Army officers carry the theme by honoring outstanding soldiers and Marines from their command. This will be the first year that the event will take place on the Marine Corps Base.
Keynote Speaker John Harvey will share what is being done within Governor Terry McAuliffe’s administration in terms of Veteran-related issues, along with ways in which the Commonwealth is working to ensure the maintenance of a productive relationship with military services and the federal Department of Defense. Also speaking will be World War II Navy Veteran Chilton Raiford, who lived through two Kamikaze attacks and rescued fellow servicemen.
The program concludes when retired Marine and Chamber member Harry Horning plays TAPS on his trumpet, honoring those who have served and made the ultimate sacrifice.
