Latest news with #TravisManionFoundation
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Memorial Day celebrations both grand and quiet
EDMOND, Okla. (KFOR) — On this Memorial Day, families and communities across the nation are coming together, not just to remember, but to feel the presence of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. From Civil War-era music, to simple tokens of thanks on graves, veterans are being honored both grand and quiet. Band students from Edmond Memorial High School performed at the Edmond History Museum. Morgan is not only the Edmond Memorial Band Director; he is also the son of News 4 Chief Meteorologist Mike Morgan. 'It's the only high school historical brass program that I know of in the country,' said Tanner Morgan, the Edmond Memorial Band Director. It's not just music, but the soundtrack to a different America during the Civil War. 'In fact, it's from a book that he would have been calling his Marine band to perform on in the days right before he was assassinated,' said Morgan. Not only were the songs from the past, but so were the instruments. 'They're artifacts,' said Morgan. 'There's no reproduction instruments. They're all period instruments. The youngest instrument is 100 years old this year.' 'I think that [the students] make them sound great. They're not easy to play on,' said Morgan. There's a specific way to fly your US flag on Memorial Day: What to know Just two miles up the road, at Gracelawn Cemetery, a different kind of tribute is unfolding. Volunteers with the Travis Manion Foundation laid tokens of thanks on gravestones and markers. It's a non-profit close to the heart of Aaron Hudgins, an army veteran, especially on Memorial Day. 'I lost my wife on April 29, 2018, while in service to our country and after that I was lost. And so I needed a new tribe,' said Hudgins. 'It has changed my life completely.' Hudgins said about 2,000 veterans are buried at the cemetery. For that amount, they needed about two dozen volunteers. 'My wife, a friend of mine, and my daughter we came out and participated with the Travis Manning Foundation,' said Jonathan Reid, a volunteer. Reid is a Marine Corps veteran and a purple heart recipient. He chose not to speak of his own service, but instead chose to speak for the fallen. 'We took our time. Looked at the names, the dates, branches of service,' said Reid. Reid said you don't have to visit a cemetery or play in a band to honor those who gave their lives so we could live ours. 'It's enjoying the time with their families. And they didn't get that,' said Reid. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
25-05-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Volunteers place 500 tokens on fallen heroes' graves for the Honor Project DFW
People across North Texas are remembering fallen soldiers this Memorial Day weekend. That included a group of veterans, military spouses, and volunteers in Dallas. The Fort Worth and Dallas chapters of the Travis Manion Foundation hosted the second annual Honor Project. CBS News Texas A somber mood filled the DFW National Cemetery on Saturday as the community gathered to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country's freedom. "Pause and know that this week was bought with a heavy, heavy price," Clint Bruce said. Clint Bruce played for the Baltimore Ravens and the New Orleans Saints. He left the NFL to become a Navy SEAL. "For me, it was the bigger challenge, right? I was incredibly humbled to have an opportunity to play at the NFL, and it was really neat because I got to see the infancy of Ray Lewis and his career when I was at the Ravens," Bruce said. The man with the large stature and even bigger heart gave back, speaking at the opening ceremony for the Honor Project. "The Travis Manion Foundation exists to give veterans and their families opportunities to continue to serve their community, continue to pay tribute to those who served alongside them, and continue to invest in this is this proposition to call heroes to the front because our nation, unfortunately, is always going to need heroes," Bruce said. Those who came out to the ceremony want the community to enjoy the Memorial Day weekend, but to also stop and understand the true meaning behind it. "I think it's important that we pause and say thank you for all that they did in order for us to be here where we are today," Deanna Phillips said. Deanna Phillips' husband, Lt. Col. Mike Phillips, served in the U.S. Air Force. "Mike was on a short deployment to Korea and came home and within 48 hours was diagnosed with stage four cancer," Phillips said. "He died of the service-connected cancer." The pain is still raw 15 years after his death at just 43 years old. "That's very difficult, and especially when you're thrust to being a single caregiver of your daughter as well," Phillips said. Phillips helped to organize the DFW project. Volunteers placed tokens on the graves of 500 fallen heroes. "I just I think it's important that you teach your kids about the meaning of today and the meaning of this weekend," Phillips said. "With that, I would say take a moment, and tell a story, go online, watch a YouTube video, something, just to honor those that have given their lives for where we are today." Click here for more information on the Travis Manion Foundation.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Volunteers honor veterans with families at National Cemetery of the Alleghenies
Members of the Travis Manion Foundation, named after a Marine killed in action in 2007, visited graves at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies. They hosted The Honor Project on Saturday at 9 a.m. Volunteers visit cemeteries and place coins on the graves of military members who gave the ultimate sacrifice. They also honor them with a moment of silence. 'It was a movement that was brought on by a woman who said that someone had contacted her and said, 'I can't go out to memorialize my loved one and I would love it if you could do this for me,' and, so, she started this movement,' said Travis Manion Foundation Manager Jessica Gardner. The project gives families the chance to honor the fallen and come together to grieve their own. 'It's those they left behind. It's not just about those that we lost. They're still grieving and going through things and we want to find a place where they can come together in a community and be together and go through that with one another,' said Gardner. More than 25,000 volunteers will visit 60 cemeteries across the country as part of the foundation's work. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
CBS News
25-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Volunteers with The Honor Project return to the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies
Volunteers with The Honor Project return to the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies Volunteers with The Honor Project return to the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies Volunteers with The Honor Project return to the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies Nearly 60 people gathered to remember the lives lost of those who served our country on Saturday, and allow them to not be alone for those who may not be able to come and remember them. It's nearly double the number of people who came out for the Travis Manion Foundation's first year of "The Honor Project" at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies. For someone like Angelic Smith, those moments hit home. "My husband was buried this time of year last year," she said. Her family is one of many Gold Star families. It's not easy. "You learn to grow with grief every day," Smith said. But part of it now involves turning grief into good. "I know by just seeing all these people that my husband's legacy will always be alive," Smith said. "We can say their name and remember them for those who cannot be here to remember them," Jessica Gardner, national manager for the 9/11 Heroes Run for the Travis Manion Foundation, said. It's why the Travis Manion Foundation hosted "The Honor Project" at the cemetery. "This is our second time here," Gardner said. It helps demonstrate to families and loved ones that people in graves like these are not forgotten. "A woman had an idea to do this because someone had said that they had a family member that they wanted them to visit, and they couldn't be there," Gardner said. The volunteers went around with their packets and stones. For some, this is close to them, too. "I have had family in the military and I've also had friends in the military," Leslie Brovenzano, chapter event coordinator, Travis Manion Foundation Pittsburgh chapter, said. State Senator Devlin Robinson made it a point to be here as well, as a veteran of the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan. "I want to make sure that all of our fallen comrades are honored," Robinson, the senator for Pennsylvania's 37th district, said. For Smith, that first time was difficult. "This year, being back here, I feel a little bit stronger," she said. It's in part because of that growth, but also the sense of comfort it can bring. "As long as they keep coming out here, laying those coins, [and] saying his name," Smith said, "forever he will be remembered."
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
LIST: Memorial Day weekend ceremonies and events in Utah
SALT LAKE CITY () — Memorial Day is coming up, a time to reflect on those who lost their lives while serving our country. If you're looking for a way to commemorate this time, ABC4 has created a list of events happening over the weekend for the holiday. Know any events we missed? Let us know through our tipline. Art on Main: Art on Main in historic downtown Brigham City is a Veterans' and Gold Star Families-themed festival showcasing a wide range of art, a chalk art contest, and more. It runs from May 23-24. Memorial Day Car Show and Tribute: At Veterans Memorial Park in West Jordan, there will be a car show, food trucks, and live music this Memorial Day, Monday, May 26. It will go from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Larkin Mortuary Memorial Day Program: On Monday, May 26, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Larkin Mortuary will be holding its annual Memorial Day program. Lt. Governor Deidre M. Henderson will be giving a speech at the event. There will also be a flag ceremony by the Hill Air Force Base Honor Guard and patriotic music performances. Memorial Weekend BBQ: At the pavilions near the , there will be a Memorial Day BBQ, with proceeds going toward the Care Camps Foundation. Memory Grove Park: Memory Grove Park in Salt Lake City features memorials dedicated to Utah's veterans and a replica of the Liberty Bell, as well as paths to walk, bike, or jog on. 'Plan ahead': UDOT anticipates heavy traffic for Memorial Day weekend Travis Manion Foundation Memorial Day Ceremony: The Travis Manion Foundation, which works to empower veterans and families of fallen heroes, will host The Honor Project to reflect on fallen military service members this Memorial Day weekend. It will be on Saturday, May 24, at Utah Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park in Bluffdale at 9 a.m. According to a press release, more than 2,500 Travis Manion Foundation volunteers will be visiting 60 cemeteries across the country to place commemorative tokens and reflect on the sacrifices of those who lost their lives in the line of duty. Utah Military Museum at Historic Fort Douglas: The Utah Military Museum at Historic Fort Douglas will be open on Memorial Day from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Entry is free. At 9 a.m., there will be a Memorial Day March from the museum to the cemetery. A ceremony will then take place at the cemetery, featuring performances, a guest speaker, wreath laying, a gun salute, and a memorial prayer. Utah Capitol Memorial Day Ceremony: The Utah Department of Veterans & Military Affairs will be hosting a Memorial Day Celebration on the south steps of the Utah Capitol Building on Monday, May 26. The event is free and will include remarks from state leaders, a special music performance, and a 21-gun salute by the Utah National Guard. There will be a display of a wreath and flags throughout the day as well. The ceremony will go from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. American Fork Run of Remembrance: American Fork will be hosting a 10K, 5K, Memorial Mile, and Kids K in honor of Memorial Day on Monday, May 26. It will be at Robinson Park, beginning with the national anthem and veteran gun salute. Online, learn more about registration and start times for each race. Eagle Mountain Memorial Day Ceremony: On Monday, May 26, at 10 a.m., Eagle Mountain City will be hosting a Memorial Day ceremony at the Pony Express Memorial Cemetery. The program will have a performance of 'Amazing Grace' on bagpipes by John Miner, the posting of the colors by Scout Troop 111, a performance by Vocal Expressions, and remarks from Mayor Tom Westmoreland. Provo Memorial Day Service: The Freedom Festival, partnering with the Provo City Veterans Council, will be hosting a Memorial Day service on Monday, May 26, at 10 a.m. at the Provo City Cemetery. Zion National Park: Many head to the outdoors during Memorial Day weekend. Zion National Park is a popular spot — park rangers reporting that they've been gearing up for the busy weekend. Last year, there were a recorded 92,000 visits during Friday-Monday of Memorial Day weekend, the park reported. If you plan on going this weekend, they said to prepare for limited parking and long lines. Remember, check conditions before you head out and bring plenty of water. 'Parking is available in the town of Springdale, and you can take the free Springdale shuttle to the pedestrian entrance. Just make sure to bring your park pass or you'll have to pay for one there,' the park said in an online post. Ogden Union Station Boot Display: Operation Hero is hosting its annual Remember Utah's Fallen Service Members boot display at Ogden Union Station. The exhibit will be open from Saturday, May 24, to Monday, May 26. Final Reckonings, Alien Dogs & Prom Queens: What to Watch This Weekend LIST: Memorial Day weekend ceremonies and events in Utah Utah drug trafficking ringleader sentenced to 22 years in prison What would a post-car future look like? Trump faces scrutiny over private dinner with crypto donors Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
