Veterans Day event in Savannah celebrates local heroes and supports military community
SAVANNAH (WSAV) – Veterans Day is coming up and with that are events to honor those who have served the country.
Wednesday, there will be an event at the Air Dominance Center in Savannah. Georgia and South Carolina both have large veterans populations. More than 600,000 veterans live in Georgia, making it home to the seventh-largest veteran population in the United States.
South Carolina has a large veteran population presence, making up more than 8% of its population.
Today, 200 of them and supporting residents will gather for a luncheon that honors those who have served.
Flags on Broughton Street honor veterans
The event will feature keynote speakers such as the Commanding General of the 3rd Infantry Division. They will provide insights on local, state and federal military affairs, with a focus on military installations in the region. This annual event is also an opportunity for the business community to show their support for more than 20,000 service members who contribute almost $5 billion to the local economy.
"So, we've been doing our military luncheon for about 25 years. It's a way for our business community to come together and say thank you to our heroes, our soldiers who are working at Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield, and our Combat Readiness Training Center. For serving our country, but also impacting our country as well," said Bert Brantley, the president and CEO of the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce.
Doors open at 11:30 a.m. with programming beginning at noon. The sold-out event seats 200 people at the Air Dominance Center.
"We really appreciate those who come out to lunch because that is where that goes. The money we raise from the lunch goes to making sure that our soldiers have a great base to work at, have great housing, and a really a quality of life that they and their family can have while they are serving," said Brantley.
If you can't make it this year, organizers say the annual event will continue next year.
