The Hinesville Military Affairs Committee is busy finalizing plans for the fifth annual Veterans Salute.  The Salute will kick off at 10 a.m. with the dedication ceremony for the Veterans Memorial Walk. Then, live entertainment, food and drink booths, craft vendors, cornhole, a 50/50 raffle, a motorcycle poker ride with prizes, and the 2nd Annual Battle of the Bands will take place throughout the park. The one-day festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, November 4 at Bryant Commons, 438 West Oglethorpe Highway, in downtown Hinesville. Admission and parking are free, but proceeds from the vendor fees, raffle tickets and other activities will go toward the construction and maintenance of Veterans Memorial Walk at Bryant Commons.

Once completed, the Veterans Walk  will consist of an outer walking path that encircles a small pond. Tributes to each branch of service — Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard — will be spaced around the path. Flags from each branch and the American flag will be displayed at the entrance to the walk. A tribute to prisoners of war and those missing in action will provide a focal point in the center of the memorial. The Army’s 92nd Engineer Battalion conducted several months of training exercises which incorporated a substantial amount of the grading, drainage and construction. P.C. Simonton took the lead on the memorial’s design and engineering.

“The opening and dedication of this memorial is another step by the people of our entire community in honoring and supporting our veterans and their families,” said James Thomas, co-chair of the VMW. “The contributions by the Army, our citizens and businesses of this community will be cherished and remembered by our veterans forever.”

“We’re excited to see phase 1 construction of the Veterans Memorial Walk at Bryant Commons complete. Many people have worked hard for a long time to see this project come to fruition. It’s a fantastic way to honor our community’s military veterans, and we’re grateful to all of our generous donors, planners and supporters,” said George Holtzman, VMW co-chair.

Booth spaces are still available. Anyone interested in selling goods and merchandise at the Veterans Salute should contact Melinda Schneider at [email protected] or 912-271-1702.

The lineup for the five Battle of the Bands competitors: Noon Kickin Up Dust Band, 1 p.m. Bernard Rose, 2 p., 2 p.m. Bayou Sky, 3 p.m. Groove Benders, and 4 p.m. 3CC's. The bands have a chance at two cash prizes:1st Place Award sponsored by The Heritage Bank, People's Choice Award in memory of Brenda Fitzgerald. There will be local entertainment before and between the competitive sets. For more information about the entertainment, contact Karen Bell (912) 492-6401 or Backline Productions, LLC at (912) 876-3786 for more information

The motorcycle ride will award several prizes, including one for the most well-represented bike club. On-site registration is $20 and begins at 9 a.m. All ride proceeds benefit the Veterans Memorial Walk. The blessing of the bikes will immediately follow the ribbon cutting for the Veterans Memorial Walk.