Program for Front Royal’s Memorial Day event announced

U.S. Marine Corps reservist and local businessman Robert MacDougall used the Kiwanis Club podium Wednesday, April 12, to update the community on this year’s plans for Memorial Day in Front Royal on May 29.  MacDougall, who spent a dozen years in the Marines, pulling Afghanistan duty among other overseas active duty assignments, is now co-chair of the event.

Our own Malcolm Barr, Sr. hosting a previous Memorial Day and Dogs of War event in Front Royal. File Photos/Roger Bianchini

He joined event founder Malcolm Barr, Sr. a veteran of the U.K.’s Royal Air Force and a semi-retired journalist, in organizing last year’s ceremony.  Last December the Front Royal Town Council voted unanimously to support the annual event as one of four co-sponsors.

This year’s salute to our nation’s fallen warriors and an accompanying tribute to “the dogs of war” will be held at Front Royal’s Town Gazebo at noon, Monday, May 29, MacDougall announced at the Kiwanis event.

In December 2016 the Town of Front Royal approved co-sponsorship of Front Royal’s tribute to this solemn national remembrance, joining with the Humane Society of Warren County (HSWC), the Air Force Association (AFA) local chapter, and the Rotary Club of Warren County.

Above, patriotic canines and their owners are always an important part of the Front Royal Memorial Day ceremony; below, a Marine war dog detachment display.

MacDougall will emcee this year’s ceremony and U.S. Air Force Technical Sgt. (retired) Tina M. Lang of Randolph-Macon Academy will be the featured speaker.  A parade of dogs led by retired U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Diana Lieber will be part of the ceremony.  Members of the public are invited to bring their dogs to the gazebo and take part in the canine parade.

Members of the Skyline High School Band, the Blue Ridge Young Marines, and the Julia Wagner Animal Shelter will participate.  The local public is encouraged to attend. Dog rescue groups are welcome to take part in the parade honoring the “dogs of war.”  To have acknowledgment of a relative killed in action or since deceased and recognized at the ceremony, please e-mail <barr127@yahoo.com>

Mayor Hollis Tharpe will assist Lang and MacDougall in the wreath-laying ceremony and St. John the Baptist’s Parochial Vicar Rev. Kevin Beres will deliver the invocation.  Taps will be sounded by former Front Royal student, Jacob Boll, now living in Orange County.

U.S. Marine reservist Robert MacDougall joined Barr in co-chairing the event last year. This year he will emcee the May 29th ceremony.

This year’s ceremony will be dedicated to the memory of Vietnam veteran dog handler Robert Williams, father of R-MA’s Michael Williams, and U.S. Army Sergeant Roger Bianchini, Sr., father of our own Roger Bianchini.  The elder Bianchini, who died 40 years ago, landed at Normandy on June 6, 1944; fought and was wounded in the historic Battle of the Bulge, which turned back the Nazi counterattack attempt to regain control of the western front of “Fortress Europe”.
Additional details and updates may be found on Facebook and Twitter – @frmemorialday