A limited number of tickets are available for the sixth annual Purple Heart Dinner on Saturday, Aug. 9, at 5:30 p.m., at Wake Forest Presbyterian Church.
The host, the Wake Forest Purple Heart Foundation, invites the public to help honor military veterans wounded in battle. In addition to Purple Heart Medal recipients and their families, the dinner is open to all veterans, military families and the public.
This year’s keynote speaker is retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jerry R. Curry. A decorated combat veteran, Army aviator, paratrooper and Ranger, Curry served in Korea and Vietnam. After his 34-year military career, Curry served as Military Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense in the Carter Administration, as acting press secretary to the Secretary of Defense in the Reagan Administration, and administrator of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the first Bush Administration. Curry is the author of two books, most recently “From Private to General: An African-American Rises Through The Ranks.”
Before the Korean War came along and changed everything, Curry, a dramatic operatic baritone, seriously considered pursuing a singing career. Over the years he has sung with many choral groups and in concert in Europe, the United States, the Far East and Brazil. His operatic CD Generally Singing, available through Amazon, has been well received.
The annual Purple Heart dinner includes entertainment by the 440th Army Band, patriotic tributes and a catered meal. Last year’s dinner saluted more than 40 Purple Heart recipients and 42 have already said they will attend this year.
Tickets are $15 and available downtown at the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce, For Old Times Sake and The Wake Weekly, or by emailing info@WakeForestPurpleHeartFoundation.org.
Sponsors are also needed to make this tribute possible. Sponsorship levels are Premier ($1,000), Blue ($500), White ($250) and Red ($100). For sponsor details, call Marty Coward at 919-792-0316 or go online to www.WakeForestPurpleHeartFoundation.org. Contributions may be made payable to Wake Forest Purple Heart Foundation, P.O. Box 168, Wake Forest, NC, 27588.
