BY DEBBIE PAGE
The Walk of Heroes, 300 flags strong, is now waving along Troutman’s Richardson Greenway to celebrate Armed Services Day on Saturday, May 17, and will remain through Memorial Day commemorations on May 26.
The third annual event began on Friday as Troutman Exchange Club, along with the Evening Exchange Club of Lake Norman, gathered on the greenway for the first flag ceremony. Hundreds of Troutman Elementary students, excitedly waving small flags, lined Main Street beside the school as the flag, escorted by the Toast of Honor motorcycle group, arrived in town.
Bill Cox, Exchange Club member and leader of the Toast of Honor group, rode the flag down the greenway, respectfully removed it, and then mounted it on a flag pole in preparation for the ceremony.
Club member Cotton Ketchie delivered an invocation, asking God to honor veterans and first responders. He also urged folks to visit this display to remember those who risk all for their country and community.
After Troutman Elementary student Kennedy Bissell sang the National Anthem, Cox described the journey that the flag, flown one year ago at Town Hall, has taken over the past year, including an arduous journey on Friday through traffic snarls.
The flag traveled over 15,000 miles across the country as Cox visited Gold Star monuments over the past year. These monuments are dedicated to military families who have lost families in the line of duty.
The flag also visited veterans in a number of assisted living communities in Florida.
“Like our veterans when they come back, the flag is weathered, but we’ve got to embrace what it’s done, embrace where it’s been, embrace who it’s for.”
Troutman Police Chief Josh Watson, a descendent of veterans and law enforcement officers, says that events such as this remind the younger generation to respect and honor those who serve our community and encourage them to step up and serve as well.
Town Manager Ron Wyatt, a Marine veteran, expressed appreciation to the Exchange Clubs for their hard work in putting on the event.
“Unless you’ve served, you have stories that nobody else can understand or relate to unless you have been there.”
Wyatt noted that Saturday is Armed Services Day and applauded the county’s high school’s for having JROTC programs to encourage military service. However, he noted that 77 percent of high school graduates cannot join the military because they do not meet the high standards required by the military branches.
Less than 6 percent of young people opt to go into the military today. He noted that many of the veterans and active personnel being honored this month were drafted to serve.
“I think it is very important that we talk about our history to these young people and explain to them what Armed Services Day is. We appreciate each man and woman who decides to serve in a volunteer capacity to protect our freedoms.”
The Reverend William S. “Bill” Troutman, representing the presenting sponsor, Bunch Johnson Funeral Home, planted the first flag. He thanked them for the privilege and pleasure of sponsoring the event.
Troutman Exchange Club President Amy Suggs thanked all the many volunteers, the Troutman Parks and Recreation Department, and the many sponsors who help fund the project.
She also reminded attendees that the Troutman Exchange will present a Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 26, 2025, at 11 a.m. at the Troutman ESC Park pavilion, marking the conclusion of the Walk of Heroes tribute.
The community is invited to attend this solemn gathering as a time to come together in remembrance and gratitude for the brave men and women who have served and sacrificed for America.
Following the ceremony, the club members installed 300 flags on both sides of the Richardson Greenway.
Community members can purchase a Walk of Heroes Tribute Flag to honor or remember a loved one who has served in the United States Armed Forces.
Each flag will include a personalized tag listing the hero’s name, branch of service, and the sponsor’s name (person who purchased the flag). The cost is $35. Proceeds support the continuation of this annual tribute.
Flags can be purchased online at https://troutmanwalkofheroes.com/products/walk-of-heroes-flag.
Following the Memorial Day ceremony on May 26, those who have purchased flags in memory or honor of loved ones may pick up their flags starting at noon. The local Girl Scout Troop will assist with flag retrieval until 1 p.m.
Additional dates for flag pick-up are May 27 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, May 29 from 4 to 7 p.m., and May 31 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon in the gravel lot to the right of Town Hall.
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