Arnold VFW Post 2593 will hold two public events this month.
The VFW, 2301 Church Road, in Arnold will hold a 9/11 ceremony at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11, and a Car Show and Bike Show from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29.
The 9/11 ceremony will begin with opening remarks. The national anthem will be played, and the Pledge of Allegiance will be recited. Then there will be a prayer, followed by a presentation about 9/11 statistics.
A moment of silence will be held, and taps will be performed. Refreshments will be served following the ceremony.
Kelly McAfee, the club manager, said this is the first year the VFW is holding a 9/11 ceremony.
“It is to acknowledge those who died in 9/11 and the first responders involved,” she said. “We plan to do a bigger event next year.”
Car and Bike Show
The VFW will expand its third annual car show to include motorcycles.
“I had a couple of people ask me, ‘Are bikes welcome?’” said organizer Jammi Farris, the hall manager. “I know a lot of people who ride, and I wanted to include them. It is going to be fun.”
Registration is from 8 a.m. to noon. The first 50 cars receive a dash plaque.
It costs $20 to register a car, truck or motorcycle to be eligible for an award, and it costs $15 to display a vehicle that is not eligible for awards.
There is no charge for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to enter the show.
The award ceremony is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. Participants will compete for the commander’s choice award and best of show awards for GM, Ford, Mopar (original Chrysler Corp. brands Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto, Ram, Chrysler and Imperial) cars, as well as trucks and motorcycles. A rainout date is scheduled for the same time on Oct. 6.
Proceeds will benefit the VFW, and the funds will be used on a couple of projects.
“We do big dinners on Labor Day and during Thanksgiving and Christmas for veterans and their families,” Farris said. “We also have some renovations that we need to do that will be quite costly.”
Farris said the post’s first car show drew 130 participants, and 125 participants entered last year.
“I am hoping for at least the same number of cars this year, and if we end up with more, that would be fantastic,” she said. “I am hoping it is going to be a great turnout.”
The VFW auxiliary will sell hot dogs, hamburgers and bratwursts from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the event.
A DJ will play music, and a dunk tank will be set up.
A hula hoop contest will be held at 1 p.m., and the Rock Community Fire Protection District, Rock Township Ambulance District and Arnold Police Department will display some of their vehicles from noon to 2 p.m.
A 50-50 drawing also will be included in the event.
“We are trying to be all-inclusive,” Farris said. “I want people to feel like they can bring their kids, too. Hopefully, it will be a really awesome day and event.”