We’re celebrating 20 years of Military Appreciation Day at the N.C. State Fair! Since 2006, the N.C. State Fair has held Military Appreciation Day to honor and celebrate the brave men and women who serve our country.
To celebrate the special 20th anniversary of this day, Duke Energy partnered with the N.C. State Fair to offer free admission to all active duty and retired military personnel plus a guest. Plus, the day featured the annual Military Day Parade and special music from the 440th Army Band.
We asked fairgoers, vendors and performers what this day means to them. Here’s what they had to say.
“This is kind of a celebratory Military Appreciation Day for me because it’s the first one since I retired last year. I enjoy coming out, seeing the soldiers, seeing veterans. I think it’s a good time. It’s great that they honor the veterans, this being a veteran area and big military community. It’s a good thing, to honor them — especially right now, we really need it.”
K.G. MuDiwa, 67, Army
“Everybody that comes in here that has a military hat on, I always want to shake their hand and thank them for their service. Sometimes I get a little emotional because I grew up in a military town, I worked in a military town, I have friends that have lost their kids in the military. We’re just glad that there’s this day to honor them.”
Amy Cecil, Cecil Glass Art
“To recognize service members is a good idea, especially nowadays. But, I’ll tell you, I have to give a big clap to Duke Energy paying for all the military service members coming in. That was a game changer. It recognizes their sacrifice and it lets them come be a part of the community. And it lets us thank them. I’ve had a lot of veterans come here today and it’s really nice to get to talk to them.”
Cynthia Graham, Graham’s Goods
“It’s a reminder I wish we had every day of the freedoms that we all have. It’s taken for granted and I’m excited that the N.C. State Fair recognizes it a makes it part of the tradition of the state fair.”
Charlie St. Cyr-Paul, Cast in Bronze