Showing appreciation
By Joey Pitchford
Published in News on June 3, 2016 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Victoria Pedraza, 4, hula hoops during Military Appreciation Night at the Center Street Jam Thursday. Victoria's father is currently deployed but will return home in a month.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Friends Terri Myrick and Allen Alligood dance together at the Center Street Jam Thursday. Alligood is a 35-year veteran of the Army.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Julisa Pena, 6, smiles as she peeks in the mirror at her Wonder Woman theme face paint during Military Appreciation Night at Center Street Jam Thursday. Julisa's mother is stationed at Seymour Johnson.
When it comes to honoring the military, downtown Goldsboro does it in style.
This was evident Thursday as about 1,000 people congregated off Center Street to enjoy the pleasant weather and music by Spare Change at the Military Appreciation Night jam.
After Councilman Bill Broadaway made opening remarks, Col. Mark Slocum addressed the crowd. He thanked the residents of Goldsboro for their steadfast support and dedication to the military community.
"What's amazing about this community is that you accept our airmen in to your community," he said. "I thank you for wrapping your arms around our airmen."
Spare Change provided the musical entertainment for the night, kicking things off with a Michael Jackson medley and continuing through the night with a variety of other popular tunes.
Visitors also enjoyed food and beer vendors as well as tents for face painting.
The festivities were hosted by the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp. Promotions coordinator Erin Fonseca said that the Military Appreciation Night jam is often one of their largest, drawing hundreds of people annually.
The concert started at 6 p.m., and by around 6:30 nearly 1,000 people had arrived. Mrs. Fonseca said that peak attendance would be closer to 7 p.m.
Mrs. Fonseca said that the jams are even more successful now that the downtown Streetscape project has been completed.
"Having the Streetscape completed has given people a reason to come downtown and explore, but the more we hold events like this the more people we get to see the treasure we have here in our own backyard," she said.
Slocum said that military appreciation events like the jam go a long way in helping Seymour Johnson airmen feel at home in Goldsboro. He commended locals for allowing the airmen in to their schools, businesses and families.
"It lets our military know how much the community accepts them into the social fabric of Goldsboro and Wayne County," he said.