SHAF to give ‘Hugs For Heroes’ at Trail of Honor

Published 10:31 am Friday, May 15, 2015

A veteran’s service is worth a thousand hugs, but that’s not enough for the members of the Southern Heritage Air Foundation. They want to give 2,000 hugs. 

On Saturday, SHAF will sponsor “Hugs For Heroes,” an attempt to set a Guinness world record by hugging 2,000 veterans in a single hour at the Trail of Honor event in Jackson.

The event is focused on having volunteers hug individuals who have either served or who are currently serving in the military.

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“Our goal is to, first and foremost, thank our veterans, and those currently serving, that have made such outstanding sacrifices for our country,” Patty Mekus said, and added Hugs for Heroes is also hoping to spread the word about the Warrior Bonfire Project.

Mekus is the President of the Southern Heritage Air Foundation, which is the sister organization to the Warrior Bonfire Project

A booth will be set up at the Trail of Honor, which is a three-day event held in Jackson. The Trail of Honor began as a pit stop for motorcyclists participating in the Run for the Wall ride to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C.

It 2013, Trail of Honor attracted more than 30,000 visitors.

Along with the Hugs For Heroes booth this year, the event will include living history demonstrations from every American war — from the French Indian War to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq — active military displays and the traveling Vietnam Wall.

Mekus said the Hugs For Heroes record-breaking attempt will begin following Saturday’s 9 a.m. opening ceremony.

Pre-registration for service men and women to sign up for their hugs will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday, and from 8 to 9 a.m. at the Harley Davidson Shop, 3509 I-55 South in Jackson, where the event will be held.

In order for the Hugs for Heroes to qualify for the Guinness Book of World Records, documentation is necessary, Mekus said.

“We will have to have their name and their branch of service. This will be part of what is recorded in the record, and we will assign them a number for them to wear on their back, kind of like a racing number,” Mekus said. “Once the service members have received their hugs, two veterans will be giving out handshakes, thanking them and giving them a wooden coin with the Warrior Bonfire logo on it.”

Professional wrestler and actor, Ted Dibiase Jr. will also be there to shake hands.

Mekus said she contacted Guinness in October about trying to break the hugs record, and on Veterans Day the SHAF did a trial run at the Vicksburg Convention Center.

Mekus, dressed as Rosie the Riveter, said she hugged around 150 veterans.

“One man came back and said ‘my twin brother said you we were giving away hugs.’ He was so cute,” Mekus said.

The Warrior Bonfire Project was started by Vicksburg residents Dan and Hunter Fordice in an effort to provide emotional healing through various trips and camaraderie with other wounded warriors.

To volunteer for Hugs For Heroes call 601-831-1882.

For more information on the Trail of Honor, visit trailofhonor.org.

About Terri Cowart Frazier

Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”

Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.

Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.

“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’

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