Salute Inc. carries on Memorial Day 5K with a twist
Though COVID-19 restrictions will prohibit a large 5K race, Salute Inc., will carry on its tradition of connecting with the community and honoring the brave men and women who gave up their lives serving our country with a new twist on its annual Memorial Day weekend event.
On Saturday, May 29, the Salute team will set up in Recreation Park, 500 E. Miner St., in Arlington Heights, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for an in-person packet pickup, a potted plant sale and a donation station to collect household items for the James A. Lovell VA Homeless and HUD/VASH Housing programs.
Community members are encouraged to register in advance for the virtual run/walk and stop by the in-person event May 29, to pick up their event packet, which will include a commemorative T-shirt and honorary bib.
When picking up their packets, community members can enjoy closed container refreshments while shopping for plants at the socially distanced Recreation Park event, which is sponsored by Picket Fence Realty.
Registrants can then run or walk a distance and course of their choosing sometime during Memorial Day weekend to honor those who died in service to our country.
"The Salute Memorial Day Weekend 5K race is a long-standing tradition in the community; and though we can't hold the event as we know it, we didn't want to abandon the tradition entirely," said Mary Beth Beiersdorf, executive director of Salute Inc.
"We hope to see lots of familiar faces on May 29, and we encourage the community to find time to walk or run in memory of those who fought for our freedom."
Registration for the virtual run/walk is $25 and includes a race shirt and bib. All proceeds will go to Salute Inc., a nonprofit serving military veterans and their families.
Orders must be placed by Thursday, May 20, in order to pick up a shirt on May 29.
If registrants will be out of town for Memorial Day weekend, they can send a representative to pick up their event shirt or make donations May 29. Any orders placed after May 20, will be shipped to registrants' homes.
Anyone wishing to donate items for the James A. Lovell VA Programs May 29 should limit their donations to the following specially requested items: liquid hand soap, dish soap, glass cleaner, sponges, laundry detergent or pods, and 9V and AA batteries for smoke detectors.
Registration is now open at www.saluteinc.org. For more information, visit the website.
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