GLEN JEAN, W.Va. — The Boy Scouts are teaming up with the West Virginia National Guard, Paralyzed Veterans of America and Wounded Warrior Project to host a Veterans Appreciation Day Saturday at the the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve in Fayette County.
The one-day event aims in part to encourage scouts to interact with veterans, many who suffer from disabilities or have overcome life-threatening injuries.
“There are no fees being charged for anybody coming to the event. It’s for veterans, especially those with disabilities,” said Summit Bechtel Reserve spokesman Gary Hartley. “It’s one of the events we’re doing to have scouts work with veterans in appreciation of all that they’ve given and what they’ve done.”
Between 600-700 people were registered for the event as of Thursday and the maximum would be about 1,000, Hartley said.
“We have a full lineup starting early in the morning with some opening ceremonies, with a run, walk, roll,” Hartley said. “That will go into activities all day long. We’ll be doing things like ziplines, golf and canopy tours.”
He said the event encourages camaraderie with the veterans and the scouts.
“The whole idea with this is to get the scouts that are here for our summer camp program, get them involved with veterans, get them working with them. We’re going to have lots of activities through the day that will have the scouts on site working with the veterans who come in for the day.”
Veterans wishing to register for the event can go online to summitbsa.org, click on the events tab and then click on Veterans Appreciation Day to sign up.
State voters approved an amendment to the state Constitution last November that will allow certain commercial events at the Bechtel Reserve to be held tax-free. Hartley said they haven’t yet reached that point. He said some bonds that finance the development of the area need to be paid off first.