Sirens & Salutes, a local non-profit organization that performs community services to veterans and emergency workers in the area, will hold Christmas photos with Santa at Limestone Park in Buchanan this Friday and Saturday (Dec. 1 and 2) and next Friday and Saturday (Dec. 8 and 9). Visitors can come by and visit with Santa, pose for a picture, and support the organization’s ongoing holiday season efforts for the community.
On Saturday, Dec. 2, at 10 a.m. the organization and community volunteers will place wreaths on veterans’ graves in Fairview Cemetery in Buchanan and doing the same on the following day, Sunday, Dec. 3., at 10 a.m. at Mill Creek, Troutville, Daleville, and Trinity cemeteries.
The Sirens & Salutes Fallen Heroes Christmas tree was erected at Hotel Roanoke on Nov. 19 during the hotel’s annual “Fashions for Evergreens” tree display. Fashions for Evergreens is free and open to the public. The event runs from Thanksgiving morning to New Year’s Day. While the hotel is a 24-hour facility and trees may be visited at any time, the hotel suggests the best hours to view the display is from 8 a.m.-9 p.m. This year, more than 25 organizations and businesses will compete for the People’s Choice award through voting following a self-guided tour. Hotel Roanoke is located downtown at 110 Shenandoah Avenue.
Photos courtesy of Sirens & Salutes
This year’s tree honors over 200 rescue workers, law enforcement officers, and veterans with each colored star representing different heroes: 68 red stars (rescue), 94 blue stars (police), 24 K9 “paw print” stars, 39 9/11 stars, and 23 tan stars (military).
An additional Fallen Heroes tree is located this holiday season inside the Buchanan Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad headquarters on Main Street.
For more information about Sirens & Salutes, visit www.sirensandsalutes.org or the Facebook page, www.facebook.com/Sirensandsalutes.
~ Fincastle Herald staff report
